I am very honored by the endorsement of the King County Police Officers’ Guild. I serve the people of King County as a District Court Judge in the downtown King County Courthouse. King County District Court is a “People’s Court”. We address criminal misdemeanor matters, traffic infractions and civil cases where the claims in less that $75,000.00. I have worked in the criminal justice system for 29 years, since my graduation from UW Law School in 1981. I have served on the bench for 8 years, working as the Court Commissioner for King County District Court and Auburn Municipal Court. In March of 2009, the King County Council unanimously appointed me to serve as a District Court Judge in Seattle. Many of my concerns are also the concerns of the King County Police Guild members. We share a deep respect for our system of laws and for the human beings that we serve. We share an unconditional commitment to public safety through equal and fair application of the laws. King County is currently in a budget crisis. Over the past few years, I have worked with Guild members to change the court procedures with a clear purpose of improving safety of all and saving tax dollars through greater efficiency. I will continue to do this work with a sense of true purpose. I am serving as the Regional Mental Health Court Judge. Through the vision and initiative of the District Court, The King County Council and the Executive’s Office, King County is expanding its award winning Mental Health Court to serve all jurisdictions in suburban King County. The Mental Health Court has been in existence for 10 years. The court was a groundbreaking court, established as the second Mental Health Court in the nation. There are now over 300 mental health courts in the United States and internationally. The expansion of Mental Health Court will double its size, to provide services to nearly 300 defendants in our court system. The court is an intensive therapeutically based court, providing significant social services and court monitoring for people who suffer from major mental illness. The Mental Health Court reduces recidivism and increases public safety, as well as improving the lives of countless citizens in King County who are affected by someone with significant illness. I am very grateful for the Guild’s support of my candidacy and the work that I do. I look forward out further collaborations with the Guild members to seek practical solutions to public safety issues.