Proven experience. Trusted leadership. People first. These are more than words to me. I’ve spent my career protecting the people of Thurston County. As chief of staff for the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office — the first woman to hold that role — and a longtime deputy prosecutor, I have tried and won the toughest felony cases, instituted important reforms and managed a 75+ employee law firm.
As your prosecutor, I am committed to:
Throughout my career, I have prosecuted challenging aggravated murder, sexual assault and child abuse cases. I’ve also collaborated on the expansion of therapeutic Drug, Veterans, and Mental Health Courts to reduce repeat crime.
I’m proud to have been a founding member of the Monarch Child Justice and Advocacy Center, a nationally recognized model for providing a comprehensive, multidisciplinary community response to child physical and sexual abuse that rises to the seriousness of a crime.
By ensuring law enforcement, CPS, medical professionals, advocates, mental health professionals and prosecutors collaborate in the treatment of child victims, Monarch both eliminates bias and improves access to the judicial system for all populations that are victims of child abuse.
I also helped launch the Thurston County Family Justice Center to support domestic violence survivors. By providing service through a single point of access, family violence victims are empowered to live free from violence and abuse. The Family Justice Center model is universally considered a best-practice approach to domestic violence.
Finally, I’m proud of building a strong foundation for the future of the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office. Over the past 12 years, our office has worked with over 100 interns, including students from over 20 law schools, in addition to two international law students. The intern program has given a wide variety of law students a preview of a career in prosecution, including those who may not have previously considered work in the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
A proud working mom of three, I have deep roots in Thurston County, having lived and worked here for decades, serving in a variety of leadership roles, including Downtown Olympia Rotary president, Junior League of Olympia president, Creative Theatre Experience Board chair and Olympia schools’ literacy volunteer and more. Supporting the South Sound Reading Foundation and being a reading buddy is one of the best parts of my volunteer service. I love this community and I’m proud to serve.
I urge your readers to support a proven leader and elect the prosecutor Thurston County can count on.
Christy Peters
Candidate for Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney
Editor’s note: Thurston Chronicle allows candidates for elected office to publish one letter to the editor per election cycle.
