By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy will leave office this year and, she hopes, get a new job from voters as state auditor. McCarthy, who under the county charter is term-limited after eight years as executive and can't seek re-election, is setting her political sights on statewide office. She formally announced her candidacy last week to lead the auditor's office, which oversees how the state and local governments use public resources. McCarthy, a Democrat, has had a long tenure in local elected positions. Before becoming the first woman to serve as Pierce County executive when she was elected in 2008, she was the county auditor from 2002 to 2008. She also was a Tacoma School Board member. Her upcoming departure as executive has touched off at least a four-candidate race to replace her in this year's election. County Councilman Rick Talbert is running as a Democrat. The Republican field includes another council member, Dan Roach, state Sen. Bruce Dammeier, and Larry Faulk, who lost the first race for county executive in 1980. The primary election in August will narrow the choices to a single Democrat and Republican for the general election in November. Talbert was elected to the County Council in 2010 after previously serving on the Tacoma City Council. Roach, a former state legislator, is in his second term on the County Council. His district includes South Hill and eastern parts of the county. Dammeier is a senator from the 25th Legislative District, which includes the Puyallup-South Hill area. Faulk is a former state representative. The position's current annual salary is $120,459 and is scheduled to increase Sept. 1 to $121,663 State auditors serve four-year terms. McCarthy is seeking to replace Auditor Troy Kelley, who has said he won't seek re-election. Kelley is on trial in federal court in Tacoma on charges of money-laundering and tax evasion related to a real-estate services company he formerly owned. Another Democrat who's announced his candidacy for auditor is Jeff Sprung, a Seattle lawyer who previously was an assistant U.S. attorney. On the Republican side, state Sen. Mark Miloscia also is running for state auditor. It's his second bid for the office. He lost in the primary in 2012. McCarthy believes her varied experience in government qualifies her for the state post. "State auditor is not an entry-level position. I'll be ready on day one,GÇ¥ she said. "I have dedicated myself and my life's work to service of all kinds. No matter the position, I have been accountable to the voters, transparent in how I do business, and worked hard to make integrity the hallmark of my public service.GÇ¥ McCarthy has served on the boards of Sound Transit and the Puget Sound Regional Council since 2009, as well as other public boards and committees. As a major accomplishment of county government during her time as its elected head, McCarthy points to her leadership as chairwoman of the U.S. Open men's golf championship last year at the county-owned Chambers Bay Golf Course. From the influx of fans, competitors and tournament workers, the region experienced the greatest economic impact - $134.5 million - from a one-week event in the history of Pacific Northwest, she noted.
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