Chief-of-Staff Dan Satterberg has been chosen by the King County Council as the temporary temporary Prosecuting Attorney. Meanwhile, as per the State Constitution, the King County Republican Party will nominate 3 candidates, from whom the Council will select a permanent temporary Prosecuting Attorney to serve until the voters elect a Prosecutor this fall to serve out the remainder of Norm Maleng's term, which runs through 2010. The Council has up to 60 days to make this appointment, which means that it might be made only days before the primary election.
Anybody who wants to run for the job this August/November needs to file by June 8.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at May 29, 2007 02:49 PM | Email This
I agree with your assessment of the chances of a Republican winning this race. But I wasn't aware that having a chance of winning was a necessary pre-requisite for you to run for office. If you're going to restrict yourself in the future to elections you have a chance of winning, I doubt this one is right for you.
I've seen Dunn in the press quite a bit in the past few months, and I think that he's visible enough to mount a serious campaign, especially if the McKay's decide not to run. If Dunn or the McKays stay out of the race, the Republicans are doomed to lose this seat that they've safely held for the past thirty years.
What is the process for nominating someone to fill out Maleng's term? As I understand it, the candidate that is appointed by the Council only stays there until December. What role does the convention this weekend play in all of this?
Posted by: SeattleR on May 29, 2007 07:07 PMIf they get the right person in there then they have a shot. I am not sure the Dems have anybody great to run at this point. We really just need a good attorney who has the legal ability to make the tough decisions and the managerial ability to run the department. Personally I could care less if they are R or D.
Posted by: Giffy on May 29, 2007 09:13 PMThe GOP would have to nominate someone politically tolerable for King County and professionally strong like Dan Satterberg or John McKay in order to hold this position.
It's interesting that Mr Satterburg is interested in spending significant County resources on the Colacurcio family and five (5) parking spots at Ricks, but minimum interest in voter integrity
Considering Richard Pope's investigation of KCGOP PDC filings, it would be interesting to have Mr Pope use his investigative talents on Mr Satterburg's actions and KC Dem PDC filings
Posted by: King County voter on May 30, 2007 07:00 AMThat is partially correct. That's the filing date to appear on the ballot.
However, candidates have until Saturday, June 2 (about 50 hours from the time I post this) to announce if they seek to run as a Republican. The Republican convention on Saturday will certify candidates who receive at least 25% of the vote at the convention.
[Note this is exactly the same procedure used in 2005 that certified both Steve Hammond and Reagan Dunn to the ballot in the primary between them. (But not certify a challenger in one of the other races, which challenger then did not run).
So expect candidates to be announcing today or tomorrow.
Posted by: Dick on May 30, 2007 08:56 AMPflaumer now has her fingers in the SPD oversight process. She gains appointments to various other oversight and watchdog groups.
She may not have campaign experience but she's the legal darling of the likes of Steinbrueck and his allies.
Makes me shudder to think about her possibly becoming prosecutor and in turn law enforcement's biggest hurdle in King County.
The State GOP rules about "certification" of primary candidates are all fine and dandy as a matter of political etiquette -- which potential candidates may honor or disregard at their pleasure and wisdom.
But they do not have the force of law. RCW 29A.24.031(3) allows a candidate to freely designate their party designation when filing, without regard to party rules or party approval.
The Washington State Republican Party is currently suing the State of Washington to declare this provision unconstitutional and restrict filing in the Republican primary to candidates "certified" by conventions under state party rules. U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington at Seattle, No. C05-927Z.
However, Judge Thomas Zilly has not yet ruled on that portion of the State GOP's lawsuit. Judge Zilly entered an order on August 12, 2005 declining to decide that issue at the present time, and staying all further proceedings until the appeal from his decision striking down the "Top Two" primary could be decided.
So at the present time, any person meeting the statutory qualifications for any of the county offices subject to election this fall (Prosecutor, Assessor, and Council Districts 2, 4, 6 and 8) can file a declaration of candidacy next week, state that they are a Republican, and their name will appear on the August primary election. If that person receives the most valid votes from people choosing to vote for Republican candidates in the August primary, they will appear as the Republican candidate on the November ballot.
Posted by: Richard Pope on May 30, 2007 12:10 PM