King County Prosecuting Attorney.
The King County Prosecuting Attorney is the legal advisor
and advocate for all county elected
and appointed officials, department heads,
and agency managers in actions relating to King County.
In addition, the prosecuting attorney represents the state
and the county in criminal matters and prosecutes felonies
and certain misdemeanors in King County.
The prosecuting attorney is elected to a four-year term
and the position is nonpartisan.
All voters within King County
are eligible to vote in this race.
-Hello. My name is Jim Ferrell,
candidate for King County Prosecutor.
The increasing crime throughout our county
is getting harder to ignore.
As mayor of Federal Way, a city of 100,000 residents,
I see firsthand how the policies and actions of the prosecutor
have impacted our quality of life
throughout this entire region.
Change must come to the prosecutor's office
if we want all of our communities
to be safe for each of us,
and that begins with experienced,
effective leadership at the helm.
I'm running for King County Prosecutor
to return justice and accountability to this office.
I've been in more trials and successfully prosecuted
more cases than anyone in the race.
In fact, I'm the only candidate
to have ever tried a criminal case.
I will bring nearly two decades
of trial experience to this office.
As deputy and senior prosecutor, I helped create
and was the first leader of the domestic violence court unit.
Under the current leadership of the prosecutor's office,
there is a backlog of nearly 5,000 felony cases,
including nearly 500 sexual assaults and 180 murders.
This is unacceptable to victims and survivors
of these serious crimes. Let me be clear:
I believe in second chances but not revolving doors,
where the same people commit the same crimes.
Diversion programs can help repair harm in communities.
But with no clear mechanisms to ensure compliance
with these taxpayer-funded programs
and serious violent cases qualifying for diversion,
they do not allow for people to learn from their mistakes.
With my extensive experience as a prosecutor and as a mayor,
I will utilize diversion programs to rehabilitate
those who commit crime and return people
to healthy and productive lives. I'm endorsed by Democrats,
including U.S. Congressman Adam Smith,
State Senator Mark Mullet, State Rep. Amy Walen,
15 current mayors across King County,
labor unions like LiUNA!
Local 242, ATU 587, Seattle Building Trades,
Firefighters Local 2024,
and the police guilds of Seattle,
King County, Bellevue, Kent, Federal Way, and Des Moines.
I ask for your vote. Thank you very much.
-I am Leesa Manion, a career prosecutor
who has served for the past 15 years
as chief of staff at the King County
Prosecuting Attorney's office.
With your vote, I will bring unmatched experience
and hands-on leadership.
I have built and implemented effective
crime reduction strategies,
reformed juvenile justice, and enhanced victim services.
I will focus on the public safety issues
facing our county and communities with needed urgency
to deliver criminal accountability, racial equity,
and restorative justice. Under my leadership,
600 professionals in the prosecutor's office
charge violent crimes, sexual assault,
and property crimes every day without exception,
even when the pandemic closed courts.
At a time of legal attacks on reproductive rights
and increased hate crimes, I will be the first woman
and the first person of color to serve as your prosecutor.
I am the only candidate for this office
who has developed criminal justice policies
and led teams of prosecutors.
I have built trusted partnerships
with law enforcement,
public defenders, business leaders,
and advocates for justice and equity.
I have increased support for victims
of domestic violence and assault
and supported alternative sentencing models
that have helped veterans, youth,
and people with behavioral health and addiction
crises repay their debts while rebuilding their lives.
I earned the Alliance for Gun Responsibility's
sole endorsement
because of my commitment to reducing gun violence.
I have enacted our state's strongest extreme
risk protection order policies
and provided law enforcement tools
to track down weapons used in crime.
I am the only candidate to have earned
the support of women's groups, Democratic organizations
and legislators, labor unions,
as well as retiring prosecutor Dan Satterberg,
former Governor Gary Locke, Executive Dow Constantine,
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson,
and elected and community leaders from across our region.
I ask for your vote. Thank you.