County Commissioners
Named in 23 stories. Back to all names
- Sep 12, 1872The Tax Swindle: How Seattle’s Printer Defrauded His NeighborsIn 1872, the publisher of the *Puget Sound Dispatch* exposed a collusive scheme between local tax collectors and a rival newspaper to overcharge delinquent taxpayers for legal notices, sparking a bitter war of words in the territorial press.Seattle, WA
- Feb 12, 1876The Moral Gatekeeper: Snohomish’s New Battle Over Who Gets to Sell LiquorA new state law requires liquor license applicants to prove 'good moral character,' turning county commissioners into judges of private virtue and sparking a fierce debate over who gets to define morality in the Territory.Snohomish, WA
- May 13, 1876The Centennial Call: Snohomish Citizens Urged to Claim Their HistoryAs the nation prepares for the 1876 Independence Day celebration, local leaders in Snohomish argue that the county must stop waiting for Seattle or other larger towns to represent them. Instead, they propose a unified county-wide gathering to preserve the region's unique settlement history.Snohomish, WA
- Jun 1, 1876The Paradise of Thieves: Seattle’s 1876 Corruption CrisisWhen the Territorial Legislature legalized gambling to fund a mountain road, Seattle residents warned that the city was becoming a lawless playground for criminals.Seattle, WA
- Jun 10, 1876The Timber Tax Trap: How Snohomish County’s Wealth Was Slipping AwayA local writer warns that mill companies are exploiting a flawed $2.50-per-acre tax assessment to monopolize land, leaving the county with debt and no court house while small loggers go bust.Snohomish, WA
- Nov 21, 1876Seattle's Grand New Courthouse Plans UnveiledArchitect Isaac Palmer presents a bold, brick-and-mortar vision for the corner of Third and Jefferson, signaling the city's aspirations for civic permanence.Seattle, WA
- May 12, 1877The County Printing War: Seattle's Oldest Paper Claims Moral High Ground in Bid for Public ContractsIn May 1877, the publisher of Seattle’s leading newspaper defends his bid for county printing contracts against rivals who accused him of greed, arguing that 'the laborer is worthy of his hire' and that public money should support a responsible local press.Seattle, WA
- Sep 8, 1877Judge Lewis Seeks Revocation of Snohomish Liquor LicensesAfter a grand jury report, Judge Lewis urged revoking liquor licenses from tavern owners operating brothels and corrupt establishments in Snohomish.Snohomish, WA
- Oct 29, 1880The Political Price of a County SeatWhen Steilacoom faced a challenge from a rising New Tacoma, citizens weighed civic growth against the hard cost of building a new government center.Tacoma, WA
- Jul 17, 1883The Stench of ProgressA romantic carriage ride is cut short by the inescapable smell of a local slaughterhouse.Seattle, WA
- Feb 6, 1885The Battle for the Bottle in White River ValleyA local saloon keeper’s bid for a liquor license sparks a standoff with temperance-minded residents and sets the stage for a landmark court battle.Renton, WA
- Mar 17, 1885The Fight Over the 'Moral' Climate of SeattleA scathing editorial decries the Commissioners' decision to permit a 'disreputable' business in a respectable community, sparking a debate on whether law can dictate morality.Seattle, WA
- Jun 18, 1886The Smoke-Filled Backroom Deals of 1886A disgruntled contractor exposes the murky process behind the construction of public works in early Seattle, challenging the city's power brokers.Seattle, WA
- Jun 17, 1887The Auditor's Ledger ScandalAfter an investigation into King County's books, the county auditor is indicted for forgery following a chaotic attempt to clear the ledger before his term expired.King County Courthouse, Seattle, WA
- Aug 14, 1887The Great Tax Assessment Debacle of 1887King County taxpayers find themselves in an uproar as a bungled property assessment, based on a worthless abstract, threatens the city’s financial stability.King County Courthouse, Seattle, WA
- Dec 18, 1890The Bridge That Wasn't: A Legal Battle Over Aberdeen’s LifelineIn December 1890, a judge struck down the county commissioners' plan for the Heron Street bridge over the Wishkah River, forcing a redesign that would finally connect the east side of town.Aberdeen, WA
- Jan 7, 1892Citizens Challenge County PowerResidents organize to protest the mismanagement of public roads by county commissioners.Porter, WA
- Jun 9, 1892The Commissioners’ Power GrabAberdeen’s local officials accused of illegal gerrymandering to manipulate the upcoming election.Aberdeen, WA
- Aug 22, 1894Two Seattle Justices Fight a Move to the County CourthouseThe county commissioners want the justice courts in the courthouse; the justices say the basement rooms are cramped, the trip burdens litigants, and the change will cost more than it saves.King County Courthouse, Seattle, WA
- Oct 22, 1903The Power Grab at StanwoodA newly incorporated town challenges county commissioners over a last-minute franchise deal.Stanwood, WA
- Mar 23, 1909Fire Hazards Spark Call to Expand County HospitalFollowing a nearby blaze, officials realize the hospital is too crowded and lacks sufficient fire escapes.Tacoma, WA
- Apr 23, 1909Hilltop Residents Rebel Against Contagious HospitalA bombshell announcement that contagious disease wards would be built at the county hospital site ignited a neighborhood protest.Tacoma, WA
- Sep 6, 1917Taxes Paid, Roads DeniedA taxpayer from Carley confronts county commissioners over the inequitable distribution of district road funds.Hover, Kennewick, WA