County’s clerk-elect picks chief deputy

Published 11:03 pm Thursday, November 29, 2007

EVERETT — A veteran manager in the Snohomish County clerk’s office has been tapped to become the chief deputy for newly elected clerk Sonya Kraski.

Kathleen Gunn, now a senior manager responsible for court operations, will be Kraski’s top aide.

Kraski, who defeated Snohomish County Treasurer Bob Dantini in the general election, said this is her first public move as clerk-elect to establish her management team.

“Kathleen has direct experience working with the Superior Court judges and commissioners and is well known throughout the legal community for her commitment to excellence,” Kraski said in a statement.

“She brings a great deal of institutional knowledge to the post, understands the fine details of the court system, and is diligent in staff relations — all of which benefit the customers of the clerk’s office,” Kraski said.

Gunn has been with the clerk’s office since 1986. She also has been responsible for management of juries and worked with now retired Judge Joseph Thibodeau as a courtroom clerk.

Kraski will replace Pam Daniels in January. Daniels could not run for the office again because of the county charter’s term limits.

Dantini also couldn’t run for a third term as treasurer because of term limits, and he sought the clerk’s post.

The clerk’s office is the hub of the justice system. It is responsible for keeping records for the Superior Court, manages juries and collects court-ordered fines and restitution.

The office has nearly 90 employees and a budget of about $6.7 million.