7 Lessons from the Washington Attorney General Debate

Brown, a partner at Pacifica Law Group in Seattle, previously served as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington and as General Counsel to Gov. Jay Inslee. During the debate, Brown touted his experience in government and private practice.

Serrano is the mayor of Pasco and the director and general counsel of the Silent Majority Foundation, a conservative group that has challenged COVID-19 vaccination requirements and state gun laws. Serrano emphasized his experience in local government and his history of fighting for individual rights on issues like gun control.

The two discussed their differing plans to address violent crime, the drug crisis, gun control, abortion access and more, but found common ground in the critical role the attorney general plays in protecting the rights of Washington residents.

The debate, sponsored by the Washington State Debate Coalition, was moderated by Cascade PBS’s Shauna Sowersby, along with reporters from FOX13, KUOW and the Washington State Standard.

Priorities on day one

After opening statements, Brown opened the debate by explaining that his priority as attorney general would be to serve as an advocate for all of Washington’s residents, keeping them safe and protecting their rights no matter what. He also said he hopes to use the office to address the underlying problems and inequities that make Washington less safe and contribute to issues like crime, addiction and violence.

Serrano said his priority on Day One is to get to know the ins and outs of the office and its locations in 13 cities across the state. As part of that, he wants to meet with the current AG staff to understand their backgrounds and whether they are serving the people of Washington or “floundering and failing.” If the latter, he said, “that’s where leadership comes in.”

The drug crisis

When asked about the Legislature’s 2023 drug possession bill, both candidates said they agreed with the move to make possession and use a crime again. However, Brown said he believed the state’s top priority should be drug dealers, and specifically drug cartels.

Serrano said he has seen the positive impact of drug possession laws in Pasco, but more emphasis needs to be placed on holding people accountable for continuing and completing court-ordered treatment programs.

Police accountability

For the first time in state history, Attorney General Bob Ferguson has criminally charged three Tacoma police officers for their roles in the killing of Manny Ellis. Candidates were asked whether they support the policy and how they would pursue cases involving the use of force against officers.

Serrano said officers have told him the Attorney General’s Office’s use-of-force policy is unclear and he believes the office has a responsibility to make it very clear with objective standards. If elected, he said he could rewrite the policy or bring in outside experts to help.

Brown said that to achieve safety, the community must have trust in law enforcement, and that pursuing police accountability is part of building that trust. He said he believes it’s not a question of the attorney general’s policy, but rather whether a Washington law was broken. If it’s clear that it was, his office will file charges.