Clements favored to become next county prosecutor

Troy Clements emerged as the top ranked candidate to become Yakima County's next prosecutor at the Republican Party's precinct committee meeting Saturday.

"Everything you can get can help you in this process," Clements said about the vote. "I think the party has spoken, and I'm glad I was the one who was selected."

Three finalists are in the running to replace retiring Yakima County Prosecutor Ron Zirkle. Because Zirkle, 63, is a Republican, the county Republican Central Committee has some say about who completes his term.

Of the ballots cast, county deputy prosecutors Clements and Ken Ramm received 17 and five votes, respectively, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Hagarty got 13 votes. Zirkle has publicly endorsed Ramm, whom he promoted in September to chief criminal deputy prosecutor.

The rankings will be submitted to the Yakima County commissioners on Monday, who are planning a public meeting where the candidates will make presentations and answer questions. Secondary interviews may also be scheduled, but a choice will be made before the year ends, Commissioner Mike Leita said.

The commissioners -- all of whom are Republican -- are not bound by the rankings, but they have stuck to the party's recommendations in the past. They picked Jim Clements in 2007 to finish Alex Deccio's term in the state Senate and chose Zirkle in 2002 to complete Jeff Sullivan's term as county prosecutor.

Whoever is picked to replace Zirkle will have to stand for election in November 2009 for the right to finish the four-year term. He would face reelection again when the term expires a year later. The annual salary is $148,832.

Clements, 33, touted his vast experience with the prosecutor's office and his familiarity with the legislative process. Former longtime state-law-maker Jim Clements is his father, and Troy Clements has worked on justice issues for legislative committees in Olympia.

At the meeting, Clements said he'll work to keep career criminals behind bars. He supports stronger laws requiring supervision of methamphetamine users -- forcing them to get off drugs or face the consequences. He also believes in spending time with witnesses of gang crimes.

"Everybody in these communities lives in fear," he said about their reluctance to testify. "I won't stay in my ivory tower. I will go to them."

He may be younger than the other two men vying for the job, but that doesn't mean he lacks experience, Clements said.

"I think it's a big mistake to think young people can't contribute to this party," he said. "I think it's important we have diversity in this party, and I think I can bring that."

Ramm, 48, has worked in the county prosecutor's office for 20 years and said he has the leadership skills to tackle the challenges ahead.

He wants to prioritize cases that are prosecuted, with particular attention given to sexual assaults and gang crimes. He aspires to establish a gang unit to make sure people "pay the price for their gang activity" and he wants to improve communication between prosecutors and law enforcement.

He said there is a problem keeping and retaining prosecuting attorneys, which is why he'd like to establish a program to help them purchase their own home. That way, he said they'd establish roots in the community and would be more likely to stay.

Hagarty, 58, had served as a county prosecutor in Klickitat County from 1999 to 2001 before becoming a federal prosecutor. He also worked as chief criminal deputy prosecutor in Skamania County.

Hagarty said he can provide dynamic, strong and aggressive leadership, and he would strive to make the office more efficient and performance oriented. He wants to cultivate strong relationships with law enforcement, and said his vast experience with budgets, campaigning and civil and criminal cases would serve him well on the job.

"I have a proven record of change," he said. "I have a proven record of winning elections. ... I will be here a long time and I will hold this position a long time."

Yakima County Republican Chairman Jim Keightley said he was pleased everyone took the presentations seriously. Each candidate was impressive, making the Yakima County commissioners decision that much more difficult, he added.

"They have a tough decision to make, a very important one," he said.

* Erin Snelgrove can be reached at 577-7684 or esnelgrove@yakimaherald.com