County Seat Lawsuit Filed

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By Molly Kelleher

Summary

Retired judge Fred Staples isn't just taking on the county, now he's taking on the state. It's all about that decades-long debate: Does the county seat belong in Prosser? Action News reporter Molly Kelleher was with staples Monday as he marched into the auditor's office to serve papers on the county.

Story Published: Mar 9, 2009 at 8:44 PM PST

County Seat Lawsuit Filed
PROSSER - Retired judge Fred Staples isn't just taking on the county, now he's taking on the state. It's all about that decades-long debate: Does the county seat belong in Prosser?

Action News reporter Molly Kelleher was with staples Monday as he marched into the auditor's office to serve papers on the county.

Retired Benton County judge Fred Staples is at it again. This is yet another round in his fight to move the county seat from Prosser to Kennewick.

Staples walked into the auditor's office to serve papers for a lawsuit against the county.
He's now fighting the county and the state attorney general.

Staples wants to use 2009 year's voter turnout to determine how many signatures he needs to put a county seat move on the ballot for 2010.

But the Attorney General's office says you can't use odd-year voter turnout, Staples disagrees.

"If I had to use the last November election it would be astronomical number 25,000. I've got close to that but if I could use 2009 it would be a whole lot less," said Staples.

Fred Staples has proven to be a man of both words and actions, but folks here in Prosser say, enough is enough.

"He's very stubborn and he's very consistent you got to give him credit for that but I live in a small town so I want to protect my county seat," said Ray Carter.

It's the same debate we've been having for a quarter of a century. Staples first organized a ballot measure in 1984. It didn't get enough votes.

Just last year, Staples tried another tactic. He ran for county commission, his only campaign issue was the county seat. He made it past the primary, but lost in general election.

"It's not dead until I'm dead," said Staples.

From petitions, to rejections, now litigation. This county seat fight might end in county with one judge's decision about this judge's fight.