Pete Holmes (politician)
Pete Holmes | |
---|---|
![]() Holmes in 2012 | |
Seattle City Attorney | |
In office January 1, 2010 – January 1, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Tom Carr |
Succeeded by | Ann Davison |
Personal details | |
Born | Seward Park, Seattle, Washington | March 21, 1956
Alma mater | Yale University (BA) University of Virginia (JD) |
Occupation | Politician |
Profession | Attorney |
Peter S. Holmes (born March 21, 1956) is an American politician and attorney who served as the Seattle City Attorney from 2010 to 2022. He was elected in November 2009, defeating incumbent Tom Carr by a significant margin.[1] After winning a second term uncontested in 2013, he defeated challenger Scott Lindsay in 2017 with nearly 75% of the vote,[2] but failed to advance from the primary in a bid for a fourth term in the 2021 election.[3]
Prior to his election, Holmes served as an original member of the Seattle Police Department's Office of Professional Accountability Review Board (OPARB), a citizen review board which reviews police policy and procedures and maintains civilian oversight of the police department. He served as chair of OPARB between 2003 and 2008, during which time he advocated for public release of police records and OPARB reports.[4]
Early life and education
Holmes was born in
2009 campaign
In March 2009, Holmes announced that he would challenge incumbent City Attorney Tom Carr,[6] largely because of disagreements over the handling of public disclosure for OPARB and police records,[7] as well as the proper role of the City Attorney. Carr stated that he represented city government and provided "neutral legal advice," whereas Holmes stated that he would act as an advocate for the people of Seattle.[8]
Holmes promised not to prosecute
Holmes won the election by a 26-point margin, and ran unopposed in 2013.[11]
In office
In the winter of 2010-2011, opponents of the
Shortly after taking office, Holmes directed prosecutors to limit sentences for misdemeanor crimes to a maximum of 364 days' imprisonment, one day less than the previous one-year limit. This would avoid automatic deportation of non-citizens sentenced to one year or more.[18] A year later, the Washington State Legislature changed the maximum sentence for misdemeanor crimes to 364 days, in part at Holmes' urging. Legal residents convicted of felonies or misdemeanor domestic violence still faced deportation under the law.[19]
Marijuana policy
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Pete_Holmes_at_Hempfest_2012_-_04.jpg/220px-Pete_Holmes_at_Hempfest_2012_-_04.jpg)
In the months after Holmes was elected, arrests for possession of marijuana increased significantly, but none of these cases were prosecuted.
As one of its earliest sponsors, Holmes edited drafts of the initiative and secured the support of John McKay, a former United States Attorney.[23] Holmes frequently provided his legal opinion in local press, radio, and television broadcasts, and took part in public debates as an advocate of legalization where he framed the issue as a method of confronting racially disproportionate drug enforcement.[24][25]
On election day, Initiative 502 passed by ten points.
Police reforms
In 2011, the Seattle Police Department was investigated by the
Holmes and the mayor sparred over Merrick Bobb's eventual appointment[32] as federal monitor and approval of the monitor’s first monitoring plan.[33] At the March 12, 2013 status conference, U.S. District Ct Judge James Robart approved[34] Bobb's proposed monitoring plan, effectively ending the public feud between Holmes and the mayor. In the ensuing 2013 campaign, Holmes endorsed[35] the incumbent mayor's opponent, Ed Murray. Murray won[36] the election, along with Holmes, who ran unopposed. Mayor Murray, the candidate endorsed by Holmes, pledged to embrace federal reforms and appointed[37] Kathleen O'Toole to be Seattle's Chief of Police.
