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 SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2010 6:10 am |
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Local News 
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Roe appointed interim county prosecutor EVERETT -- The Snohomish County Council this afternoon appointed Mark Roe to serve as interim county prosecutor.In a 3-2 vote, Roe, a senior deputy prosecutor, beat out fire commissioner and Seattle deputy prosecutor Jim Kenny and former deputy prosecutor Millie Judge. Roe was sworn into the position this afternoon by Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Ellen Fair. Roe will serve the rest of Janice Ellis’ term, which is up at the end of 2010. The former county prosecutor resigned last month to take job with the Tulalip Tribes. Councilmen Brian Sullivan, John Koster and Dave Somers voted for Roe. Councilmen Mike Cooper and Dave Gossett supported Kenny. Because Ellis is a Democrat, the county's Democrats were asked to submit three possible replacements to the County Council. Democratic precinct committee officers voted last month. Kenny led with 90 votes to Roe's 65 in a vote of precinct officers. Judge agreed to be the third applicant but wasn’t actively seeking the appointment and is endorsing Roe for the job. During today’s council meeting, all three candidates were given interviewed by council members about their goals and views of the prosecutor’s office. The council deliberated for about 30 minutes behind closed doors before returning with their decision. |
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COMMENTS
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Who are you? You may be a Dem, but you are not a PCO and I've never met you at any of the Snohomish County Democrat events (although I admit I am bad with names)?
If you were active with the county party, you'd realize that the PCO's are the lifeblood of the organization for both parties. They are the go-to folks when there is a hot button issue, or when a candidate needs feedback from the streets.
As for Mr. Somers & Mr. Sullivan, they have made their decision and obviously had a good reason. I look forward to hearing it, as does 3/5ths of the PCO's who have worked side-by-side with Jim Kenny over the years.
If you were active, instead of sitting on the sidelines, you'd realize that.
Jeff Craig | Dec 9, 2009 5:00 pm | 1 replies | Request removal
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We've met many a time. And I'm far more active than you, both physically and politically. In case you haven't figured it out, Tony Starks is a pen name.
Tony Starks | Dec 10, 2009 12:36 pm | Request removal
Tony Stark said:
So Tony, as you are a "registered PCO", does that make you a "baiased fringe activist" too? How about the 65 that voted FOR Mark Roe? The PCOs voted as MANDATED BY STATE LAW. You might try reading your PCO handbook sometime or is that banned reading at your house?
Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue
Chad Shue | Dec 9, 2009 5:54 pm | 2 replies | Request removal
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Chad,
It was my understanding that we were charged with selecting 3 candidates for the council to chose from. We only had two actual candidates and that might have made it feel like we were choosing "the guy", but we weren't.
The division of power between the party and the council for appointing this particular position makes sense when you consider that being prosecutor requires a specific skill set and qualifications (different than being a member of a legislative body, which only requires that you have opinions).
(A quick aside: Thank you Millie Judge for filling the third slot)
Bleeding Heart | Dec 09, 2009 9:29 pm | Request removal
Gee Chad, I guess I need a real genius like you to come over and read the book to me. While you're at it, maybe you better read it to Dave Somers too, because I guess he doesn't understand it as well as you either.
Of course I am one of the biased activists. The difference is that I am not so arrogant as to think that I know what is best for everyone else in the County. You should consider the fact that it is people like you and your idiot 17-time loser pal Jackie Minchew that make people want to avoid politics all together.
Tony Starks | Dec 10, 2009 12:27 pm | Request removal
Get Rid of Roe!Put politics aside you guys. We don't want Roe because he his not tough on sexual predators. He wanted to give only 3 years to my nephew's dad who raped my nephew. He felt it would not be fair because the pervert had already served 9 for raping my niece. We dont't need bleeding hearts like Roe.Get Rid of Roe!Get Rid of Roe! Get Rid of Roe!
joan mumm | Dec 10, 2009 7:15 am | 0 replies | Request removal
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Mark Roe was not appointed because of "who he knows." Mark Roe was appointed quite simply because he has earned it with merit. He is the most qualified person for the position and he has always been a dedicated public servant to this community for the past 20 years.
Lisa Micheli | Dec 9, 2009 4:50 pm | 2 replies | Request removal
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I wouldn't go so far as Chantel, but there's also no such thing as "earning" an elected partisan position outside of being elected to it. Elected offices aren't prizes handed out for stellar party attendance or being the best employee or the greatest trial attorney or anything else, for that matter. Democratic PCOs - each of whom represents about 200 actual voters (for a total of over 20,000 voters represented on Nov. 14) - made an overwhelming decision. Three council members disagreed with the PCOs. The public at large will deliver the final verdict next year, and that's as it should be.
