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WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The 2026 Primary is here for Whatcom County. Ballots were mailed out Wednesday, July 15 and numerous races will be culled down for the region ahead of this November. Below are responses to questions sent to each candidate in the race for Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney. The responses have not been edited with the exception for typos and formatting reasons.
Dona Bracke
My legal background is extensive. It spans over 45 years and includes being a prosecutor, a criminal defense attorney, a civil attorney and a Court Commissioner.
What do you see yourself bringing to the office as an advantage over your opponents?
My experience is unique in that I have sat on both sides of the table and on the bench presiding over more than 40 jury trials, criminal and civil. Having that kind of perspective is invaluable from a teaching perspective.
What approach will you have as a leader?
My leadership approach is to lead by example. I won’t ask my team to do anything I wouldn’t do, such as trial work.
What policies from prior leadership do you agree with? Which ones would you like to see changed?
I will definitely keep our incarceration alternatives that are working well. They are invaluable. We continue to develop more alternatives to incarceration and I am open to what will help aid successful outcomes for victims along with those charged.
What public needs do you think need more attention that are currently underserved?
I would change the approach to continuances that are requested by the defense. Well reasoned offers to resolve should be extended to those charged. If rejected then we need to take the case to trial.
What do you feel is your largest challenge in winning this election?
I hear complaints from the public about access to the prosecutor assigned to their case, or constant changes of prosecutors assigned to their case. My goal will be to keep the prosecutors originally assigned to victim cases on the case until the case is completed. It works best for victims and prosecutors alike.
What do you feel is your largest challenge in winning this election?
So far, I think the largest challenge to winning is false narratives put forth. I am in charge of District Court and I do not have any authority over the rest of the office or how it functions. I contribute during discussions but the ultimate outcome is up to the current elected prosecutor. People who know me know I have strong opinions about how cases should be resolved and the skills you need to win cases. Not everyone shares my opinions, which is fine. But don’t presume I haven’t advocated for what I believe the criminal justice system should be, primarily focused on victims of crimes.
As one of multiple Democrats in this race, how do you distinguish yourself from other candidates?
I distinguish myself from the other candidates by having much more trial experience and administrative experience. I also distinguish myself by not having any State Bar admonishments and by not violating any county policies regarding relationships within the office.
Jesse Corkern
My determination and strong work ethic were developed when I was young. Those traits led to successes in academics and in my professional career. As a lawyer, I have litigated for nearly twenty years practicing extensively in both criminal and civil litigation and in both the public and private sectors. I have been both a criminal prosecutor in more than one jurisdiction, a criminal defense attorney in private practice, and have worked in both the civil and criminal divisions of our Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office.
What do you see yourself bringing to the office as an advantage over your opponents?
As the only candidate to work in both the civil and criminal divisions of our office I have a distinct advantage. I have a comprehensive understanding of office responsibilities, operations and dynamics. Furthermore, my breadth of experience, including my work in other counties, my work in private practice and my relationships with other decision-makers and stakeholders such as County Councilmembers and our Executive team have laid the foundation for positive and productive working relationships. I also have the respect of the other attorneys and staff in the office which is something my opponents cannot claim. My colleagues look to me to bring an inclusive and collaborative leadership style and to work cooperatively with other elected officials and community partners.
What approach will you have as a leader?
I will have a collaborative yet decisive approach with accountability as our core mission. I am known as a consensus builder and one who looks to find common ground. I firmly believe that good leadership listens at least as much as it speaks. A good leader understands its employees, what their goals are, and how they best fit into the vision that leadership provides. I will give a voice to all our employees, but I will not hesitate to make the decisions necessary to set the standards I expect our office to achieve and to hold all of us accountable to those standards.
What policies from prior leadership do you agree with? Which ones would you like to see changed?
Accountability of attorney and staff behavior – toward each other, toward the public, toward the Court, and toward those involved in the justice system – has never been an expectation of current leadership. Or at least accountability has been enforced in a selective fashion. This has not instilled respect for the integrity of leadership. Accountability does not need to be meted out with a heavy hand – but it does need to be consistent. The failure to hold employees accountable to the standards expressed in those policies creates discontent and feelings of frustration and favoritism. There also has not been an adequate program of training for new attorneys, and supervision by leadership has not allowed attorneys to grow professionally, taking into account their natural talents.
