ELECTION 2022: King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg won’t run for fifth term; first candidate announces

(Photo courtesy King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office)

12:30 PM: Next year, that window will have someone else’s name on it. King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg announced this morning that, after four terms, he will not seek re-election. He said, “I have 358 days left in my term. I am determined to finish well.” Satterberg has been with the office since joining as an intern in the mid-1980s. The KCPAO is responsible for prosecuting crimes defined in state law as felonies. From his announcement today:

When the pandemic started, we were the first in the state and one of the first offices in the nation to have a 100% remote domestic violence protection order service. That meant that people who were trapped at home with abusers no longer needed to physically come down to the courthouse to get court-ordered protection.

We were also one of the first in the state and one of the first in the nation to create a data dashboard – revealing in great detail our work, our priorities and the challenges that await. We make informed decisions based on this data. It’s right there on the front page of our office website for anyone to see.

We are also launching new and innovative community partnerships and diversion programs with trusted community non-profit organizations that are here to help victims of crime as well as the people who have caused the harm. I am encouraged by the support of the County Executive and County Council for our community-based diversion programs. We have the goals of interrupting violence, of decreasing crime, and creating community connections that are part of accountability.

We’ve done all of this while also filing roughly 25-30 cases felony every day. These are the most serious crimes that occur in King County – murders and assaults, armed robbery, residential burglaries, sexual assaults, child abuse, among many others. Most of our cases never make the news — but we’re in court every day, trying jury trials, filing serious violent cases and resolving cases. During the COVID period, things have slowed, but never stopped.

Satterberg was a Republican when elected in 2007 and announced in 2018 that he had changed parties. He has roots close to this area; he attended high school in Burien, and his father practiced law in White Center.

12:58 PM: The first candidate has just announced – Satterberg’s chief of staff, Leesa Manion, says she’s running.

The King January 7, 2022 (1:54 pm)

He will be sorely missed by the people who benefited from the nepotism created in his office. Good riddance

John Smith January 7, 2022 (2:09 pm)

I wonder if Mr. Satterberg sensed that voters are tiring of weak-on-crime prosecutors.

Curious January 7, 2022 (3:00 pm)

Or perhaps after working 37 years for King County he just wants to retire. Heaven knows l would.

Jeff January 7, 2022 (2:53 pm)

Good riddance. Hopefully somebody that believes in prosecuting felonies will run and help restore law and order the city desperately needs.

Jon Wright January 7, 2022 (3:56 pm)

In my experience there is a high correlation between people advocating for “law and order” and those who complain about high taxes. Irrespective of the philosophical issues, tough-on-crime prosecution requires court and prison capacity that nobody seems to want to fund.

flimflam January 7, 2022 (5:48 pm)

I think most sane people would welcome some actual law and order for their tax dollars.
- WS Guy January 7, 2022 (11:34 pm)
  
  I’d consider that taxes well spent.
Hmmm January 8, 2022 (9:43 am)

I am happy to have my tax dolkars go toward prisons, but not sure about the privately run ones. We do need to incarcerate more though. But maybe instead of a set sentencing it’s more flluid based on rehabilitation progress. People who are ready to reenter society can have their records expunged. But it needs to start with incarceraion. Including for drug use. Wish that were still a crime. So yes, I would support my dollars gong toward something like that.

Jeff January 7, 2022 (4:32 pm)

Leesa Manion lives in West Seattle according to this article: https://www.seattleweekly.com/news/chief-of-staff-for-the-king-county-prosecuting-attorneys-office-leesa-manion-to-run-for-county-prosecutor/

WSB January 7, 2022 (6:06 pm)

Figures, the one time I didn’t cross-reference someone to see if they were a West Seattleite … crashed out the quick mention while also working on a couple other things … but now that I read the entire news release, its last line is “lives with her two children in West Seattle” – TR
- waikikigirl January 8, 2022 (3:12 pm)
  
  We forgive you for missing that!
Question Authority January 8, 2022 (8:28 am)

She’s been following the same playbook as he has and therefore a poor choice for crime reduction and any improvement in Public Safety.

Mj January 7, 2022 (5:40 pm)

It’s time to lock up repeat offenders, people who steal catalytic converters for example cost the owners of the affected vehicles significant time and money and need to be made accountable.

In the past people were being locked up for smoking a joint that that did not adversely affect other’s. This was wrong.

;

bill January 7, 2022 (10:25 pm)

Felony theft starts at $750. That is probably per item/incident, not the aggregate that a catalytic converter “collector” might be found with. The main problem is catching these people. At a minimum they will be carrying a power saw so these are not people citizens should try to confront. I think the ultimate fix is to clamp down on recyclers. The legislature is going to consider a bill making recycling harder for “Joe off the street” this session. As for making criminals accountable for restitution, ha ha, that’s usually ordered as part of sentencing and nothing comes of it. Our burglar was caught right quick fifteen years ago. We’ve never seen a dime.

Millie January 8, 2022 (4:57 pm)

Thank you King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg for your thirty-seven years service. There have been many changes in the law and justice arena over the past 37 years. It could not have been easy. Always someone unhappy with decisions made. Enjoy your retirement!