Arguments next week in Reed recall case

OLYMPIA – A Thurston County Superior Court judge will hear arguments next Monday on whether an attempt to recall Secretary of State Sam Reed over the contested governor’s race is valid.

Martin Ringhofer first filed a petition to recall Reed last month, arguing that mistakes made by Reed led to Democrat Christine Gregoire ultimately winning a third count and the election by 129 votes. Ringhofer, a Boeing Co. employee who lost a bid for the Seattle School Board in 1999, later filed an amended version of the recall complaint with Seattle resident Linda Jordan.

In court Monday, Ringhofer asked for more time to respond to a response filed by the secretary of state’s office, and agreed to have the first petition dismissed in order to have more time to prepare for arguments on the second one.

Ringhofer and Jordan argue that Reed is guilty of misfeasance and malfeasance for certifying the election on Dec. 30 while questions still remained over the validity of votes, and some counties were late in certifying the results.

“Since most of these counties did not provide the proper certification until sometime between the 10th and 15th of January, had he not certified on the 30th, it’s very unlikely he would have been able to certify it at all,” said Ringhofer.

Ringhofer said his court action wasn’t a statement against Reed, whom he said he likes and even voted for, but the process.

“I don’t believe there’s a citizen in this state who feels good about what happened,” he said.

Reed’s office said the allegations are without merit.

“Sam followed the letter of the law and that’s his first and foremost priority,” said spokeswoman Joanie Nacke.

If Judge Chris Wickham allows the recall to proceed, Ringhofer will need well over 600,000 voter signatures to force a new vote on Reed’s election.