Pierce County Charter: Voters Keep Elected Sheriff, Reject Ombuds
Early returns show 67% opposition to appointing the sheriff and 52% opposition to a new oversight office.
By Ethan Cooper ·
More than 67% of Pierce County voters cast ballots against changing how the sheriff is selected. Early results from the November election show the measure to convert the role from an elected to an appointed position failing by a wide margin. This outcome preserves the status quo in a county that has had an elected sheriff since 2006.
The second ballot measure, a public safety ombuds office to oversee the sheriff's department, also failed. Approximately 52% of voters rejected the amendment. Both proposals originated from the Pierce County charter review commission, a body of residents that meets roughly once every decade to recommend changes to the local government structure. A majority of the commission must approve any amendment before it reaches the ballot.
Sheriff Keith Swank, who won his seat in 2024, faces removal from office in January if the first amendment had passed. Under the proposed change, the Pierce County executive would have appointed the sheriff, subject to approval by a majority of the county council. Ryan Mello, the current Pierce County executive, told NWPB earlier this year that he supported the initiative. With the measure defeated, Swank retains his position through the current term.
Swank has been involved in several controversies recently. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs began investigative proceedings to potentially expel him from the organization. These actions followed comments Swank made at a legislative committee hearing that were viewed as threatening by some peers.
The ombuds proposal drew comparisons to existing offices in other jurisdictions. King County maintains an ombuds office for all its departments, while the city of Spokane has a similar office dedicated to its police department. The Pierce County initiative would have created a specific oversight role for the sheriff's department.
The Tacoma News Tribune reported that passing both amendments would have incurred substantial costs for the county. While final tallies are pending, the early numbers indicate that Pierce County residents have chosen to maintain their current system for both the sheriff's selection and departmental oversight. Full results will be posted on the Washington Secretary of State's website in the coming days.
