Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell is officially running for King County prosecutor.

Ferrell, who was re-elected by Federal Way voters for a third term as mayor in Nov. 2021, announced his campaign on Jan. 27. He filed for the position on the day that outgoing King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg announced he is not seeking re-election at the end of this year.

“I believe that this region is at a tipping point with regard to the safety of our community,” Ferrell said, adding that his new leadership is needed for better accountability and transparency.

Ferrell said his main focuses are developing strategies to keep communities safer, and holding people accountable through fair and equitable processes when violent crime erupts.

For 19 years, Ferrell was a King County senior deputy prosecutor prior to becoming mayor. He also supervised King County’s domestic violence court and was president of the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Union for two terms.

He has held public office for 18 years, serving 10 years on the Federal Way City Council and serving as Federal Way’s elected mayor since 2014.

Filing standards of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office have pushed the responsibility to prosecute crimes down to the cities, and “I don’t think that’s appropriate,” Ferrell said. “At some point, I think compassion can go too far.”

He plans to have a presence in Olympia, he said, to bring the prosecutor’s leadership to the forefront in areas such as changing recent police reform laws that some law enforcement agencies and elected officials say have thrown obstacles into law enforcement operations.

Ferrell said he also thinks the possession of drugs should be made illegal again because the decriminalizing has fueled violence in King County communities, he said.

Though the King County prosecuting attorney position is nonpartisan, Ferrell’s campaign announcement highlights that he is a Democrat.

“There should be nothing partisan about achieving justice and holding people accountable,” he said.

Ferrell’s supporters include the mayors of Auburn, Renton, Kent, Tukwila, Maple Valley, Enumclaw, Black Diamond, Covington, Pacific and Algona. He is endorsed by the Washington State Fraternal Order of Police.

“I believe in second chances. Everyone deserves an opportunity to learn from their mistakes and course correct,” he said in the announcement of his campaign. “I will bring together local leaders, community organizations and law enforcement to ensure these programs succeed while rooted in accountability.”

As a Federal Way resident, Ferrell said he provides a certain perspective from other King County cities outside of Seattle.

“I want to speak for all of the people in King County,” he said. “But there are 37 other cities in King County, over a million people, and their voice needs to be heard as well, in addition to Seattle.”

Ferrell grew up in Yelm. He attended the University of Washington and graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law.

So far, two other candidates are running for county prosecutor: Leesa Manion, chief of staff for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for 15 years, and King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski, according to the Public Disclosure Commission.