Month: September 2022

With apologies to Gerard Butler and his gladiators, a different kind of 300 has created a bit of history here in Pierce County. Almost six years ago, I was newly elected as the Pierce County Executive - coming from my work in the State Legislature.  I knew it would take some time for us to get to know each other, and that many of you were both curious and potentially nervous about the new Executive.  That was the catalyst for this blog! My goal was to give you a window into the many facets of the County that I see each week. Along the way, I wanted to be transparent and candid. The tone and content often reflect what I experienced. I’ve shared my emotions when we lost colleagues or…

I’ve mentioned before in this blog that I love history.  I find it fascinating and instructive to learn from noteworthy people from all facets of our world. Much of the way I enjoy those lessons is through reading. I typically have 2 or 3 books that I’m reading at any given time. You can imagine my excitement when I recently had the opportunity to learn about history in-person from the actual people who made it! It was a gift to be able to hear first-hand about the groundbreaking Centennial Accord that formalized the relationship between the 26 federally recognized Indigenous tribes and the state of Washington. The Accord was entered into on August 4, 1989, and was timed to coincide with the centennial celebration of Washington statehood in June of…

It’s here! My favorite time of year. I love everything about fall. The weather cools off and the risk of wildfires diminishes. The chilly nights and crisp mornings just dare you not to get cozy with a warm mug of something tasty, a dog and a good book. Some of my favorite sports teams I follow play in the fall.  There is nothing like Friday night lights at Sparks Stadium, cheering for Navy, and watching the Huskies (I will be in the stands this Saturday against Michigan State!).  Then there’s the Seahawks - I am still relishing the win over Denver!  And how about those Mariners?  I am following each game.  They are an exciting young team - reminiscent of the 1995 roster - and look to make the playoffs!…

While it’s a rather indelicate topic, properly disposing of human waste while on a boat is no laughing matter.  Okay, you can giggle a little bit. Back when I was a boy on our sailboat, the marine toilet discharged directly overboard – gross and bad for the Sound!  Today, we are much smarter and better at protecting our marine environment.  All of Puget Sound is now a “no discharge zone,” so marine toilets flush their “black water” into an onboard holding tank. But when the tank is full, how do you empty it?  Many big urban marinas have “pumpout” facilities on a dock that suck the contents of the blackwater tank and pump it into the local sewer system.  Other large marinas have small pumpout boats that come directly to…

Last March at Deputy Dom Calata’s Celebration of Life, I committed, on behalf of the people of Pierce County, to NEVER FORGET – his service and his sacrifice for our community. On Wednesday, I took part in the dedication of our Sheriff’s Department’s Defensive Tactics training gym in Dom’s honor. The Deputy Dom Calata Defensive Tactics and Training Center is where our deputies learn the techniques and skills to keep our community and themselves safe in a physical confrontation with a suspect. As you can imagine, learning and being able to apply these tactics effectively is a key part of both our law enforcement and corrections deputies’ jobs. Getting a combative suspect or detainee under control safely and quickly is crucial. Not surprisingly, Dom Calata was an expert using these…