Former Federal Prosecutor Erika Evans Launches Bid for Seattle City Attorney

Campaign Website - Erika Evans

[00:00:00] Crystal Fincher: Welcome to Hacks & Wonks. I’m your host, Crystal Fincher. On this show we talk with policy wonks and political hacks to gather insight into local politics and policy in Washington state through the lens of those doing the work, with behind-the-scenes perspectives on what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what you can do about it.

Today, we're speaking with Erika Evans, a candidate running for Seattle City Attorney, a position with real power to shape how our city responds to harm, enforces laws, and protects the rights of its residents. While this office doesn't always make headlines, its decisions have a direct impact on public safety, civil rights, and the everyday lives of Seattleites. The City Attorney has a team of nearly 200 employees, including over 100 lawyers, and manages both the civil, criminal, and administrative branches of the office.

On the criminal side, the City Attorney handles prosecutions for misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors in Seattle Municipal Court - offenses such as theft, harassment, and vandalism. Felony cases are handled by the King County Prosecutor, not the City Attorney. So while the City Attorney doesn't oversee the most serious violent crimes, it plays a major role in shaping how lower-level offenses are addressed - including whether to pursue prosecution, offer diversion, or prioritize treatment and services over jail time.

On the civil side, the City Attorney serves as the legal counsel for the City of Seattle - advising elected officials, reviewing legislation, and defending the city in lawsuits. That includes navigating complex and high-stakes issues: deciding how to respond to federal attempts to identify and deport undocumented migrants, even when doing so could put the federal funding for critical services like housing and transit at risk; advising a largely new City Council on the legality of proposed laws; and determining how to approach enforcement of newly passed ordinances targeting drug use, sex work, and people living outdoors.

In today's conversations, we'll be talking about the vision for the office, how Erika would approach these issues, and what her priorities would be if elected. We'll be asking open-ended questions shortly, but first, we're going to start with our Hacks & Wonks Lightning Round of quick yes-or-no questions or a few one-word answer questions. If you aren't able to provide an answer quickly, we'll just call it a waffle and you can choose to address it later in more detail if you wish. These are designed to give us a sense of where each candidate stands on key issues, what values shape their thinking, and how they approach the responsibilities of the role. All right, so we're going to keep these answers quick and brief and roll through them.

Starting with the first question, do you own or rent your residence?

[00:03:01] Erika Evans: We are blessed that we were able to buy our first home just about two years ago. But before that, we were longtime renters.

[00:03:08] Crystal Fincher: Okay, so we want quick, one-word answers - super quick.

All right. Are you a landlord?

[00:03:14] Erika Evans: No.

[00:03:15] Crystal Fincher: Have you ever been a member of a union?

[00:03:18] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:03:19] Crystal Fincher: Have you ever walked on a picket line?

[00:03:21] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:03:22] Crystal Fincher: Have you ever crossed a picket line?

[00:03:24] Erika Evans: No.

[00:03:25] Crystal Fincher: Is your campaign staff unionized?

[00:03:28] Erika Evans: I will support if they want to unionize.

[00:03:30] Crystal Fincher: Well, wow - that was my next question. If your campaign staff wants to unionize, will you voluntarily recognize their effort?

[00:03:37] Erika Evans: Absolutely.

[00:03:38] Crystal Fincher: What political party do you identify with?

[00:03:40] Erika Evans: Democrat.

[00:03:41] Crystal Fincher: Have you used the Seattle Public Library system in the past month?

[00:03:45] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:03:46] Crystal Fincher: Have you or someone in your household ever relied on public assistance?

[00:03:50] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:03:51] Crystal Fincher: Have you ever been stopped or questioned by police in Seattle?

[00:03:55] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:03:56] Crystal Fincher: Have you ever worked in retail or a job where you had to rely on tips?

[00:04:01] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:04:02] Crystal Fincher: Have you ever owned a business?

[00:04:04] Erika Evans: No.

[00:04:05] Crystal Fincher: Have you ever managed a team of 10 or more people?

[00:04:08] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:04:09] Crystal Fincher: 100 or more?

[00:04:11] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:04:12] Crystal Fincher: Have you ever reported someone's misconduct in your workplace?

[00:04:16] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:04:17] Crystal Fincher: Have you ever fired someone?

[00:04:19] Erika Evans: No.

[00:04:19] Crystal Fincher: What's your favorite park in Seattle?

[00:04:22] Erika Evans: Cal Anderson.

[00:04:23] Crystal Fincher: What's your favorite restaurant?

[00:04:26] Erika Evans: Ooh - Sushi Kappo Tamura in Eastlake.

[00:04:30] Crystal Fincher: What was the last live performance that you saw in Seattle?

[00:04:34] Erika Evans: Tems.

