Mark Roe holds wide lead over Jim Kenny in prosecutor race

Chances for Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Roe to keep his job looked very good based on Tuesday's primary election returns.

Roe had fully two-thirds -- 66.7 percent -- of the 65,069 votes tallied. Rival Jim Kenny had 31.4 percent.

Both Democratic candidates advance to the general election in November.

This is a rematch of sorts because last year Kenny and Roe competed to serve out the term of former Prosecuting Attorney Janice Ellis when she stepped down.

Kenny edged out Roe for votes among Snohomish County Democratic Party precinct committee officers. A majority of the Snohomish County Council, however, opted to appoint Roe to the vacant seat.

Roe, 51, of Marysville, has worked 22 years as a Snohomish County deputy prosecutor. He's also a long-time board member with Families and Friends of Violent Crime Victims, an advocacy center that serves hundreds of people each year.

Kenny, 41, lives in the Silver Firs neighborhood near Mill Creek and works in Seattle as an assistant city prosecutor. He also serves as a commissioner for Snohomish County Fire District 1.

Roe has identified public safety as his top priority, saying the "prosecuting attorney is a law enforcement position, not a legislative or political one."

Kenny said he wants to clean up county government. He said he plans on dedicating a deputy prosecutor to investigate public corruption issues.