Bill Phillips | Dec 09, 2009 5:25 pm | Request removal
All I am going to say is this, TIME TO END THIS!
manslaughter? cover up?
Dustin Willard murder? Nov 2008, cover up, or silenced up why?
The buck stopped on his desk for both.
Craig French | Dec 09, 2009 11:33 pm | Request removal
Time to End This!
All together now!
VOTE NO ON ROE!
VOTE NO ON ROE!
VOTE NO ON ROE!
Time to End This!
Craig French | Dec 9, 2009 11:26 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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As a Democrat, I am proud of the decision Dave Somers in particular made to support Roe. I am also a registered PCO, and I frankly think it is ridiculous that "we" think that the Couty Council should be bound to do whatever 90 part activists tell them to do. Their constituency is the ENTIRE County, not a handful of baiased fringe activists. Seriously?! Do we really know better than the Deputy Sherriffs Assoociation? Or the the DA's who work with Roe? Or the families of the victims he's represented? It's pretty arrogant to think that way.
Further, the argument one commenter made about Roe getting the job because of his friends is laughable. How do you think Kenney got all those PCO votes? Because they were impressed with his list of misdeamenor prosecutions? The guy had no relevant experience! What he did have was a rolodex full of PCO numbers and a stack of political chits to call in. This is not the correct way to appoint our top County law enforcement officer, and I am glad that some of our elected Dems realize that.
For those of you shouting from the far left fringe of our party, you need to wake up and start talking to your neighbors. Ninety five percent of folks think this whole PCO process is a joke. If the Council had decided to appoint a Seattle attorney with no presocetorial experience over the wishes of ALL of the County's law enforcement officers, the defense attorneys, the county staff and the multiple families of murder victims who lined up behind Roe, then it may have been enough to motivate the general public to line up with pitchforks and toss all of our elected democrats out.
Somers has got my vote, so does Roe, so does Sullivan.
Tony Starks | Dec 9, 2009 3:04 pm | 1 replies | Request removal
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Very well put.
Bleeding Heart | Dec 09, 2009 9:44 pm | Request removal
I was terribly worried that the PCOs had made a big big mistake in endorsing Jim Kenny. Not only does Jim simply lack the experience necessary to lead such an important office during such a tumultuous time, he does not agree with the party platform in the areas of criminal justice (the only ones relevant to the job as prosecutor).
Mark Roe, on the other hand does have the experience, and hold the same values as the democratic party. He's ready to prioritize the cases within the office; respecting the rights of the accused and the needs of the victims.
It saddens me that the party machine would try to force Jim Kenny into this position just because he has been present at party meetings -- that's certainly not a barometer of experience.
To my fellow PCOs reading this -- the council saved our butts this time. You owe Members Sulivan and Sommers (and dare I suggest Koster) a big thank you!!!
Bleeding Heart | Dec 9, 2009 9:19 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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I will be very slow to forgive the council members who voted for Mr. Roe. First of all, Mr. Kenny will be the elected prosecutor, you may bet money on it. Second, I will seriously consider supporting primary challengers to both the democratic councilmembers who voted against the mainstream Democrats. This is war.
BTW Jeff Craig, didn't you quit the Democratic party?
Jim DeBlasio | Dec 9, 2009 8:23 pm | 1 replies | Request removal
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Jim - what on Earth would make you think that????
No, still a Dem, still a PCO and always a Progressive!
Jeff Craig | Dec 09, 2009 9:01 pm | Request removal
Congratulations Mr. Roe. It's gratifying to see a qualified person get selected, even though political machinery in the county tried to prevent it. The fact that some think every decision and appointment must be based on party affiliation and past favors is sickening to many voters. Do a good job, and the voters will recognize it when the election comes.
Points Tofacts | Dec 9, 2009 8:32 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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It always hurts to be kicked in the teeth by your "friends". What makes it worse in this case is that the best person for the job wasn't chosen. Roe was picked because of who he knows plain and simple. The good news is there will be an election next year. Has anyone heard if Jim is running? I heard that he would but haven't seen it confirmed anywhere.
Chantel Robertson | Dec 9, 2009 2:49 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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Sullivan and Somers voted for this person, despite the vote of the elected Democratic PCO's across Snohomish County...Add this vote to their list of failings and we know we need Democratic challengers to Sullivan and Somers in the next primary election...
It's time to fish or cut bait and these County Councilmembers let us down today...
Anthony Vicari | Dec 9, 2009 2:20 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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