[00:04:36] Crystal Fincher: Do you agree with the City Attorney's decision to end Seattle Community Court?

[00:04:42] Erika Evans: Absolutely not.

[00:04:43] Crystal Fincher: Do you believe that SPD referrals for use and possession of controlled substances are equitable throughout the city?

[00:04:50] Erika Evans: No.

[00:04:51] Crystal Fincher: Do you believe the City Attorney's Office filing decisions for use and possession are being made equitably?

[00:04:57] Erika Evans: No.

[00:04:58] Crystal Fincher: Do you support the SOAP and SODA legislation passed by the City Council?

[00:05:03] Erika Evans: Hell, no.

[00:05:04] Crystal Fincher: Do you agree with the city's decision to jail people arrested for misdemeanor offenses in the South Correctional Entity, or SCORE, facility in Des Moines?

[00:05:13] Erika Evans: No. People are dying.

[00:05:15] Crystal Fincher: Do you support the new safety regulations for nightlife lounges operating after 2 a.m. recently passed by the Council to address gun violence and disorder?

[00:05:24] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:05:26] Crystal Fincher: Do you support increasing funding in the City budget for violence intervention programs?

[00:05:30] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:05:32] Crystal Fincher: Do you believe it's inappropriate to subpoena media organizations for their records on behalf of SPD?

[00:05:38] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:05:40] Crystal Fincher: Do you support the city's decision to join a lawsuit that challenges the Trump administration's actions against jurisdictions like Seattle that have so-called "sanctuary" policies?

[00:05:50] Erika Evans: Yes. She took too long, though - but yes.

[00:05:52] Crystal Fincher: Do you believe that the City Attorney's Office provides sufficient data and transparency regarding their activity and outcomes?

[00:05:59] Erika Evans: No.

[00:06:00] Crystal Fincher: The City Attorney's Office currently provides a quarterly report for the Criminal Division. Should quarterly reports also be provided for the Civil and Administrative Divisions?

[00:06:10] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:06:11] Crystal Fincher: Do you believe the City Attorney's Office should make hiring decisions that include consideration of diversity, equity, and inclusion?

[00:06:18] Erika Evans: Absolutely.

[00:06:19] Crystal Fincher: Do you believe the City Attorney should incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion - or DEI - considerations in the design and evaluation of the effectiveness of programs and initiatives?

[00:06:30] Erika Evans: 100%.

[00:06:31] Crystal Fincher: Should the City Attorney report on all financial settlements and staff costs related to claims regarding city employee conduct?

[00:06:39] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:06:39] Crystal Fincher: Will you vigorously defend the city against lawsuits that oppose funding or action by Seattle's social housing developer?

[00:06:47] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:06:49] Crystal Fincher: Do large corporations in Seattle pay their fair share of taxes?

[00:06:53] Erika Evans: No.

[00:06:54] Crystal Fincher: Do small businesses pay their fair share of taxes?

[00:06:58] Erika Evans: Small businesses, yes.

[00:06:59] Crystal Fincher: Do you plan to increase funding and staffing for prosecutions of labor violations like wage theft and illegal union busting?

[00:07:08] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:07:09] Crystal Fincher: Do you think facial recognition should be banned in city use?

[00:07:15] Erika Evans: Yes. If there's - there's issues with it.

[00:07:21] Crystal Fincher: Okay, so is that a yes? Or is that a waffle? Is that a - needs more to explain? A waffle isn't necessarily a bad thing - it's just not a yes or no.

[00:07:31] Erika Evans: Yes, uh yes. Waffle.

[00:07:33] Crystal Fincher: Okay. Did Seattle ever "defund the police"?

[00:07:36] Erika Evans: Did they? No.

[00:07:37] Crystal Fincher: Do you think every police officer in Seattle should be required to live in the city?

[00:07:42] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:07:43] Crystal Fincher: Have you ever been arrested?

[00:07:45] Erika Evans: I've been unlawfully detained before.

[00:07:47] Crystal Fincher: Have you ever served on a jury?

[00:07:50] Erika Evans: No. I was excused.

[00:07:52] Crystal Fincher: Have you ever contested a traffic ticket?

[00:07:55] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:07:55] Crystal Fincher: Have you taken transit in the past week?

[00:07:58] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:07:59] Crystal Fincher: Have you ridden a bike in the past week?

[00:08:01] Erika Evans: No.

[00:08:02] Crystal Fincher: In the past month?

[00:08:04] Erika Evans: No.

[00:08:05] Crystal Fincher: What's your favorite song?

[00:08:07] Erika Evans: I have so many. "Outstanding" by The Gap Band.

[00:08:10] Crystal Fincher: Ooh, that's a good one. What's the last song you listened to?

