Bill Sherman: County Prosecutor, King County

For the first time in its history, the Sierra Club is endorsing a candidate for King County Prosecutor. Though not traditionally thought of as an agency that deals with environmental issues, the King County Prosecutor's Office has the potential to be a powerful environmental watchdog under the right leader. And that leader is Bill Sherman.

"Some candidates are sympathetic to our efforts to better protect the environment, but it's not a top priority," said Kevin Fullerton , chair of the Sierra Club's Seattle Group Political Committee. "Bill is different. He understands that the environment can no longer be sacrificed to continue business as usual. He has the makings of an environmental champion."

Mr. Sherman has excellent legal and environmental credentials. Currently an attorney for the King County Prosecutor, he also served for three years as special assistant to Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt and has worked on two Exxon Valdez-related cases on behalf of spill victims. Mr. Sherman is also a Sierra Club member.

"The King County Prosecutor, historically, has played only a minor role in the protection of the environment." said Mr. Sherman. "I believe, however, that the people of King County have very strong environmental values, and I share those values."

Mr. Sherman believes the office can be a bully pulpit to advocate for improved environmental law in Olympia. But he also notes that laws already on the books can serve the environment if properly interpreted by the prosecutor in his role as the county's legal advisor. He suggested that the Burke-Gilman Trail could be protected if it were labeled an "essential public facility," though that designation has usually been reserved for mega-projects such as filtration plants and roads.

To prosecute environmental crimes, Mr. Sherman proposes developing an environmental strike force based on a model used in Los Angeles. Because the prosecutor's office has few resources for investigation, the first stage would be to create an interagency task force with federal and state agencies that have investigators. The county's deputy prosecutors would work with partner agencies to develop cases and prosecute environmental crimes.

"I will aim to make King County a national leader in environmental crime enforcement," he said.

candidate’s website: http://www.billsherman.org/