Council member mulls bid for prosecutor's job

King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson is considering running for the Democratic nomination for prosecuting attorney, but he hasn't made a decision, he said this afternoon.

"My plan is to make a decision by next week," Ferguson said. "There are many, many factors I need to weigh before I make a final decision. That includes more conversations with my family."

The Democratic nominee is likely to run against Acting Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg, who has told Republican leaders he plans to run for election. Satterberg appeared to be well on the way to sewing up party support for his nomination. "I think the race is being defined by those two gentlemen," said King County Republican Party Chairman Michael Young.

With the candidate filing period opening and closing next week, prospective candidates have little time to decide whether to run for the office left vacant by the sudden death of longtime prosecutor Norm Maleng last week.

The County Council on Tuesday named Satterberg acting prosecutor. He was Maleng's chief of staff for 17 years.

King County Democratic Party Chairwoman Susan Sheary said Thursday party leaders were excited by Ferguson's comments to other party leaders that he intended to run.

"He's young, he's a tenacious campaigner," she said. "He just seems to get it right. He's taken out two incumbent council people during his career. That really speaks well of the man: He knows how to work, he's got a good work ethic."

Sheary said she had not spoken directly to Ferguson. State Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz said Ferguson had told him he was seriously considering running.

Ferguson was elected to the County Council in 2003 when he defeated longtime Councilmember Cynthia Sullivan in the Democratic primary. Two years later, council redistricting threw him into a new district with his Democratic colleague, Carolyn Edmonds, whom he defeated in the 2005 primary.

County Councilmember Reagan Dunn, a former federal prosecutor, said today he will not run for prosecuting attorney and endorsed Satterberg as "the right person to carry on the legacy of Norm Maleng. ... People really want to make sure they have somebody with a background and experience in criminal law and management in that job. I think Dan is the person who can best fill that role."

Republican sources said former U.S. attorneys and brothers John and Mike McKay have removed themselves from consideration.

"The people I've talked to about Dan are excited," Young said. "They're thrilled that he's chosen to step forward and take on this task and be our party's nominee."

When the county Republican Central Committee submits three names to the county for a prosecutor to serve through the November election, those names will probably be Satterberg and two others who support his appointment, Young said.

Keith Ervin: 206-464-2105 or kervin@seattletimes.com