[00:08:16] Erika Evans: It was a song from Chappell Roan's new album. I think it was "HOT TO GO!".

[00:08:22] Crystal Fincher: What's the most recent book you read?

[00:08:26] Erika Evans: It was called Barracoon.

[00:08:28] Crystal Fincher: Have you voted in every general election in the past four years?

[00:08:32] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:08:33] Crystal Fincher: Have you voted in every primary election in the past four years?

[00:08:37] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:08:38] Crystal Fincher: Have you made any political endorsements that you regret?

[00:08:42] Erika Evans: No.

[00:08:43] Crystal Fincher: Have you made any political donations that you regret?

[00:08:46] Erika Evans: No.

[00:08:47] Crystal Fincher: In 2021, did you vote for Bruce Harrell or Lorena González for Seattle Mayor?

[00:08:52] Erika Evans: Bruce Harrell.

[00:08:53] Crystal Fincher: In 2021, did you vote for Ann Davison or Nicole Thomas Kennedy for Seattle City Attorney?

[00:08:59] Erika Evans: Neither. I voted for my husband - he was a public defender at the time.

[00:09:04] Crystal Fincher: In 2021, did you vote for Sara Nelson or Nikkita Oliver for City Council?

[00:09:09] Erika Evans: Nikkita Oliver.

[00:09:11] Crystal Fincher: In 2022, did you vote for Leesa Manion or Jim Ferrell for King County Prosecutor?

[00:09:16] Erika Evans: Leesa Manion.

[00:09:17] Crystal Fincher: In 2024, did you vote for Alexis Mercedes Rinck or Tanya Woo for Seattle City Council?

[00:09:23] Erika Evans: Alexis Mercedes Rinck.

[00:09:25] Crystal Fincher: In 2024, did you vote for Nick Brown or Pete Serrano for Attorney General?

[00:09:30] Erika Evans: Nick Brown.

[00:09:31] Crystal Fincher: Did you vote for Bob Ferguson or Dave Reichert for Governor?

[00:09:34] Erika Evans: Bob Ferguson.

[00:09:36] Crystal Fincher: Did you vote for Donald Trump or Kamala Harris for President?

[00:09:40] Erika Evans: Kamala Harris.

[00:09:41] Crystal Fincher: Will you be voting to approve the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, or AFIS levy, on the April 22nd ballot?

[00:09:49] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:09:49] Crystal Fincher: This year, on Seattle's social housing initiative vote in February, did you vote for Option 1A - which passed - 1B, or no to both?

[00:09:58] Erika Evans: 1A.

[00:09:58] Crystal Fincher: Will you be voting for Claudia Balducci, John Wilson, or Girmay Zahilay for County Executive?

[00:10:05] Erika Evans: Girmay Zahilay.

[00:10:06] Crystal Fincher: All right, that's all for the Lightning Round - there we go.

Now we're going to shift into the heart of this conversation with open-ended questions. So we'll go deeper into your vision for the City Attorney's Office and how you'll approach key issues. So just starting off, why are you running to be Seattle's City Attorney and what are your priorities?

[00:10:27] Erika Evans: Absolutely. And thank you for that question. I think a lot of it for me starts, you know, from my grandparents and the values they instilled in me. My grandmother - she moved out here in Seattle in the 70s, she worked at the UW School of Social Work. And my dad was raised and grew up here and went to Ingraham High School. And just from a young age, they instilled in me the values of service, and giving back, and standing up when things aren't right. My grandfather - he was in the 1968 Olympics, and he used his platform to protest what was happening to Black Americans in our country. And a lot of people don't know, Crystal, but it was the women behind those athletes that were organizing and getting the black berets and the black gloves and the black socks to help with those demonstrations that happened. And I wrote myself a letter before I started law school of - Why do I want to be an attorney? And it was to absolutely be in a position to represent and serve my community. And that's why I've only worked in public service as a lawyer. And I knew I was a - most recently, up until about four and a half weeks ago, an assistant United States attorney. And I was getting those crazy, unlawful executive orders from Trump and Elon Musk - and we were being told we're Trump's lawyers. And I knew that's not the oath that I took to become an attorney. And I knew that the things that they were telling us - like to report on our colleagues that are doing diversity work - those are not my values.

And folks have asked me for over a year for this specific role, given my background and experience previously working in the Seattle City Attorney's Office in both divisions. And I knew, you know, I just knew it was time. And I knew that all my experiences - both professionally and life experience - really prepared me for this moment. And you asked about priorities - it's absolutely public safety. But absolutely leading with the restorative justice model. You spoke in the beginning, Crystal, of how the City Attorney's Office - it's a misdemeanor court on the criminal side. So what does that mean? That folks are getting out of jail in a couple days, the maximum time someone could go to jail for a misdemeanor is up until a year - but most folks are not getting anything near close to that. And so what are we doing to address root causes and things that are affecting everyday folks that are in our city. And the third priority is absolutely fighting back - fighting back against unconstitutional federal overreach from the administration - and having the experience and skills to do that on Day One. It's so important that, you know, we can't lose again in November. And having someone like myself that has the experience to know what I'm doing on the first day is so important at a time like this.

