Pierce County voters decide sheriff's fate Nov. 3

Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank could lose his job on Jan. 1, 2027, if voters approve Charter Amendment 53 on the Nov. 3 ballot.

The measure would convert the sheriff from an elected position to an appointed one. The county executive would pick the sheriff, subject to Pierce County Council confirmation.

Swank, narrowly elected in 2024 to a four-year term, would be removed from office two years early, the Seattle Times reported.

A companion measure, Charter Amendment 54, would create a new Public Safety Ombuds Office to independently oversee the Sheriff's Office.

The ombuds would have subpoena power to investigate complaints, according to the News Tribune. That office's estimated annual budget is $630,000 to $830,000.

Both amendments are among seven changes to the Pierce County Charter on the ballot. The charter functions as the county's constitution.

A 21-member Charter Review Commission, elected in 2025, reviewed 57 proposals and placed seven on the ballot, according to Pierce County's charter review page.

The Swank factor

The amendment would end a sitting sheriff's term.

Charter Review Commissioner Justin Leighton, who represents District 7 including Gig Harbor and parts of North Tacoma, added language in mid-June to terminate Swank's term on Jan. 1, 2027.

That was two weeks before the commission gave final approval, the Center Square reported.

The commission voted 12-9 to place Amendment 53 on the ballot, according to Gig Harbor Now.

Three Pierce County voters asked a Thurston County Superior Court judge to block the measure, arguing the county had no authority to abolish the elected office or end Swank's term. The judge denied the challenge.

Swank told the Center Square in an Oct. 23 interview: "I don't know if it'll win or not, but I'm not scared about it because I'm a winner either way."

He said if voters remove him, he would return to real estate. If they don't, he would continue as sheriff.

Arguments on both sides

Supporters say an appointed sheriff would increase accountability. The county executive and council could remove a sheriff immediately rather than waiting for the next election.

Supporters also argue the change would open a national candidate search, drawing from a wider pool than Pierce County registered voters alone.

Kristen Wynne, founder and chair of the Tacoma Business Council, argued at an Oct. 14 League of Women Voters forum that voters' choice should be respected.

She said a yes vote would terminate an elected sheriff's term two years early, according to Gig Harbor Now.

Opponents, including former Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier, former Sheriff Paul Pastor and former state Auditor Brian Sonntag, wrote the voters guide statement against the measure.

Their statement said an elected sheriff answers directly to the people, while an appointed sheriff answers first to the official who appoints them.

King County is the only one of Washington's 39 counties with an appointed sheriff. Pierce County itself had an appointed sheriff from 1980 to 2006, when voters switched back to an elected position.

What the ombuds office would do

Amendment 54 would create a new executive department with authority to monitor all matters involving the Sheriff's Office. The ombuds could subpoena information and witnesses, and would publish findings and recommendations.

The fiscal impact statement estimates the office would need four full-time employees: a director, a senior policy and investigations analyst, a data and performance analyst and an investigator handling community engagement.

The News Tribune reported the office would be most similar to Spokane's Office of Police Ombuds, which has four employees and an $860,000 budget.

Supporters argue the oversight costs would be offset by reduced litigation. Between 2021 and 2025, the Sheriff's Office and Juvenile Court accounted for 72% of claims and litigation expenses paid by the county, according to the News Tribune. Critics say existing accountability mechanisms, including the Sheriff's Office Internal Investigations unit, already serve that function.