What public needs do you think need more attention that are currently underserved?
Substance abuse and untreated mental health challenges. A majority of our criminal cases involve one of those two factors. Yet, all too often we lack the resources to properly address or treat the underlying issue, and incarceration becomes the default solution. Incarceration is an expensive response that really provides no solution at all. To effectively address the need would require the investment of significant public resources. Those funding decisions are beyond the purview of the position I am seeking, but as the County Prosecuting Attorney, I remain concerned about the relative inadequacy of behavioral health facilities in the planned jail. I will advocate for and divert individuals into pre-charging diversion programs or incarceration alternatives to reduce the burden on the justice system and to appropriately address the underlying issues that led to the unlawful conduct. I see the development of a Community Court for low level non-violent offenders as a program the Prosecuting Attorney should encourage.
What do you feel is your largest challenge in winning this election?
I have found that my greatest challenge is educating voters on the expansive responsibilities of this office and how it affects them. Many people view the prosecutor’s office as an office that just pursues criminal prosecution. That is certainly an important aspect of what we do. But we are also the County’s law firm and provide legal advice and representation to all of our departments as well as certain elected officials. This work is demanding and complex and can have significant impacts on our community, especially those of a fiscal nature. I am uniquely positioned for the Prosecuting Attorney position in that I am the only candidate in this race with experience in both the Civil and Criminal divisions of the office.
As one of multiple Democrats in this race, how do you distinguish yourself from other candidates?
What the voters need to know is that the other two Democrats in this race are part of our current leadership team and have been for most of the last decade. If they had solutions to the problems facing our office, such as large caseloads, slow time for trial, and a significant loss of talent through a constant stream of attorney resignations, they would have – and should have — provided those solutions as part of their role in leadership. They have not. And in fact, they have consistently been resistant to change and to consideration of the ideas of prosecutors and staff. However, these issues have persisted and frankly, are exacerbated by their presence in leadership. I am not in leadership, yet the attorneys in our office have asked me to run because I attempted to provide leadership even when it was not in my job description. Additionally, although the other Democrats in this race work in the prosecutor’s office, neither has ever worked in our civil division and do not have the experience or knowledge that provides comprehensive understanding of the important responsibilities of the Prosecuting Attorney.
Erik Sigmar
Born and raised in Whatcom County, I have dedicated my career to serving this community. For the past seven-plus years I have served as Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor, supervising the attorneys handling our most serious cases, standing with victims and their families, and delivering justice grounded in accountability and fairness.
What do you see yourself bringing to the office as an advantage over your opponents?
I have prosecuted several murder cases over the course of my career in Whatcom County, including the Mandy Stavik homicide alongside Dave McEachran. I am the only candidate who has tried murder cases for the State in the past ten years — and secured convictions. I am supported by current Prosecutor Eric Richey, former Prosecutor Dave McEachran, and law enforcement leaders who rely on my judgment during major criminal investigations. I am also supported by trusted local leaders including Senator Sharon Shewmake, Representative Debra Lekanoff, and others who recognize that I am best suited to move the Justice Implementation Plan forward. Whatcom County deserves an experienced and tested Prosecuting Attorney who is ready to handle our most serious cases from day one.
What approach will you have as a leader?
The best leaders overcome adversity and solve problems. I have spent seven years navigating the most difficult challenges this office has faced.
1. I led the modernization of the office, replacing an antiquated paper file system with a cuttingedge electronic case management system that has made us more efficient, more accountable, and more transparent.
2. When I became Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor, felony caseloads were among the highest in the state, and the COVID backlog pushed them to approximately 250 cases per attorney. We have reduced that to fewer than 150, and the number continues to fall.
3. A national vacancy crisis has hit prosecutor’s offices coast to coast, with larger jurisdictions facing vacancy rates of 25 to 33 percent. Here in Whatcom County, we are currently fully staffed with attorneys.
As a proven leader, my approach will be to continue improving the office and overcoming whatever challenges come next.
What policies from prior leadership do you agree with? Which ones would you like to see changed?
I strongly support the direction Prosecutor Richey has set: a commitment to both accountability and smart alternatives to incarceration, including the LEAD program and our growing diversion
infrastructure. I also support the investment in modernizing the office’s technology and expanding victim advocacy resources.
