-Hello. My name is Jim Ferrell,
candidate for King County Prosecutor.
The increasing crime throughout our county
is getting harder to ignore.
As mayor of Federal Way, a city of 100,000 residents,
I see firsthand how the policies and actions of the prosecutor
have impacted our quality of life
throughout this entire region.
Change must come to the prosecutor's office
if we want all of our communities
to be safe for each of us,
and that begins with experienced,
effective leadership at the helm.
I'm running for King County Prosecutor
to return justice and accountability to this office.
I've been in more trials and successfully prosecuted
more cases than anyone in the race.
In fact, I'm the only candidate
to have ever tried a criminal case.
I will bring nearly two decades
of trial experience to this office.
As deputy and senior prosecutor, I helped create
and was the first leader of the domestic violence court unit.
Under the current leadership of the prosecutor's office,
there is a backlog of nearly 5,000 felony cases,
including nearly 500 sexual assaults and 180 murders.
This is unacceptable to victims and survivors
of these serious crimes. Let me be clear:
I believe in second chances but not revolving doors,
where the same people commit the same crimes.
Diversion programs can help repair harm in communities.
But with no clear mechanisms to ensure compliance
with these taxpayer-funded programs
and serious violent cases qualifying for diversion,
they do not allow for people to learn from their mistakes.
With my extensive experience as a prosecutor and as a mayor,
I will utilize diversion programs to rehabilitate
those who commit crime and return people
to healthy and productive lives. I'm endorsed by Democrats,
including U.S. Congressman Adam Smith,
State Senator Mark Mullet, State Rep. Amy Walen,
15 current mayors across King County,
labor unions like LiUNA!
Local 242, ATU 587, Seattle Building Trades,
Firefighters Local 2024,
and the police guilds of Seattle,
King County, Bellevue, Kent, Federal Way, and Des Moines.
I ask for your vote. Thank you very much.