Municipal/Other Questionnaire 2022
Candidate Info
Candidate Name: Jim Ferrell
Position Sought: King County Prosecutor
Are you an incumbent for this position? Non-incumbent
Home Legislative District: 30th
Are you a Democrat? Yes
Campaign Info
Campaign Manager or Point of Contact: Stephen McNey
Mailing Address: PO Box 4991 Federal Way, WA 98063
Phone: +12535694482
Email: info@jimferrell.org
Website: jimferrell.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JimFerrellforProsecutor
Twitter:
Part I – Candidate Background
1. Please briefly describe your qualifications, education, employment, community and civic activity, union affiliation, prior political activity, and other relevant experience.
Growing up with a single mom in Yelm who worked two jobs to provide for us kids, my twin brother and I learned the importance of hard
work and perseverance. I went to the University of Washington where I was a walk-on for the football team and then on to Gonzaga
Law School.
I was a prosecutor in Renton before moving on to become a King County Senior Deputy Prosecutor. In 2000, I became the supervisor
of the newly created domestic violence court and served two terms as the president of the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Union. I
have prosecuted more cases than anyone else in the race.
I served on the Federal Way City Council from 2003 to 2013, and, in 2009, I led the successful grassroots effort to change Federal
Way’s form of government, moving from a city manager to an elected mayor system.
In 2013, I beat incumbent Republican Skip Priest to become Federal Way’s first Democratic Mayor. As Mayor, I have been a champion
for safe communities, smart growth, and transparent government. During the pandemic, I led with a public health approach, advocating
for needed support for small businesses, workers, and the most vulnerable.
2. What prompted you to run for this office?
Crime has increased in recent years and the King County Prosecutor has taken the wrong approach to address publics safety, failing to work with those served by that office on a coordinated way to address crime.
I have the experience as Mayor of Federal Way and 19 years as a prosecutor to return a sense of accountability to the King County Prosecutors office, focused on justice for victims of crime and accountability for offenders.
3. What steps are you taking to run a successful campaign?
Our plan to win is simple – raise more money, get more endorsements and translate that to more votes. We are currently the leader in
raising money and currently have more labor endorsements (8) than anyone else in the race. I have been endorsed by the South King
County Firefighters Local 2024, Washington State Fraternal Order of Police, Ironworkers Local 86, Pastor Gordon Banks, State Rep.
Amy Walen, former King County Councilmember Larry Phillips and the Mayors of Kent, Renton, Issaquah, Auburn, Algona, Black
Diamond, Covington, Des Moines, Duvall, Enumclaw, Maple Valley, Pacific and Tukwila.
4. What are your campaign’s most important themes, issues, or priorities (three to five)?
As King County Prosecutor I will create a Conviction Integrity Unit to ensure those in jail should actually be in jail.
I will work to adjust Filing and Disposition Standards (FADS) to meet community expectations and hold offenders accountable.
I will reassess involvement of DPA’s in Task Forces and other non-trial unit responsibilities to address the extensive backlog of cases
and trials.
My office will develop a much more robust communication system with partner Cities and law enforcement agencies, as well as with
defense, bar, and community agencies.
Part II – Yes/No Questions, please qualify your answer if necessary
1. Do you support steps to build a fairer economy through tax reform and progressive taxes as wealth increases? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #1
2. Do you support robust investment in publicly owned housing/subsidized housing for elderly and low-income individuals/families, and zoning changes to support such housing? No
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #2 I support local control of zoning, however, we must do all we can to help support families, seniors, and fundamentally address the ongoing housing crisis. As Mayor, I have worked to add nearly 1,000 units of affordable housing. Created a Housing Action Plan and dedicated staffing resources to plan for future housing developments. My administration has also
worked to support historically marginalized communities with COVID assistance, partnering with El
Centro De La Raza to distribute $500,000 in rental assistance, and to support women and minority
owned businesses.
3. Developer impact fees are allowed under the Growth Management Act. Should they be increased to help pay for needed improvements to our roads, parks, and schools? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #3
4. Do you support building a municipally owned and operated broadband system in your city or jurisdiction? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #4
5. Do you support local investments to address climate change where applicable? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #5 As Mayor of Federal Way, I created a climate action plan and rejoined K4C.
6. Do you support women’s unrestricted access to reproductive healthcare? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #6
7. Do you support laws regulating the purchase, ownership, and carrying of firearms? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #7 I believe in strengthening gun laws to require comprehensive background checks, eliminating the gun show loophole, and am supportive of federal legislation to limit high capacity magazines.
8. Do you support the right of workers to unionize and bargain, including public employees? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #8 Yes and I have previously served as the president of my former union.
Part III – Free Response (Please answer at least four fully, and consider the additional three optional)
1. Why are you requesting Democratic endorsement? What aspects of the Democratic platform most resonate with you?
I was a Republican through 2012 when I changed my affiliation to the Democratic Party in an op-ed in the Federal
Way Mirror – you can read it here: https://www.federalwaymirror.com/opinion/the-decision-to-switch-political-parties-jim-ferrell/
Since then, I successfully ran three times for Federal Way Mayor, a non-partisan office, but with the endorsement and backing of the Democratic Party
2. What public policy reforms do you support to achieve greater equity and inclusion for BIPOC and LBQIA+ individuals in our communities?
Racism and discrimination has no place in society and we must ensure the justice system is focused on accountability. Communication is key. As King County Prosecutor, I will ensure we have comprehensive communications strategies in place, meeting with credible messengers to deter crime. Like I have done as Mayor, I will advocate for and work to support families to ensure crimes of survival are deterred,
families have opportunities for good jobs, access to healthcare and community programs, and most importantly are represented and
listened to at all levels of government.
3. What steps do you think need to be taken to improve voter turnout and increase voter trust in our election process?
I support the steps our state has taken with mail voting and free returns. We must provide more access to drop boxes and confront those who tell lies about the fairness of our elections.
4. What important local issues have you worked on (or taken an interest in) that you feel aren’t getting enough attention from elected leaders and the local media?
The development of Federal Way’s downtown core.
5. Please list at least three specific, concrete actions you would support to ease the homelessness crisis.
We need to ensure that offenders have access to treatment, are treated compassionately, and have readily available medications.
My office will continue the critically important work being done in the Mental Health Court. We will work to find solutions that will help
reintegrate individuals with mental health issues back into society, so they can live health and productive lives.
Homelessness is a layered and complicated issue, as well as often having a co-occurring mental health component, chemical
dependency, and poverty issues.
We need to meet people where they are and develop strategies to get individuals housed, and back to productive and healthy lives.
6. What safety, law, or justice issues are currently facing your jurisdiction, and how will you address them?
Federal Way has seen the same issues as the rest of the county with the increase in violent drug and gun related crimes. We have worked with diversion programs, extra patrols, worked to coordinate Mayors across our county to share information and address hotspots of criminal activity.
7. What are the transportation/transit challenges which face your jurisdiction and how would you address them? What role does green energy play in your proposed solutions?
N/A
By typing my name below, I declare under penalty of perjury the foregoing is true and correct.
Printed Name: Jim Ferrell
Date (mm/dd/yy): 04/06/2022
