Dunn in the AG race
OLYMPIA -- King County Councilman Reagan Dunn officially entered the 2012 race for state attorney general Tuesday a post opening up because current occupant Rob McKenna is running for governor.
Dunn, a Republican, was welcomed to the race King County Councilman Bob Ferguson, who got in the race in February. Being a Democrat, Ferguson had no reason to wait for the GOP incumbent to announce he was trying to move up. But won't those county council meetings be fun?
Dunn has lined up GOP endorsements from McKenna, former AG Ken Eikenberry and several former U.S. attorneys including Jim McDevitt and Bill Hyslop.
His announcement statemment, as well as Ferguson's "welcome" statement, can be found inside the blog.
Reagan Dunn Announces Run for Attorney General
Former federal prosecutor and current King County Councilmember stresses experience and leadership, touts early fundraising success
BELLEVUE, WA -- King County Councilmember and former Federal Prosecutor, Reagan Dunn, today announced that he will run for Washington State Attorney General in 2012. Dunn, a former official at the U.S. Justice Department in Washington, D.C. and Assistant U.S. Attorney in Seattle, is seeking to succeed Rob McKenna, a two-term Republican Attorney General who recently announced his campaign for Governor.
"I am running for Attorney General because I am concerned about the overall direction of Washington State Government and I believe we can do much better. While Rob McKenna has done a very fine job as our AG, much more still needs to be done. Our state faces significant challenges, including high unemployment, an unfavorable business climate for job creation, and crime levels that are unacceptable."
Dunn also announced some high-powered endorsements from the legal community, including current Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna, former Attorney General Ken Eikenberry, and five former United States Attorneys -- Mike McKay, Jim McDevitt, Bill Hyslop, Jeff Sullivan and John McKay.
"Reagan Dunn brings the right balance of criminal and civil legal experience that our state needs in an Attorney General," said Rob McKenna.
"His service as a federal prosecutor, work in private practice and experience as a regional leader on the King County Council make him the top candidate to be our next Attorney General, and I strongly endorse him."
Bill Hyslop, a former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington State (Spokane) said, "Reagan Dunn will be an outstanding "law and order" Attorney General. As a former federal prosecutor, preserving safe communities in both Eastern and Western Washington are top priorities for him. He is passionate about this entire state and will represent all of us."
Jim McDevitt, also a former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington State (Spokane) said, "Reagan Dunn is the perfect choice for Washington State Attorney General. He has not only the law enforcement experience gained working for the Department of Justice, both in Washington D.C. and in the field as a line Assistant U.S. Attorney, but he also has gained valuable experience as an elected official in his current position. For these reasons, I am more than happy to endorse him as Washington's next Attorney General."
Jeff Sullivan, also a former United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington State and a former Yakima County Prosecutor said, "I worked with Reagan Dunn as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Seattle and he was a very tough prosecutor. Reagan is a fine lawyer and he is not afraid to fight for what is right. He will make a great Attorney General."
Before being appointed in 2005 to replace Attorney General Rob McKenna on the King County Council, Dunn had a distinguished career in the U.S.
Department of Justice. As a Special Assistant United States Attorney in both the Southern District of Florida and the District of Columbia, Dunn prosecuted narcotics cases and other street crimes. He then joined the United States Attorney’s Office in Seattle as an Assistant United States Attorney in the General Crimes Unit, prosecuting a variety of crimes including narcotics manufacturing, child pornography, Internet crimes, and bank fraud.
Dunn was promoted to the Terrorism and Violent Crime Unit. As a member of this elite team of prosecutors with Top Secret clearance, Dunn’s chief duties included the investigation and prosecution of federal weapons violations. He also served as the Coordinator of the Firearm Crime Enforcement Coalition of Western Washington, a multi-agency law enforcement effort that seeks to reduce gun-related violent crime.
"As a former federal prosecutor, I have prosecuted cases in many different parts of the country and worked on a broad variety of issues. This experience will help me support local prosecutors and sheriffs by providing them with the tools they need to keep our communities and neighborhoods safe," said Dunn. "The Attorney General needs to be both the people’s lawyer and Washington State’s top law enforcement official.
Having worked as a federal prosecutor, a lawyer in the private practice of civil law, and as an elected official, I will bring my experience to bear to benefit all of our communities in Washington State."
Dunn also revealed that in the two weeks since he’s started organizing his campaign he has raised over $100,000.
"Reagan Dunn has a record of fiscal conservatism and excellent legal experience necessary for a State Attorney General to represent the public interest, as well as government agencies. For that reason Mr. Dunn has my enthusiastic endorsement," said Ken Eikenberry, former Washington State Attorney General from 1981-1993.
Statement from Bob Ferguson on New Opponent in AG Race
“I welcome Reagan to the race and look forward to a vigorous debate in the coming months about who is the best candidate to protect Washington families and fight for consumers.
I noticed that his four-minute announcement video focused exclusively on law and order – yet, he has consistently voted against funding for sheriff deputies, courts, and criminal justice agencies here in King County.
He also never mentioned “consumer protection” in his video. As Attorney General, I will make protecting Washington consumers a priority, especially as families struggle through this recession.”