[00:13:40] Crystal Fincher: Now, we'll talk, probably in detail, about disagreements with the current City Attorney Ann Davison. But has Ann Davison gotten anything right that you would look to continue or build upon?

[00:13:53] Erika Evans: Yeah. You talked about her joining on to the sanctuary city lawsuits with other jurisdictions. That's good - good, you did that. It took too long, for sure, but I - that's one thing I could say, like, it was good that after her being pressured to do so, that she finally hopped on board with that.

[00:14:14] Crystal Fincher: Now, violent crime, including gun violence, continues to harm communities across Seattle. Do you believe the current City Attorney has taken the right steps to address gun violence and violent crime? And what would you do to reduce violence and support impacted communities?

[00:14:32] Erika Evans: I think that the current Republican City Attorney has not done a good job to address violent crimes. When you look at how long domestic violence cases are taking, they're taking twice as long to file and charge as they did prior to her being in office. And that's not public safety. And when we're talking about gun violence, this is something specifically, uniquely, that I have experience doing and getting, you know, machine guns and high capacity magazines off the streets as a federal prosecutor. And it's also something, you know, having a lived experience as well - you know, I have had very close family members that have been victims of gun violence. I've experienced, on the other end, my husband and I's apartment getting shot up by the Seattle police in Eastlake in 2017. It was extremely scary, and we could have died. And some of the bullets actually went through the building - it went through the laundry room downstairs, where you have to go in the apartment building to wash clothes. And I was on my way to wash clothes that night - but something in my stomach started to turn and I just didn't go downstairs because I wasn't feeling well. And within seconds, I just hear dozens of shots going off and it was extremely scary. I knew what to do - get down, and I'm grabbing my husband, like, get down, get down. But, you know, being, seeing it from all these different lenses, I think, really informs my experience - both professionally and personally - and we can do a lot better on that front, for sure.

[00:16:15] Crystal Fincher: We've seen a rise in dangerous driving across Seattle - from an increase in pedestrians being hit and injured or even killed, to high-profile nuisances like the so-called Belltown Hellcat. What role do you see the City Attorney playing in improving traffic safety and addressing dangerous driving behaviors on the streets?

[00:16:36] Erika Evans: Absolutely. That office deals with the driving while under the influence cases. And what's been not good right now is that it is taking longer for DUIs as well - that's something that's been a failure from the current Republican City Attorney. And I actually have experience previously, as a city prosecutor, you know, doing those cases at a line level, doing those DUI matters and infractions as well. And so I think there could be better public safety put into that work. I think it just comes, frankly, with a lack of experience of doing it at a line level that is causing some of the delays we're seeing in public safety in driving.

[00:17:23] Crystal Fincher: Now, what role does the City Attorney play in mitigating federal attacks on civil rights, particularly those targeting the trans community and immigrants?

[00:17:34] Erika Evans: Absolutely. There can be - on the civil side of that office - more affirmative litigation to stand up to those unconstitutional federal overreach. And what that looks like, you know, is filing amicus briefs. It looks like partnering with the Attorney General. It looks like suing on behalf of the City of Seattle when it's affecting the City of Seattle. There's ways to do that and to be proactive and to speak out and do things that are protecting, you know, all of our groups in the city. And that's currently not being done. And additionally, Crystal, you're reminding me of a case that I actually worked on on the civil side of that office that involved a trans woman who was harmed by a police officer. And one of the roles as the City Attorney - you're responsible for all, you know, City of Seattle departments. And that includes - one of those clients is the Seattle Police Department. And in that matter, this woman - she was harmed by an officer. And I was responsible for representing the City and the police department. However, given my background and experience, the right resolution for that case was to settle it. And it was to bring it to the City Attorney, like - Hey, look, this is, these are the dynamics here. This is what happened. This person was wrong, then that's the best result here for this case. And that comes with, you know, sometimes having those hard conversations with your client, like - it's not the right thing to just fight, fight, fight. It's no - sometimes the right resolution is settling a case. And having actual experience doing that, and then lived experience to have that lens - I think it's so fundamental and key in this role.

