Office of the Council

Overview Contact the Council Members & District Information Council History Public Records

The Legislative Branch of County Government

As your Pierce County Council, we oversee the second most populous county in Washington State, with a population of 872,000 with one of the fastest growth rates in the State. The Pierce County Council sets policy and approves the annual budget. Washington’s counties derive their powers from the state constitution, which establishes the legal framework for county government and lists the duties and powers of the governing bodies. Pierce County is organized under Home-Rule Charter form, approved by the voters in November 1980. As the legislative branch of county government, the Council sets policies, enacts laws, and adopts budgets that guide an array of services, including:


  • The criminal justice system of prosecutors and public defenders, District and Superior Courts, juvenile detention, and adult jails;
  • The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, which directly serves residents of unincorporated areas and contracts with many cities to provide police protection;
  • Public health and human services;
  • Ferries, Airport, and county roads;
  • Wastewater treatment and solid waste management;
  • Regional parks, open space, and trails; and
  • Elections, records, and licensing.


The Council's Rules of Procedure are in Title 1, Chapter 1.28 of the Pierce County Code.


Members and District Information

Each of the seven (7) members of the Pierce County Council represents approximately one-seventh of the county’s population with district of about 115,000 residents (as of the 2010 Census). Councilmembers are elected on a partisan basis and are limited to two consecutive four-year terms. 

Dave Morell (Placeholder Image)
Dave Morell
District 1
Vice Chair 

Pam Roach
District 2
Jim McCune
District 3
Connie
Ladenburg
District 4

Marty
Campbell
District 5
Douglas
Richardson
District 6 
Chair
Derek Young
District 7
Exec. Pro Tem

Contact Councilmembers and Council Staff


The County Council is supported by a staff of clerks, legal and research staff, administrators, and individual assistants assigned to each Councilmember.

Council History


The first Councilmembers to serve under the Home-Rule Charter commenced their terms on May 1, 1981. County Commissioners (Jake Bujacich, District 7; Joe Stortini, District 4; and Joe A. Vraves, District 2) who were in office at the time became Councilmembers. The first four elected Councilmembers were: Phyllis K. Erickson, District 1; A.L. 'Slim' Rasmussen, District 5; R. 'Clint' Richardson, District 3; and Shirley Winsley, District 6. 



Making a Public Records Request


Chapter 42.56 RCW, the Public Records Act, requires each agency to make available for inspection and copying nonexempt 'public records' in accordance with published rules. Pierce County adopted Chapter 2.04 PCC, Public Records Inspection and Copying Procedures, for implementing the public records act.