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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2022
Prosecutor candidates debate court backlog, police, restorative justice King County voters will choose between Jim Ferrell and Leesa Manion in Nov. general election.
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By Cameron Sheppard csheppard@soundpublishing. com
On Sept. 28, the Renton Chamber of Commerce and Sound Publishing hosted a debate that gave the two candidates for King County Prosecuting Attorney a chance to discuss their values and perspectives on the position’s role as well as challenge each other’s ideas. The candidates, Leesa Manion and Jim Ferrell, are running for an office that has long been held by Dan Satterberg, who is stepping down from the prosecutor job after 15 years. Manion currently works
PHOTO BY CAMERON SHEPPARD/SOUND PUBLISHING
King County prosecutor candidates Jim Ferrell (left) and Leesa Manion debate Sept. 28 at Carco Theatre in Renton. The forum was moderated by Renton Chamber of Commerce CEO Diane Dobson (center).
as the chief of staff for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and for that reason feels like somewhat of an incumbent of the office and
represents a continuation of the current administration. Ferrell is a former prosecutor and current mayor of Federal Way, where he has
been vocal about rising crime rates in his city and across the region — often blaming Satterberg’s office as well as the state Legislature for policies which, he
argued, have contributed to declining perceptions of public safety. During the debate at the Carco Theatre in Renton, the two candidates traded blows on a variety of hot issues regarding the criminal justice system in King County, including the massive backlog of cases held up in the region’s courts, police and their relationship to the community, and the effectiveness of restorative justice and diversion programs. Many times during the
debate, Ferrell positioned himself as a “change” from the current administration, saying that he was forced to run for the position after his experience as a mayor. He claimed that the current administration had used their prosecutorial discretion to allow offenders to avoid accountability, all while failing to work with cities and police departments in a collaborative way. Manion refuted that the current administration, See DEBATE, Page 15
Renton Downtown Partnership earns Washington Main Street Community designation By Cameron Sheppard cameron.sheppard@rentonreporter.com
The Renton Downtown Partnership will become a designated Washington Main Street Community, effective January 1, 2023 after it was awarded the honor by the Washington State Main Street Program. The Washington State Main Street Program’s network represents 69 towns and cities utilizing a nationally proven approach to revitalize their historic downtown districts across the state. “This recognition will increase the interest in the growing Renton downtown core, and open opportunities for funding for our program through the Washington State Main Street B&O Tax Credit Incentive Program,” said Christian Switzer, executive director of the Renton Downtown Partnership. Since 1984, the Washington State Main Street Program has helped communities revitalize the economy, appearance, and image of their downtown commercial. The WSMSP is a program of the Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation, managed under contract by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. The program network includes two tiers – Affiliate and Main Street Community. The purpose of the
Main Street Community level is to provide access to tools, networking opportunities, training and advanced resources to cities that have an independent 501c3 or 501c6 nonprofit organization dedicated solely to downtown revitalization. “This allows businesses to make a donation to Renton Downtown Partnership and in return, earn a 75% state B&O tax credit on that amount,” said Switzer. “Main Street programs are a huge indicator of a district that is about to make a big splash as a desirable location, and Renton Downtown Partnership is excited to join the hundreds of districts across the country that are a part of this program.” These organizations must prove they committed the necessary time and training toward community support, financial and human resources, and are implementing the Main Street Approach. “Renton Downtown Partnership has developed programs that serve businesses and local stakeholders,” said Breanne Durham, Washington Main Street director with the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. “Their hard work paid off in this designation, but more importantly it’s brought See PROGRAM, Page 4
PHOTOS BY BAILEY JO JOSIE/SOUND PUBLISHING
Pups make a splash at 2022 Pooch Plunge The 2022 Pooch Plunge at the Henr y Moss Aquatic Center in Renton welcomed pups from a swim on Sept. 10-11. Dogs of all breeds and sizes were given the
opportunity to splash in the pool and play with tennis balls, allowing space and fun for all. Life vests and other dog-related items were available to buy at the
event, along with a raffle from PetPros and a Motley Zoo Animal Rescue booth. The Pooch Plunge has been a tradition at the aquatic center since at
least 2013, said City of Renton Recreation Coordinator Zachary Holm. The event is held at the end of the season before the pools are shut down for the winter.
Soggy Bottom Farm offers beef, pork and a walking trail Jay and Ellen Mirro’s farm shows a more tranquil and rural side of southern Renton. and Covington is Soggy bailey.jo.josie@rentonreporter.com Bottom Farm, a 34-acre piece of property filled Tu c k e d i n t o t h e with gardens, fruit groves, green forests between animals, an old red barn Renton, Maple Valley and a hand-built sauna. By Bailey Jo Josie
It’s a beautiful, serene piece of land and it has been home to the Mirro family for over a decade now, after the family moved to rural, unincorporated King County from the “dream house” they had built in Seattle. “We wanted to raise
our kids in a rural area,” said Jay Mirro, a resource planner for King Conservation District. “The day that [the property] was listed, we drove out and thought ‘wow, this is pretty special.’” When they first moved to the property, Jay, his
wife Ellen, an architect and architectural historian, and their sons Leopold and Ivan — who were nine and six at the time — lived in a tent for a few months while they restored the house. Of the experience, Jay and Ellen recall hearing noises outside and Jay
thinking it was an intruder. “Jay, it’s a bear,” Ellen See FARM, Page 16