TUMWATER—Let’s Go Washington announced on Thursday that Initiative 2113 (I-2113) which would restore local police oversight of crime response and pursuit, was certified by the Washington Secretary of State. The initiative now goes to the legislature for consideration. If the legislature fails to take action by the end of the Legislative session on March 7, it will appear on the general election ballot in November 2024.
“This result is a step towards justice for victims like Amber Goldade and Mike Dunn,” said Brian Heywood, founder of Let’s Go Washington. “We gained clear and overwhelming voter support for each of the six initiatives we delivered. This is a step towards fixing what’s broken and a restoration of safety on our streets. Local police, mayors and city councils should not be stuck with a one-size-fits-all policy that keeps police from doing their job.”
Let’s Go Washington turned in a total of 2,662,310 signatures between late November through December 28 last year to qualify six landmark initiatives—from establishing Parental Rights to repealing the state’s Carbon Tax scheme.
At a legislative preview hosted by the Washington State Association of Broadcasters and Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington earlier this month, House Speaker Laurie Jenkins shared her disdain for Let’s Go Washington and specifically its founder, Heywood, comparing their efforts to the “Robber Barons” of the 19th century.
“I am very sadden when I think about why the initiative process was established in this state… It was really like the big railroad barons that folks didn’t want taking over this state,” Jenkins said. “Now what we have is an ultrawealthy, multi-millionaire trying to buy his way onto the ballot.”
The signatures on the remaining five pending initiative petitions are being verified by the Office of the Secretary of State Elections Division team using a state-mandated process of examining a 3% random sample of submitted signatures.
Author: Mario Lotmore
One Response