The Courier-Herald is sponsoring a debate on the change of government proposition at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 in the Bonney Lake High School commons.

Proposition No. 1 will be on the Feb. 3 special election ballot. The proposition ask voters to decide if Bonney Lake should remain a code city or change to charter-code form of government.

The debate will be comprised of two panels. Councilman Dan Decker and Lynda Dabson will be on the panel supporting the change to a charter-code form. Mayor Neil Johnson and Deputy Mayor Dan Swatman will be on the panel against the change.

Decker collected the signatures on a petition asking to change Bonney Lake to a charter-code form.

The Feb. 3 ballot will include both the change of government issue and a list of candidates for the freeholder or charter commission positions.

If voters decide to change to a charter-code government, 15 freeholders will write a charter outlining the form of government for the city, within the guidelines of the Pierce County charter and the state and federal constitutions.

There are 15 candidates running for 14 freeholder positions. If the charter-code government passes, the 15th freeholder will either be appointed by the City Council or commission members, according to the Pierce County auditor.

If the charter-code issue passes Feb. 3, the freeholders have six months to write a charter, which will go before the voters in a second election along with the elected offices outlined in the charter.

If the charter is approved by the voters, the current code-city elected officials are out of office and the elected officials set down in the charter will take office.

Reach Dennis Box at dbox@courierherald.com or 360-802-8209.