No third term for Snohomish County Prosecutor Mark Roe

EVERETT — Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Roe has decided not to run for a third term in office.

Roe, 58, on Wednesday said he quietly has been letting staff and community leaders know that he plans to retire from that job when his term ends in December 2018.

He has spent more than 30 years prosecuting criminal cases here, and has led the office since being appointed to the top job in 2009. Voters have twice decided to keep him in that role.

Roe said he’d been “waffling” about whether to seek another four years in office, but a recent health scare brought the decision into sharper focus.

“A couple of months ago, my doctor ate my waffle,” he said.

Roe said his health is fine and he remains fit, but the episode “made crystal clear to me I need to take better care of myself.”

He also wants to spend more time with his wife, longtime deputy prosecutor Lisa Paul, who retired earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Roe said, there is plenty of work to accomplish during the next 14 months.

“There are important decisions to be made between now and 2018 and I still think I’m the best person to make them,” he said.

Roe said he’s hopeful that Adam Cornell will make a bid to become the county’s next prosecuting attorney. Roe has supervised Cornell during the 15 years he’s worked as a deputy prosecutor.

“He would do a great job in continuing the traditions of our office,” Roe said.

Cornell, 45, of Edmonds, has long been viewed as a potential candidate for prosecutor or another elected office.

“I deeply appreciate Mr. Roe’s kind words about me and I expect to have an announcement of some kind or another in the coming weeks,” Cornell said Wednesday.

Scott North: 425-339-3431; north@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @snorthnews.