References
- ^ Perry, Nick. "Pete Holmes easily defeats incumbent Tom Carr in Seattle city-attorney race". Seattle Times. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
- ^ Green, Sara Jean. "Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes cruises to re-election over Scott Lindsay". Seattle Times. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
- ^ Brunner, Jim; Gutman, David (August 6, 2021). "Pete Holmes concedes Seattle city attorney race; Thomas-Kennedy, Davison will face off in November". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ "About Pete Holmes". Seattle City Attorney's Office. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
- ^ Holmes, Pete. "Briefly About Me". Washington State Bar Association. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
- ^ Barnett, Erica C. (March 24, 2009). "City Attorney Tom Carr gets a challenger". The Stranger. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
- ^ Heffter, Emily (June 2, 2009). "Carr gets Pflaumer, Judge Carroll endorsements in Seattle city attorney race". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
- ^ Perry, Nick (October 1, 2012). "Seattle city attorney candidates object -- to each other". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
- ^ "Vote Pete Holmes for Seattle city attorney". The Seattle Times. October 8, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
- ^ The Stranger Election Control Board (October 13, 2009). "2009 Endorsements". The Stranger. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
- ^ Sanders, Eli, Holden, Dominic (November 10, 2009). "Election 2009: Winners and Losers". The Stranger. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Holden, Dominic (December 9, 2010). "One Anti-Tunnel Campaign Calls the Kettle Black". The Stranger. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Holden, Dominic (February 28, 2011). "Campaign Will Run Referendum on Deep Bore Tunnel". The Stranger. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Thompson, Lynn (March 29, 2011). "Seattle city attorney moves to block anti-tunnel referendum". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
- ^ Thompson, Lynn, and Lindblom, Mike (May 20, 2011). "Judge: Anti-tunnel measure going on August ballot". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Thompson, Lynn (April 13, 2011). "Seattle City attorney files suit against another tunnel measure". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
- ^ Thompson, Lynn (July 18, 2011). "Judge keeps anti-tunnel Initiative 101 off Seattle ballot". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
- ^ Editorial Staff (July 16, 2010). "Law tweak injects fairness for noncitizens charged with misdemeanor crimes". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
- ^ Sullivan, Jennifer (July 21, 2012). "New state law protects legal immigrants' rights". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
- ^ Holden, Dominic (August 17, 2010). "Pot Paradox". The Stranger. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Holmes, Pete (February 16, 2011). "Washington state should lead on marijuana legalization". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Johnson, Gene (June 22, 2011). "Activists: New Wash. pot push calibrated to voters". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Shapiro, Nina (September 26, 2012). "Alison Holcomb: Pot Mama". The Seattle Weekly. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
- ^ Martin, Jonathan (October 10, 2012). "Lively debate over I-502, the marijuana measure, draws big crowd at the UW". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
- ^ Tan, Thanh (September 27, 2012). "Rewind: Live chat on legalizing marijuana in Washington". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
- ^ Martin, Jonathan (November 6, 2012). "Voters approve I-502 legalizing marijuana". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
- ^ Reilly, Ryan. "DOJ Marijuana Memo No Big Deal, Some Federal Prosecutors Insist". The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
- ^ Young, Bob (January 18, 2013). "City Attorney Holmes cited for minor violations". Seattle Times. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- ^ Miletich, Steve (June 26, 2012). "Records show deep split between federal, city officials on SPD fixes". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
- ^ Miletich, Steve, Carter, Mike (July 17, 2012). "City attorney rebukes McGinn's DOJ strategy". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Carter, Mike, Miletich, Steve (July 27, 2012). "SPD faces new oversight, scrutiny of use of force". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Miletich, Steve. "Bowing to City Council, McGinn agrees to L.A. monitor for SPD". The Seattle Times.
- ^ Miletich, Steve. "Monitor: SPD improves on paper, but rank-and-file not all on board". The Seattle Times.
- ^ Carter, Mike; Miletich, Steve. "Federal judge approves blueprint for Seattle police reforms". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ Conklin, Ellis. "UPDATE: Ron Sims, Tim Burgess and Pete Holmes All Jump On the Ed Murray Bandwagon". Seattle Weekly. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ "Ed Murray defeats Mike McGinn; wins Seattle mayoral race". mynorthwest.com. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ Miletich, Steve. "Kathleen O'Toole confirmed as Seattle police chief". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 19, 2014.