[00:19:18] Crystal Fincher: Now, Seattle has expanded its use of surveillance technologies like CCTV systems and Real-Time Crime Center software, particularly in neighborhoods like the Chinatown-International District and Aurora Avenue. Civil rights organizations, like the ACLU of Washington, have raised concerns that these technologies may disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities and could be leveraged by federal agencies like ICE to target immigrants and refugees. Given the Trump administration's intensified immigration enforcement efforts, how would you work to ensure that surveillance tools are not used to exacerbate racial disparities or facilitate federal targeting of vulnerable populations?

[00:20:00] Erika Evans: Absolutely. And when we were talking about that question earlier, that's what was coming in my mind - of the disproportionality on Black and Brown folks with this type of technology. So as City Attorney, it's absolutely not, you know, supporting that when it's affecting Black and Brown folks, not turning over those things, you know - if it's being requested - to the federal government. But, yeah, I think we've historically know that these types of mechanisms of surveillance disproportionately affect us. And that's - and that's not okay.

[00:20:31] Crystal Fincher: So what would you implement or advise to promote transparency, accountability, and community oversight when these technologies are deployed?

[00:20:39] Erika Evans: You know, it's figuring out the scope of - what is the purpose and why is it being used? You know, if SPD is putting that up - like, there needs to be a clear articulation of what exactly it's being used for. I think just it broadly being out there - I don't support that. And I don't think that is an equitable way to surveil at all. I think it's - you know, there's different technology, too, as well. So it's something that I know, though, with facial recognition - it's disproportionately affected Black and Brown folks.

[00:21:15] Crystal Fincher: In light of Seattle's recent $10 million settlement with protesters who alleged excessive force by police during the 2020 demonstrations, and considering ongoing concerns about the treatment of protesters, how would you ensure the protection of First Amendment rights during public demonstrations?

[00:21:34] Erika Evans: Absolutely. As the next Seattle City Attorney, I would absolutely not prosecute folks that are exercising their right to peacefully protest, unless something gets violent or someone is doing something damaging or hurting someone. But there's a right to peacefully protest. And that's something as well that is personal to me with my grandfather's story of using the Olympic national stage to protest. So I would be committed to absolutely not prosecuting folks that are exercising their First Amendment right. And on the civil side of it, you know, it's being proactive of, you know, training correctly officers of, like, how to interact with folks in community. In every precinct - under the City Attorney's umbrella is our precinct liaisons that are hired to be in the different precincts in our city. And so being proactive when it comes to training officers on how to avoid these types of lawsuits is absolutely something I will champion, and make sure that we are reducing the amount of suits that come in from unlawful conduct or harmful conduct by police officers.

[00:22:50] Crystal Fincher: City Attorney Ann Davison ended Seattle's Community Court, a program designed to divert people facing low-level charges into services instead of jail. Critics argue that this decision rolled back a key alternative to prosecution and disconnected people from the help they need - and is exacerbating backlogs in the court. What's your view of that decision, and what changes would you make to how the City Attorney's Office approaches diversion programs overall?

[00:23:19] Erika Evans: I think it was a terrible decision to end Community Court. And when we talked about earlier, Crystal, public safety and why now domestic violence cases and DUIs are taking so much longer - those prosecutors are getting huge dockets that are having a lot of cases that used to be in a Community Court docket with a dedicated prosecutor and defense attorney now in the mainstream docket. Which is making cases that are really more - that have a greater impact on public safety - to take longer now because of that. And so what I've been doing is I've been speaking with folks in our state that have Community Court models that are working. One of those, in particular, is in Auburn. And I was just speaking with a public defender that was working there for decades - and talked about how successful it's been and how they've seen it make a difference in their clients' lives. And folks that have had years of, you know, being in and out, actually getting stability. Because when you have a system that has a wraparound resources all in one place, that is a way to be successful. So the model I'm talking about - what I would champion and bring back - is a model that where Community Court is not in the courtroom, it's in community somewhere. And we're going to have resources of services all in one place. And what does that look like? Having services for treatment, having services for employment and housing. Auburn even has pet fostering for folks that need to go into inpatient treatment - having that as a resource and making sure all folks need to do is show up and they're going to have everything they need to be successful. And I think that is a model that I would champion and bring back. Another huge thing is they even have representatives from Apple Health that come in and help folks get medical. And those are the wraparound services that are needed to really help folks and help people not see, like, a cycling in and out of jail - because that doesn't work. And that actually costs us more as taxpayers when we're looking at it a lens like - Oh, just get them off the street, put them in jail. They're going to be out in a few days, and it's the same thing. What are we doing to address root cause issues with these misdemeanors, where folks need help and folks need treatment and there needs to be something there that provides that? And that is what I will absolutely champion and bring back, because that's what our values and what we want here in Seattle - when we think about if this was our family member, is it just saying, Oh, put them in jail? No, it's how do we help this person - get them what they need so they can thrive too?

