Pierce County Rejects Sheriff Appointment

As of Friday, 68 percent of Pierce County voters had rejected a proposal to replace the elected sheriff with an appointed official. This outcome ensures that Sheriff Keith Swank will remain in his position through the end of his current term. He was elected to a four-year term in 2024 with just over 50 percent of the vote.

The measure, known as Charter Amendment 53, would have forced Swank out of office on Jan. 1, 2027, had it passed. Instead, the county will continue to select its sheriff through direct election. King County is the only other jurisdiction in the state with an appointed sheriff.

Swank expressed satisfaction with the result on Thursday. He stated that the outcome indicates residents wish to maintain their right to vote for the role. He noted that some voters who did not support his candidacy in 2024 voted against the amendment because they valued the elected nature of the position over the specific individual holding it.

Pierce County voters also voted down Charter Amendment 54, which sought to create a new board for independent oversight of the sheriff and the department. Swank said he did not want the measure to pass and indicated he would not cooperate if it had been approved.

In Snohomish County, voters opposed Proposition 3 by a margin of 70 percent to 30 percent. The proposal would have removed partisan labels from candidates running for county executive and county council seats next year. Jennifer Gregerson, a Democrat activist and former mayor of Mukilteo, served on the charter review commission and opposed the amendment.

Gregerson argued that partisan identification provides voters with necessary information. She expressed relief that residents recognized the importance of this data and did not want candidates to conceal their political beliefs. The state constitution generally allows individuals to hold two elected offices simultaneously, though specific limits apply.

In Everett, the largest city in Snohomish County, voters approved Proposition 1 by 93 percent on Friday. This measure bans the mayor and city council members from holding any other elected public office at any level of government while in their city positions. The prohibition covers county, state, and federal offices, as well as school, fire, port, and public utility districts.

The only exception to the ban is the role of precinct committee officer. A mayor or council member may still run for another office, such as the state legislature or county council. However, if they win that election, they must vacate their city post upon being sworn into the new position.

Randy Bolerjack, a member of the city charter review panel who backed the measure, said the change addresses a common practice in the region. He stated that representatives in government should hold the trust of one elected position at a time, citing examples of politicians collecting multiple offices across Snohomish County.

In Clark County, 82 percent of voters approved Charter Amendment 19, which limits council members to three consecutive terms in office. After serving three terms, a member must sit out one full term before becoming eligible to run again. The measure’s explanation states that this policy balances the value of accumulated experience with the benefit of periodic turnover and new perspectives.