Eyman Files Appeal to Ruling on Camera Petition

State initiative activist Tim Eyman has filed an appeal asking for reconsideration of an that dismissed his lawsuit against the City of Redmond.

Eyman and other anti-camera proponents had sought to require Redmond city clerk Michelle McGehee to turn in a that would have required a citizen vote on the traffic program. Redmond businessman Scott Harlan, who lives in unincorporated Redmond, led the petition effort, which and resulted in more than 6,000 signatures.

In addition to the filing with Division 1 of the Washington Court of Appeals, Eyman is also asking King County Superior Court Judge Laura C. Inveen to reconsider her October ruling.

Harlan said Wednesday he was unaware of Eyman's decision to appeal but said he knew it was always a possibility. Even though the Redmond City Council voted earlier this month to end the city's red-light camera pilot program, Harlan said he agrees that pursuing an appeal is important.

“From a legal perspective, I honestly believe the city should have turned in the signatures," he said. "If I were in Tim (Eyman)’s shoes I would absolutely agree that this is not something that we can just accept and move on.”

In the Oct. 11 decision, Inveen said McGehee overstepped her role as city clerk by not turning in the ballots for verification, but also said a September appeals ruling regarding a nearly identical petition in Bellingham that determined camera enforcement programs are not valid matters for initiative made the Redmond petition a legally "useless act."

Redmond Mayor John Marchione said the city would respond to Eyman's appeal within the allotted 14-day period and also pointed to the effectiveness of the council's review of the camera program.

"Our representative democracy works. It allowed for thoughtful examination of information and for citizens to petition their representatives," Marchione said in an email. "Mr. Eyman’s appeal wastes public resources pursuing a moot issue."