Looking ahead, I would place greater emphasis on reducing caseloads further, resolving cases more efficiently, and developing clearer office-wide policies. I would also expand training and specialization, including on the civil side, and accelerate the programs that divert more people from jail into treatment responsibly.
What public needs do you think need more attention that are currently underserved?
Two things stand out. First, we need more competitive salaries for prosecutors, and that is the only sustainable solution to the recruitment and retention crisis that is hitting offices nationwide. Second, we need more consistent, locally available programs to treat mental health and substance use issues. These are the drivers of a significant portion of the cases moving through our system, and the planned Behavioral Health Care Center is a critical step forward.
Nevertheless, budget deficits and new public defender caseload standards will constrain resources. The next Prosecutor must be willing to shoulder a meaningful share of the workload personally while lobbying aggressively for the resources this office needs.
What do you feel is your largest challenge in winning this election?
The persistent demands of my job as Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor make it difficult to campaign full-time. But my message to voters is straightforward: I am the most qualified candidate, with a record of demonstrated accomplishments, dedication and seven-plus years of proven leadership in this office.
As one of multiple Democrats in this race, how do you distinguish yourself from other candidates?
I was part of the leadership team that brought Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion to Whatcom County and continue to serve on the Operational Work Group. I serve on the DVSAS Board and the Brigid Collins Child Advocacy Center Steering Committee. I have successfully handled the most significant cases in Whatcom County’s recent history; and I am the attorney law enforcement calls when a homicide occurs. That trust is earned, not given. I am supported by the last two Whatcom County Prosecutors and by local leaders who recognize my proven leadership and real accomplishments. I am not asking to learn on the job. I have already done the work and I am ready on day one.
Ryan Swinburnson
I’ve spent the last 26 years in the courtroom. I started as a prosecutor, then moved into felony public defense, where I now serve as Director of the Whatcom County Public Defense Conflict Office. Along the way I’ve also represented county government in civil matters and served as President of the Blaine School Board.
What do you see yourself bringing to the office as an advantage over your opponents?
I don’t think anyone in this race brings the breadth of experience that I do. I’ve worked on both sides of the courtroom, lead a public law office, and handled civil work for county government. I’m also the only candidate coming from outside the Prosecutor’s Office. That gives me the independence to look honestly at what’s working, what isn’t, and make the changes needed to better serve the public.
What approach will you have as a leader?
I believe leadership is about setting expectations, supporting your team, and holding people accountable. Good attorneys are developed. I’ll invest in training and mentorship, encourage open communication, and build a culture where people take pride in their work. A strong office benefits law enforcement and the community.
What policies from prior leadership do you agree with? Which ones would you like to see changed?
There are a lot of dedicated people in the Prosecutor’s Office doing important work, and I want to build on that. But I think we can do better. Cases shouldn’t sit for years before they’re resolved. We need stronger communication with law enforcement and victims, better attorney training, and leadership that is visible and accountable.
What public needs do you think need more attention that are currently underserved?
People want a justice system that works. Victims deserve timely justice. Law enforcement deserves a responsive partner. The community deserves prosecutors who make thoughtful and consistent decisions. I also believe therapeutic courts deserve continued support because they can reduce repeat offenses while still holding people accountable. The gateways to those programs need to be expanded.
What do you feel is your largest challenge in winning this election?
Name recognition and having people understand the Prosecutor’s Office affects every single person. My opponents have spent years inside the Prosecutor’s Office. I’ve spent my career serving the public in different roles. That means I have to work harder to introduce myself to voters and earn their trust. That’s exactly what I’ve been doing across Whatcom County these past few months.
As one of multiple Democrats in this race, how do you distinguish yourself from other candidates?
The Prosecutor’s job shouldn’t be about politics. It should be about applying the law fairly and making good decisions. Running with no party preference means I don’t have the built-in support of a political party, but it also means voters know I’ll make decisions based on the facts and the law and not partisan pressure. I have the support of democrat and republican leaders, and I have sought the endorsement of both political parties. I plan to represent all our community, and would prefer the support of all of our community.
My Bellingham Now is committed to providing equal opportunities to candidates in the Whatcom County region. This is part of a series of emailed questionnaires our team sent to candidates in elections likely to see eliminations in the 2026 Primary. Read responses from candidates in the following races:
40th District Rep. Position 2
Port of Bellingham Commissioner Seat 4
Port of Bellingham Commissioner Seat 5