Debate over moving county coroners from elected to appointed posts centers on Yakima case

Senate Bill 6,101 drew heated, split testimony as the committee considered whether every county legislative authority should appoint county coroners rather than have coroners elected.

Karen Epps, committee staff, summarized the bill’s mechanics: counties would be required to appoint coroners; currently elected coroners could finish their terms and then be replaced by appointment; the bill removes the requirement that an elected coroner post a bond and preserves existing paths for counties with medical examiners.

Prime sponsor Senator Curtis King said the change was prompted by a difficult situation in Yakima County where an elected coroner’s conduct led to protracted efforts to remove him and ultimately a recall process. “Why do you need to elect a partisan coroner?” King asked, saying appointment would make the role accountable to the county commissioners while retaining professional standards and certifications.

Opponents, including William Leach (Benton County coroner) and Warren McLeod (Lewis County coroner), argued elected coroners provide independent, public-accountable death investigations and that court and inquest processes already provide checks. Leach said elected coroners are able to hold open public inquests and remain free from political influence. Timothy Grisham of the Washington Association of County Officials said appointment risks voter disenfranchisement, increased county costs for market‑rate salaries, and potential perceptions of political influence over death investigations.

Supporters of appointment, including Cassie Clayton of the Northwest Progressive Institute and Yakima County Commissioner LaDon Linde, pointed to the Yakima case and argued a uniform, professionalized system (appointed medical examiners in populous counties and appointed coroners elsewhere) would ensure consistent, competent death investigations statewide.

Committee members asked witnesses to clarify how inquests and judicial review function and probed whether the proposal addresses oversight of sheriffs; staff said the bill does not change coroner–sheriff relationships spelled out elsewhere in statute. The transcript records no committee vote.