[00:26:14] Crystal Fincher: How do you respond to people who feel like diversion is letting people off easy, it's not the same level of accountability, and it contributes to continued crime?

[00:26:28] Erika Evans: I would say that providing nothing to help folks when they need treatment, when they need housing - that's not going to solve, that's not solving the problem at all. And diversion can still lead to accountability - that's absolutely part of the process to make it work. And what they do in Auburn - if folks are not doing the things that they need to do, they go back into the main docket. So there needs to be accountability. And I think, Crystal, when you mentioned the Community Court that was taken away, I think that was one of the things that was not happening - the accountability piece needing to be there. And so having a new Community Court that has wraparound services, but also has things that help with accountability for folks - because that's what we need.

[00:27:23] Crystal Fincher: Now, Seattle has reinstated Seattle's Stay Out of Drug Areas, and Stay Out of Areas of Prostitution, also known as the SOAP and SODA laws, which allow judges to ban people accused of certain offenses from designated areas. Proponents argue that these measures should disrupt open-air drug markets and reduce sex trafficking, but evidence suggests that these measures may not effectively reduce drug use or human trafficking and could disproportionately impact marginalized communities. As City Attorney, how will you assess how effective these laws are, and what would your approach be to deal with them?

[00:28:00] Erika Evans: Yes, we know SOAP and SODA are not effective. So I would not be recommending the prosecutors go into the court and request SOAP and SODA orders on folks. And I would not prosecute them as well. I think that they - yes, we know the data on them. They do disproportionately affect Black and Brown folks, and that's not okay. And so we won't be using them. I think my experience at the federal level, you know, going after high level, like cartel, drug traffickers, traffickers of guns - there's, there's other ways to to address, you know, and work with with partners on that that are that are addressing the high level stuff. But at a misdemeanor level, you know, you cannot. There absolutely needs to be services for folks, and SOAP and SODA - that's not it.

[00:28:54] Crystal Fincher: So much of our public conversation around crime focuses on punishing offenders, but very little attention is paid to rehabilitation and prevention. The conversation often claims to speak for victims - but studies, including another major, one just released, show that most victims of violent crime actually want more investment in rehabilitation and prevention than in punishment. Do you agree that we should focus more on keeping people from becoming victims in the first place? And how would you use your powers as City Attorney to do that?

[00:29:27] Erika Evans: Yes, I think that absolutely ensuring that this is not happening in the first place is so important. And that comes with - what are we doing to provide services to folks so they're getting what they need, they're getting the right tools they need, so folks are not committing crimes? So absolutely, it's something that I would champion and do. I think the point of rehabilitation, Crystal, it's so folks are not committing crimes again. How are we addressing, though, that? And I think a big part of that is having resources and services for folks so they can have the tools they need so they're not recommitting crimes. And just saying - Put someone in jail - that's not going to cut it. And if someone has a drug addiction and needs treatment, putting someone in jail - that's not going to work either. There's drugs in jail. I've at a federal level, you know, had to prosecute cases where folks were smuggling fentanyl into the jails. And so that is not a place - it's not a treatment facility.

[00:30:37] Crystal Fincher: Now, many crime victims report not receiving the help they need in the aftermath of what they've experienced - whether it's trauma recovery, housing support, or just being kept informed about what's happening in their case. As City Attorney, how would you work to make sure victims are better supported and centered in the legal process, and not just used to justify punishment?

[00:30:59] Erika Evans: Absolutely. I would definitely beef up - there's domestic violence advocates in the City Attorney's Office on the criminal side. And ensuring that they are part of the process is so important. You know, as a federal prosecutor, you know, working with victims on cases where they've been harmed - you absolutely need to include them in that process. You know, I'm thinking back to a case I worked on where a young girl was sexually abused by her own father, And how important it was to, you know, be very mindful of the trauma and experience that they have to live with, and what does that look like in getting justice for them? What does that look like in getting them services they need, with counseling and whatnot? And being able to proactively, you know, be a resource for victims. And so I think the City Attorney's office - having domestic violence advocates, having advocates that partner with the victims in the case is absolutely something that I would increase. And also something that is so fundamental in every part of the process.

[00:32:19] Crystal Fincher: Wage theft remains a significant issue in Seattle, with cases like those involving Baja Concrete and Newway Forming highlighting the challenges workers face in recovering stolen wages and trying to avoid retaliation. Given that the City Attorney's Office plays a crucial role in prosecuting wage theft cases referred by the Office of Labor Standards, how do you plan to enhance enforcement efforts to ensure timely and effective justice for affected workers?

