Everett Voters Approve Commission Government
A tight race for a new municipal charter promises a flurry of political campaigning for the city's newly created executive positions.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
By the narrow margin of fifty-eight out of thirty-nine hundred odd votes cast, the commission form of government carried at Tuesday's election. Three thousand voters signified that they didn't care a whoop what kind of administration Everett has by neglecting to even register. Speculation upon the various combinations formed for and against the charter makes interesting dope for the street corner wiseacres, but doesn't alter the fact that Everett will try out the new municipal plan of government. June 4 will see the primary election for three commissioners. If any candidate receives a plurality, he will be relieved from the necessity of making any further campaign. If no candidate receives a plurality, six men will enter the finals. Two thousand dollars salary looks like good picking to many of our leading citizens, and we may look for a well-filled field. The adoption of the commission form has just opened the fight. Now we will get a real campaign.
“Three thousand voters signified that they didn't care a whoop what kind of administration Everett has by neglecting to even register.”
Everett's 1912 shift to a commission form of government represented a Progressive-era attempt to make city administration 'business-like' by reducing the number of elected officials. The city would eventually transition to the current council-mayor system, but the struggle to balance administrative efficiency with true public representation remains a core feature of local politics.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.