Bob Forde is calling a county lawsuit to preempt the possible repeal of the Critical Areas Ordinance a personal attack and an affront to voter and property rights.
Forde, a Sequim resident, led the petition drive to repeal the ordinance, which governs development near streams, wetlands and slide areas countywide.
“This lawsuit is coming after me as an individual,” Forde said Monday.
Commissioner Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim, said the lawsuit is not a personal attack.
“The decision we made to pursue a declaratory judgment was based on legal grounds, not personalities,” Tharinger said.
According to Tharinger, that decision was based on case law, which suggests the initiative may exceed state home-rule laws.
Last week, county Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Chris Melly filed a lawsuit seeking a declaratory ruling to prevent the repeal measure from being placed on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.
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