[00:32:49] Erika Evans: Absolutely. I am absolutely committed to putting more attorneys in the Employment Law section that deals with the wage theft. I think also my unique experience as a federal prosecutor - I've actually worked on these cases. I had an employer, Crystal, that I prosecuted that stole over a million dollars of his employees' monies from their paychecks. And then he literally used the money to buy $100,000 horses and Porsches. And holding them accountable, because that behavior is absolutely not okay. And those affect the most vulnerable people. And so I'm the only candidate in this race that's actually worked on these cases for wage theft. And that experience and skillset is absolutely what I would prioritize. I would expand the unit that does those matters and absolutely hold bad employers accountable - because it's not right. You think about the money that's lost every year from bad employers - it's more money that's lost than folks that are stealing stuff from Target or the stores in our city. And so there needs to be a shift in focus on holding bad employers accountable. Absolutely. And I think that comes from just an understanding working on these cases. And that's another reason it's so important to have a candidate that has actually worked on these cases and is able to prioritize that immediately on Day One - because I have the experience to do so.

[00:34:33] Crystal Fincher: Washington's Attorney General, Nick Brown, recently filed a lawsuit against RealPage and several landlords, alleging that they used algorithmic software to coordinate rent increases, affecting almost 800,000. Leases in Washington state. This practice is believed to have significantly contributed to rising rents in Seattle. As City Attorney, what steps will you take to address the harm caused by these practices and to prevent similar issues in the future?

[00:35:03] Erika Evans: Absolutely. And that conduct is not okay. And when we're talking about priorities - of what is being done for bad landlords and bad employers - that's in the same bucket. It's absolutely holding those folks accountable because that affects vulnerable folks in our city - and that's not okay. You know, and Crystal - when we were talking about the, you know, bad employers and wage theft. Coming from a low-income, working-class family, I absolutely understand the value of a dollar and what that means and what that - when bad employers are taking advantage and bad landlords are taking advantage of folks, that is unacceptable and they will be held accountable.

[00:35:47] Crystal Fincher: Do you support the creation of a publicly accessible database of corporate-owned real estate in Seattle to enhance transparency and accountability in the housing market?

[00:35:55] Erika Evans: Absolutely.

[00:35:57] Crystal Fincher: The Seattle Municipal Court is facing significant backlogs and has been in recent years. As City Attorney, how would you address these backlogs to ensure timely justice?

[00:36:07] Erika Evans: Yes. I think a lot of this also comes back to reinstating a new Community Court. That's going to put a lot of these cases that are the matters that have not as great impact on public safety in a bucket, which is, you know, one bucket. And then we're focusing on the other matters that have a greater impact on public safety, like our assault cases, domestic violence cases, DUIs, the harassments. Being able to focus on those more serious cases is vital in ensuring public safety. And so addressing the backlog comes with having experience to prioritize matters that affect public safety. And ensuring that folks that need to be having services and treatment - that that's being provided, and it's not clogging up the main docket. And having experience at a line level in that office and actually practicing there, I understand - having 20, 25 cases set in one week for trial and that's extremely challenging. And so having things prioritized in a way - that is a approach to cut down on the backlog. It's putting cases such as low-level thefts and trespasses and things like that - when they're dealing with crimes of poverty - in a Community Court, so that the cases that affect public safety more can be on the main docket.

[00:37:41] Crystal Fincher: Now, in 2024, City Attorney Ann Davison's office filed a blanket affidavit of prejudice to disqualify Judge Pooja Vaddadi from all criminal cases, citing a pattern of biased rulings. However, the substantiation of those claims were questioned, and the move sparked significant debate about prosecutorial discretion and judicial independence. How do you view that action? And under what circumstances, if any, would you consider using such authority to disqualify a judge from cases?

[00:38:12] Erika Evans: I think doing a blanket affidavit is wild - it's an elected judge, that should not have been done. There's other methods and means to appeal if you don't like a ruling. It's called a rouge appeal - it's something I've actually done before at the city level. And that is a mechanism, if you're not liking your ruling, to do it that way. But instead, what the Republican City Attorney has done is essentially gotten an elected judge to now just dealing with infractions - that also is a contributor of the backlog - when there's less elected judges on the bench to hear these cases. And it's also costing taxpayers more money because they're having to bring in, you know, pro tem substitute judges to fill some of that space - and that costs money. And so I think that that was, you know, it comes with a lack of experience on her decision to do a blanket affidavit. That's an elected judge, and that should not have been done. Because there's other ways as a lawyer - if you have experience doing that - to file an appeal if you don't like a judge's ruling.

[00:39:24] Crystal Fincher: Now, we also asked each candidate in this race to ask a question of their opponents. So this upcoming question is from your opponent, Nathan Rouse. He asks: As someone who's been a prosecutor for their entire career, how are you equipped to come in and bring change to how justice is done in Seattle?

