County Council appoints Superior Court judge position

Dwayne Christopher, a Tacoma Municipal Court judge, was appointed to the No. 5 position on the Pierce County Superior Court by the Pierce County Council. He fills the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Jeff Jasprica.

Christopher was chosen from five candidates up for the job who were interviewed by the council at its Jan. 18 meeting.
“Many of you already know that I am a lifelong resident of Pierce County,” said Christopher, who has served on the Tacoma Municipal Court since January 2019, during his in-person opening statement to the council.

He described himself as the proud son of educator parents who touched many lives.

“That’s what I get out of being a judge, is touching all these lives of people and being a role model for them,” Christopher said.

The council approved an application by OHOP Mutual Light Company of Pierce County to renew for 15 years a non-exclusive franchise to use county road rights-of-way for the purpose of constructing and maintaining power facilities “in the Eatonville area, northern boundary of 256th Street East,” explained Jeff Cox, senior policy analyst.

The franchise replaces a previous 15-year franchise granted to the same company.

“So, this is just really a franchise renewal,” Cox said.

The council approved a 15-year non-exclusive franchise to Parkland Light and Water Company for location of power lines on certain county-owned rights-of-way in the Parkland area.

The council authorized wage adjustments for non-represented attorney managers in the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in an attempt to keep pace with the private sector market.

Lauren Burrell was confirmed as a new member to the Graham Advisory Commission.

“I’m super excited to be on the Graham Land Use Advisory Commission,” she said in her virtual appearance before the council.

Claudia Jensen was reappointed to the Key Peninsula Advisory Commission.

“I would like to thank the council members for another opportunity to serve my community as a commissioner,” she said in her by-video appearance.