By Kevin Hanson
The Courier-Herald
Enumclaw resident Steve Hammond now finds himself in a watchdog role, defending rural property owners from the King County government he recently helped lead.
It was announced last week that Hammond has accepted the position of “property rights advocate” for the Citizens' Alliance for Property Rights. In that role he will represent private citizens involved in disputes with the county over land-use issues.
It was an interesting path that led the former minister to his new calling.
A rural landowner himself, Hammond was appointed by fellow Republicans in the summer of 2003 to a seat on the County Council, a post created by the untimely death of populist councilman Kent Pullen. Hammond served the top tier of county government until the fall of 2005 when, due to a voter-mandated shrinking of the council, Hammond found himself squaring off against fellow councilman Reagan Dunn. They were seeking to represent a new district that stretches from Enumclaw north to the suburban fringes of Issaquah and Bellevue. Dunn prevailed and, with the coming of 2006, Hammond was out of office.
Rural activists were heartened that Hammond might still be part of the loop, as the county had announced it would create the new position of rural ombudsman. When it was recently announced that Hammond was bypassed in favor of a Utah attorney, the Citizens' Alliance took action.
In an e-mailed press release, CAPR pulled no punches in expressing its disdain for King County government. The county “has continued its tradition of ignoring the voices of the people it claims it is serving,” the release stated.
“Most recently the county went out of state to bring in a rural ombudsman while Steve Hammond was right here with all the qualifications needed. The leaders of CAPR have decided it is time to do what King County seems incapable of doing.”
Hammond is equally pointed in his comments, claiming the job description for the new post was written in a way to keep him excluded. “There was anticipation I would be the most qualified person for ombudsman,” he said, citing his years on the county council and familiarity with the county's controversial Critical Areas Ordinance.
“I interviewed and I was the most qualified,” Hammond said. “No one from the state of Utah knows the King County Critical Areas Ordinance better than I do.”
He said it was a member of the Citizens' Alliance board who first suggested hiring their own advocate - a grassroots answer to the county's ombudsman - to protect the interests of the average citizen.
The move seemed imperative, Hammond said, “since King County just refuses to listen to rural property owners.” Each time citizens question how the county conducts its business, he added, the county responds with “a sharp stick to the eye.”
Hammond, who maintained his reputation as a property rights advocate while in public office, said he will be available by request. “I'm here to serve King County landowners who are getting run over by King County regulations,” he said.
A member of the Citizens' Alliance board, Hammond assures there's a need for a citizen advocate. “At least once a week, one of our phones rings,” he said, “and someone has run afoul of King County, usually inadvertently.”
The Citizens' Alliance hopes Hammond will be able to work with both land owners and the county to find an acceptable resolution to disputes.
Hammond said he has accepted the CAPR post even though a salary hasn't been determined. “All the details are still to be worked out,” he said.
The CAPR press release noted money is also being made available to fight King County in the court system, should the need arise. A legal fund has been established thanks to a “sizable commitment” from an unnamed donor, it was stated.
Kevin Hanson can be reached at khanson@courierherald.com.
