PEND OREILLE COUNTY, Wash. — Four Eastern Washington sheriffs filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging a new state law they claim unconstitutionally allows an unelected board to override voters’ choices in sheriff elections.
Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels, Pend Oreille County Sheriff Glenn Blakeslee, Stevens County Sheriff Brad Manke and Ferry County Sheriff Ray Maycumber filed the complaint in Pend Oreille County Superior Court seeking to prevent enforcement of SB 5974.
The law, signed by Governor Bob Ferguson, allows a board appointed by the Governor to decertify and remove elected sheriffs. The sheriffs argue this undermines democratic processes by limiting voters’ voices in elections.
“All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed,” the sheriffs said, citing Article 1, Section 1 of the Washington State Constitution in their complaint.
The sheriffs contend that SB 5974 centralizes power by removing it from the people and shifts authority to an unelected board. They argue sheriffs face direct accountability to voters through regular elections, where communities can evaluate their qualifications and performance.
“As elected sheriffs, we swore an oath to support the Constitution and laws of the United States and the State of Washington, while serving and protecting the people of our Counties,” the sheriffs said in their announcement.
The legal action has support from prosecutors in all four counties: Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney Preston McCollam, Pend Oreille County Prosecuting Attorney Dolly Hunt, Stevens County Prosecuting Attorney Erika George and Ferry County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Golden.
The case will proceed in Pend Oreille County Superior Court, where the sheriffs seek to prevent the law from taking effect in their jurisdictions.
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