A second petition to vote on the CCRLD has been filed

DAYTON—In a Facebook post dated June 30, 2023, Jessica Ruffcorn said she had successfully collected over 180 new signatures on a second petition to dissolve the Columbia County Rural Library District. “The Times” reached out to Ruffcorn but she declined to comment.

The county auditor’s office has confirmed receiving the second petition and is verifying signatures.

The first petition submitted to the auditor’s office by Ruffcorn did not meet the threshold of 107 signatures from unincorporated voters. Under RCW 27.12.040, only registered voters in the county’s unincorporated areas may sign a petition to initiate a ballot proposal to dissolve the library district. The first petition included signatures from voters registered in the City of Dayton.

Though the first effort was shy of six qualified voters, new signatures cannot be added after the petition has been submitted and a new petition must be circulated. According to Ruffcorn, she and her supporters “prayed and went to work,” securing the new petition. Ruffcorn, a Dayton resident, stated in her post, “People underestimated our resolve to get change, and God’s will to see this through!”

Individuals and groups of library supporters registered in the City of Dayton and unable to vote on the proposal are investigating all avenues to keep the measure off the ballot. Should the unincorporated voters approve the dissolution of the district, all materials must be given to the state, sold, or otherwise disposed of, leaving the county without a public library.

Columbia County Prosecutor, Dale Slack, said in an email, “I am expecting that at least one City voter will file suit to stop the measure under the theory that the RCW is unconstitutional as applied here, as it denies the voters of the City (who pay taxes and use the library) a say in the dissolution.”