Spokane7
49°
July 23, 2010 in City
Four seek to unseat prosecutor
Tucker gets nod from his office; law enforcement backs Bugbee
When defense attorney Chris Bugbee addressed a room full of Republicans in June, he told them that he not only intends to defeat incumbent Spokane County Prosecutor Steve Tucker, Bugbee said he intends to retire from the office.
The bold prediction not only illustrates Bugbee’s quick emergence as a front-runner but how contentious the primary contest has become.
The five-way race also features Republican David Stevens, Democrat Frank Malone, unaffiliated candidate Jim Reierson and Tucker, a Republican, who has repeatedly said that his opponents don’t understand what it takes to manage 140 employees and points to his experience as the reason he is the best choice. All of the candidates are experienced lawyers.
“I am the only one with law enforcement experience. I have more management experience than all the others and more time in the prosecutor’s office,” Tucker said. “It gives me a better base to make decisions.”
But Bugbee, who up until 2002 worked under Tucker, deadpanned: “What good is experience if you are not actually doing the job?”
Bugbee, 43, has raised twice as much money as his closest rival – Tucker – and has racked up the most influential law enforcement endorsements, landing the Spokane Police Guild, the Spokane County Deputy Sheriff’s Association and the Fraternal Order of Police, which is made up of retired law enforcement.
But Tucker, 59, won the support of the union that represents the deputy prosecutors – on a vote of 26-18, with zero going to both Stevens – who was recently fired as a deputy prosecutor – and Malone. Reierson did not attend the union debate.
“I’m happy for the vote of confidence. All four of the opponents railed on me for not being a leader. But apparently, most people in the office don’t believe they need new leadership,” Tucker said.
Malone, 67, who has earned the official Democratic Party endorsement, said a 26-18 vote doesn’t show much support for the incumbent.
“I think it’s amazing that Bugbee got that many votes given Tucker has been around that long,” Malone said.
Malone, who has raised about $5,500 in donations, said he was disappointed but understood why he got shut out in the vote. “I told them I was going to make changes … which makes them less comfortable,” he said.
Stevens – who earned the official Republican Party endorsement and had about $6,600 worth of donations as of mid-July – played down the lack of votes from the attorneys who were his co-workers up until February when Tucker fired him for reportedly talking about which deputy prosecutors he would retain if elected.
“There are lots of individuals in that office who, if it’s a different prosecutor … will be changing positions. They have an interest in the status quo,” Stevens said.
Reierson, who turns 60 the day before the Aug. 17 primary, is running with no official party affiliation and neither raised nor spent a single dollar on the race. Many contributions that make up Bugbee’s $19,000 have come from defense attorneys, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission.
Stevens attacked Bugbee’s contribution base, saying that defense attorneys “really don’t want me to be prosecutor because the plea-bargain paradise would disappear. They don’t want the free-ride they have been getting for the last decade to stop.”
Tucker, who has raised about $8,100, had no challenger in 2002 and easily defeated Reierson and Bob Caruso in 2006. Tucker said he doesn’t see a crowded field as an indictment against his performance.
“My salary has gone up quite a bit,” said Tucker, who makes about $145,000 a year. “Now it’s more attractive to those who are not doing so well in private practice and want a job change.”
Closing Geiger: Wise or worrisome? 
Ron_the_Cop on July 23 at 3:36 a.m.
Folks reading here should definitely read Mr. Clouse’s article on Tucker’s claimed support of Sheriff Knezovich. Tucker has a problem of telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. This is a very important race and voters should very carefully weigh the other candidates. I wouldn’t put too much stock in the union’s endorsement of Tucker. Stevens is quite right as they want to maintain the status quo. This office needs major change with strong aggressive leadership for the reasons I list in the other thread.
Det Ron Wright (Retired)
Mr. Tucker this should come of no surprise that I am actively campaigning against your reelection for your nonfeasance and malfeasance in office. Specifically you aided and abetted in the cover up of the death of Jo Ellen Savage in the RPS Parking Garage. Simply put this was a homicide - a First-Degree Manslaughter under WA State Law. This wasn’t a case of prosecutorial discretion. This was a deliberate cover up by your knowing inaction. I haven’t decided yet which of your opponents for the top law enforcement position in Spokane I will endorse and support.
Mr. Tucker you can’t claim ignorance and or incompetence in your decision not to file criminal charges in the homicide of Savage. Both former Sheriff Tony Bamonte and I have an extensive paper trail documenting multiple letters and emails to your office. We gave you constructive notice that any filing decision without having a complete and thorough criminal investigation to review would be flawed and disingenuous at best. David Savage (former husband of Jo Ellen Savage) also was willing to provide your office with the product of their civil case involving the death of his former wife, which you apparently refused. . .
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/jul/21/sheriffs-support-falls-in-gray-area/#c173171
horse_feathers on July 23 at 9:15 a.m.
Malone is the only one talking real change here and the unions have passed over him because of it. Given the Police Guild’s rejection of Malone, common sense would indicate that Malone should be our next prosecutor.
Ron_the_Cop on July 23 at 9:53 a.m.
Horse feathers,
I wouldn’t be so sure yet. Agreed the unions have a vested interest in the outcome. My real concern is that we have a truly independent aggressive prosecutor independent of the Spokane’s powers that be. See my website at for further information:
www.ronthecop.com
Det. Ron Wright (Retired)