Opinion ID: 2564099
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: King County Citizens' Right of Referendum

Text: ¶ 68 King County Charter (KCC) section 230.40 (Referendum) should receive the same construction favoring the right of referendum that the Washington Constitution demands for statewide referenda. For a state statute to preempt, the general rule is that there must be a clear statement or expression of legislative intent. Weden v. San Juan County, 135 Wash.2d 678, 695, 958 P.2d 273 (1998); State ex rel. Schillberg v. Everett Dist. Justice Court, 92 Wash.2d 106, 108, 594 P.2d 448 (1979). Thus, prohibition of referenda is found only with a clear statement by the legislature precluding that right. ¶ 69 We apply a liberal construction to preserve the right of referendum. Brower v. State, 137 Wash.2d 44, 58, 969 P.2d 42 (1998). The burden is on the challenger of an initiative proposal to show that the people's power is restricted. Maleng v. King County Corr. Guild, 150 Wash.2d 325, 334, 76 P.3d 727 (2003). The same burden is on a court seeking to block its people's exercise of the right of referendum. ¶ 70 Under the Washington Constitution, no local charter provision may conflict with a provision of the State's constitution or a validly enacted state law. CONST. art. XI, § 4. It is within the state legislature's power to direct home rule counties and cities to enact ordinances that are exempt from referenda. Local referenda are prohibited only where a state legislative mandates decision only by the county legislative authority. But to the extent the legislature demurs to local discretion, it also countenances local referendum. ¶ 71 King County has a home rule charter as authorized by article XI, section 4 of the Washington Constitution. The charter expressly reserves to the county's voters initiative and referendum under section 230.40. Those local initiative and referendum provisions reserve a fundamental right of a governed people to exercise their inherent right and constitutional political power over governmental affairs. Paget v. Logan, 78 Wash.2d 349, 352, 474 P.2d 247 (1970). These local and statewide initiative rights have also been held to be a fundamental constitutional right. See, e.g., Save Our State Park v. Hordyk, 71 Wash.App. 84, 90, 856 P.2d 734 (1993) (citing Schrempp v. Munro, 116 Wash.2d 929, 932, 809 P.2d 1381 (1991); Vangor v. Munro, 115 Wash.2d 536, 541, 798 P.2d 1151 (1990); Sudduth v. Chapman, 88 Wash.2d 247, 251, 558 P.2d 806, 559 P.2d 1351 (1977)). KCC section 230.40's right of referendum should therefore receive the same construction favoring the right of referendum found in the Washington Constitution.