“The Council has fulfilled its role by appointing Dan Satterberg as Prosecuting Attorney,” said Council Chair Larry Gossett. “Now it is up to the people of King County to decide in November.”

“Dan Satterberg is the perfect person for the job,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert, chair of the Council’s Law, Justice and Human Services Committee. “He has more than two decades of experience in the Prosecutor's Office and was trained by Norm himself. He has the knowledge base, knows the county well, and has the heart to put the human touch on justice. I have worked with Dan for many years, and he puts the citizens of this county first in all he does. Dan looks for ways to do things more efficiently and effectively and is a pleasure to work with. He will provide continuity for criminal justice improvement initiatives and will do an excellent job of leading the prosecutor's office. He has the unanimous backing of the division chiefs and the County Council because we all see that he will do the best job for King County.”

Under procedures outlined in the state Constitution, the Council made the appointment from a list of three names submitted by the King County Republican Central Committee, which met on June 23. The three nominees were: Satterberg, Jim Ferrell and Jeffery Possinger. At this morning’s Committee of the Whole, Councilmembers interviewed Satterberg and Ferrell. Possinger was unable to appear before the committee.

“Dan Satterberg's selection by the five Democrats and four Republicans on the King County Council speaks loudly to the bi-partisan respect Dan has earned through his years with the Prosecutor's Office; he is a professional, not a partisan,” said Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer. “Dan’s many years of experience and service to the citizens of King County have well prepared him for the task ahead. Norm Maleng’s legacy is as much about people as it is about sound professionalism. Many leaders in our legal community have been blessed by Norm’s mentorship over the years; Dan is one of the finest examples of this mentoring.”

“His professional maturity and experience combined with his commitment to justice and fairness make him an ideal person to succeed Norm Maleng,” said Councilmember Jane Hague.

“Dan will be an exceptional leader of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office,” said Councilmember Reagan Dunn. “No one has else has the experience that he does. I trust that he will continue to be professional and reliable as I have always known him to be.”

Satterberg was earlier named Acting County Prosecutor immediately after Maleng’s death, to oversee the duties and operations of the office until an interim successor could be named. He served as Maleng’s Chief of Staff for 17 years, with responsibility for general oversight of the office as well as the administrative functions of budget, human resources, media relations, community and governmental relations, and legislative and policy matters. He was originally hired into the Criminal Division of the office in 1985, where he tried all types of criminal cases. Satterberg, is a graduate of Highline High School in Burien, the University of Washington, and the University of Washington Law School. He lives in Normandy Park with his wife and two children.

Voters on November 6 will elect a candidate to assume the office of Prosecuting Attorney immediately upon certification of the election on November 27. The winner will serve the three years remaining on Mr. Maleng’s unexpired term, which runs through December 2010.