Franklin Co. prosecutor to run for judge. 2 others already in the race

An elected prosecutor and a former municipal court judge are joining the race for a seat on the Benton-Franklin Superior Court bench.

Shawn Sant announced Monday that he is seeking Position 1, currently held by Judge Bruce Spanner.

It comes five days after Dave Petersen said he intends to run, and two weeks since Shelley Ajax kicked off the judicial campaign season.

Spanner has said he is retiring after serving out the remainder of his term this year. He was first elected in 2008 and is in his third four-year term.

Sant has been the Franklin County prosecutor for nine years.

Petersen is a Tri-Cities lawyer who served as the Pasco Municipal Court judge for about six years.

And Ajax is an attorney who primarily handles criminal defense, but also helps with pro bono work through the Benton-Franklin Legal Aid Society.

So far, they are the only three to have filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission. But others are likely to join the field with all seven bicounty positions up in 2020.

Candidate filing is May 11 to 15, with the primary election Aug. 4. The general election is Nov. 3.

A Superior Court judge is a non-partisan position and makes almost $191,000 a year.

Sant said he ran for prosecutor in 2010 — ultimately unseating Steve Lowe — because he wanted to make a difference in the community where he has raised his family.

Since then, he has led Franklin County’s largest law firm, taking the most serious crimes to trial. He also oversees the civil, juvenile and child support divisions.

“While we saw caseloads increase over the last 10 years, our crime rate continues to drop, and Pasco was rated the third safest city in Washington as reported by SafeHome.org,” Sant said in his news release. He said he has run his office in a fair and transparent manner and made difficult decisions in cases that effect everyone in the community.

Sant says his “well-rounded experience gives me the edge” in understanding both perspectives in court.

He previously worked as a public defender, a deputy prosecutor in his current office, a Prosser police officer and a reserve officer in Richland. He also is a former chairman of the Franklin County Republican Party.

“I have worked my entire professional life dedicated to public service ...,” he said. “I hope I have earned your trust to do the right thing even when it may be difficult or unpopular.”

Petersen served as Pasco’s city judge from 2011 into 2017. He previously ran for a seat on the Benton County District Court.

In his more than 22-year legal career, Petersen has worked as both a deputy prosecutor in Franklin County and in private practice.

Petersen said he has called the Tri-Cities home all of his life.

Like Ajax, he has taken pro bono cases with Legal Aid, while also participating in the annual National Adoption Day and coaching the mock trial team at Tri-Cities Prep.

“I believe, in addition to hold offenders accountable for their crimes, I have a duty to ensure that dignity and respect are fundamental beliefs employed by the court,” Petersen said in a news release.

“Regardless of the matters before me, I will bring integrity, fairness and impartiality to the bench, while upholding the principles of the Constitution.”