who are elected by the people and accountable only to the people who elected them, they can run that department pretty much however they see fit.
That is incredibly important and something the politicians in King County WA (where Seattle is) wants to change. They want to make the sheriff position appointed by the council instead of elected by the people. They aren't even hiding their reasons, council members have said it's because with the elected sheriff the council doesn't have any influence and the Sheriff isn't accountable to the council. So of course they want to change that.
I don't think the state constitution specifies either way. It used to be an appointed position until 1996 when the voters made it an elected position. The council has voted to make it appointed again but it still has to be approved by the voters before it becomes law again.
That is incredibly important and something the politicians in King County WA (where Seattle is) wants to change. They want to make the sheriff position appointed by the council instead of elected by the people. They aren't even hiding their reasons, council members have said it's because with the elected sheriff the council doesn't have any influence and the Sheriff isn't accountable to the council. So of course they want to change that.
Would the Washington state constitution allow them to do that?
I don't think the state constitution specifies either way. It used to be an appointed position until 1996 when the voters made it an elected position. The council has voted to make it appointed again but it still has to be approved by the voters before it becomes law again.
Well hopefully the voters will vote that down. They'd be crazy not to.