Official Ballot Title: The Pierce County Charter Review Commission has proposed an amendment to the Pierce County Charter establishing an elected Pierce County Sheriff beginning in 2008, and providing for transition from the current appointed sheriff to a sheriff elected by the voters. Shall this Charter Amendment be approved?

Explanatory Statement: The current Pierce County Charter provides that the Sheriff is an executive department appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by a majority of the Council.

Proposed Charter Amendment 1 would make the position of the Pierce County Sheriff an elected office. The first election for sheriff would be held in the normal nominating primary and general election of 2008. It also provides that the Sheriff holding office on the effective date of this amendment may choose to serve as sheriff until a successor is elected and commences to serve.

Statement “For” Election of Sheriff
  
The Sheriff of Pierce County is now appointed by the County Executive.

Pierce County is only one of fourteen counties in the USA that has an appointed Sheriff.  Pierce County is the only county in the State of Washington with an appointed Sheriff. Counties through our nation have found that an elected Sheriff is more accountable to the citizens with the goal to serve the people of the county. 

An elected Sheriff  has the support of those who have worked for and elected him, his constituency, the people of the county.  

This relationship with the voting public empowers an elected Sheriff, responsive to the needs of the county, to act more freely.

By being an elected official, the Sheriff will be hands-on in providing services to our county. Our neighboring county, King County went from an appointed Sheriff to an elected Sheriff, Dave Reichert. 

Vote “yes” on Amendment 1.

Committee Members: Mike Venuto, Kevin Wimsett, Ken Dolan

Statement "Against" Election of Sheriff

The Charter provides for a "nomination/ confirm-ation" process whereby the Executive recruits candidates nation-wide based on education, training, and law enforcement experience and then "nominates" the most qualified to the Council for "confirmation."

It is hard for the electorate to examine the qualifications of Sheriff candidates. An elected Sheriff must spend time electioneering, which greatly detracts from law enforcement duties.

"Nominated/ confirmed" Sheriffs are more likely to be professional and qualified; candidates for elected Sheriffs are likely to be discontented deputies whose elections will cause internal dissension.

Elected Sheriffs will have to bow to the wishes of the officer’s unions to get endorsements.

An ineffective elected Sheriff can be replaced only at the end of his/her term. An incompetent "nominated/confirmed" Sheriff can be replaced immediately. 

Daily scrutiny by the Council, Executive and public provides accountability. Let’s not make our Sheriff a political game.

Committee Members: Burt Talcott, Barbara Skinner, John Ladenburg

Rebuttal “For” Election of Sheriff

The voters of Pierce County are able and willing to elect the next Sheriff, just like they elect the Executive, and the County Council.

Every county in Washington but Pierce elects their Sheriff, we are just as capable as the rest of the State, Vote “Yes”.

Committee Members: Mike Venuto, Kevin Wimsett, Ken Dolan