[00:39:45] Erika Evans: Absolutely. I like this question. So I think it's a combination of - I haven't just been a prosecutor. I've worked at the City Attorney's Office in the Civil Division as well - and we essentially are defense attorneys - so having that experience. I think also, at a time when we need someone that understands it - being a pro tem judge as well, that's a different experience that I bring to the table as well. I think, you know, my lived experience - I think that makes a difference, frankly. I think being, you know, growing up and navigating as a Black woman in this country is hard. And when we look at the makeup of how many of us are attorneys in the nation, it's 5% of lawyers in this country are Black. And even less are women. And I think for good government and leadership, you need to be coming at it with diverse lenses and having those lived experiences - you know, growing up, my mom was a construction worker here in Seattle. My dad's a current bus driver. My brother is a public school teacher. My husband was a former public defender for almost a decade. I think all these lived experiences and values really shape the ideas and vision that I bring to the table. You know, and we talked about, you know, my experience, you know, being a victim of unlawful policing, you know, be a victim of, you know, our apartment getting shot up by SPD. But then also working, you know, being at the table and the importance that was being at the table with that experience. You know, also in the United States Attorney's Office, I was one of two of the civil rights prosecutors. And what that looked like is prosecuting folks that committed hate crimes in our city. And also prosecuting and investigating law enforcement officers that were acting unlawfully, criminally against people in our district. So I think all those lived and professional experiences allow me to absolutely be the most qualified and effective City Attorney for at a time such as this.

[00:42:09] Crystal Fincher: Now, this upcoming question is from your opponent, Rory O'Sullivan. He says: My goal in this campaign is to ensure we have a progressive City Attorney who reflects the values of the City of Seattle. As such, I have directed my campaign staff and volunteers to refrain from engaging in negative campaigning against you, and I have made the same commitment myself. Are you willing to refrain from negative campaigning against your progressive opponents in the primary?

[00:42:38] Erika Evans: Yes.

[00:42:40] Crystal Fincher: All right. Now we're going back to our general questions asked by us. So what experience do you have that should give voters the confidence that you can manage a large staff like the one at the City Attorney's Office, and work with law enforcement partners and stakeholders and impacted people in the community in order to accomplish everything you've talked about?

[00:43:03] Erika Evans: Absolutely. And I think it comes to my experience. I previously led the Loren Miller Bar Association, which is the oldest and largest bar association in our state - and it's our Black bar association. And leading that organization as president absolutely came with, you know, coordinating with many folks. And I think also my experience leading the Washington Leadership Institute, which we have a budget - a couple hundred thousand dollars - and managing that and understanding, you know, how to lead. There's fellows that we have in the program every year. That's a management position that helps me, you know, understand those dynamics. Also, as a federal prosecutor, there was cases that I was leading the investigations on with a lot of different federal partners - you know, the FBI or the Secret Service, or the DEA - and leading those federal investigations on big cases like the wage theft case I mentioned earlier. That was my case, and I was the only federal prosecutor on that matter. Being able to successfully do that - I think that gives voters reassurance that I've actually done this work, been on a line level, and have the skill sets to take off running on Day One to serve the city of Seattle.

[00:44:27] Crystal Fincher: Now, our final question for today is, really, thinking about voters who may be looking for an alternative to the incumbent. Why should they choose you over the other challengers?

[00:44:39] Erika Evans: Crystal, I think the biggest answer comes back to - a time like this. A time like this when we're facing unconstitutional federal overreach, when people are scared, and having someone that has been at the federal level to know what to do on Day One. I think that is something that completely sets me apart from everyone, including the incumbent. Also being someone that has worked at a line level as a prosecutor and as a defense attorney for the city. Having familiarity with that office in both divisions at a line level completely sets me apart from any candidate, including the incumbent in this race. I think also, you know, community leadership experience. I think that speaks volumes to who I am - leading the Loren Miller Bar Association, leading programs that enhance diversity. I led a bar pass program for almost seven years. And it was all about working with diverse folks - Black and Brown, LGBTQ+ folks - that were taking the bar exam and working with them to help get them to pass and into the profession. So when we talk about enhancing diversity in the profession, I was actually on the ground as a volunteer helping do that, helping change that. And also another thing is the Charles V. Johnson Youth and Law Forum, that I previously led as a co-chair - which is all about bringing youth in King County together with legal professionals and doing Know Your Rights workshops and working with them to get them excited and encouraged to pursue careers in law. I think those, you know, community leadership experiences are also something so important that sets me apart. I think, you know, finally, you know, just as we talked about, you know, having a diverse background and lens as a Black woman in our country - you know, running for an elected prosecutor role where a lot of that work affects, you know, communities of color. Having those lived experiences is so important at the end of the day. Having those equity lenses because you've actually experienced that is so important. So to sum it up, I think it's my professional experience - you know, only working in public service, working in that office before in both divisions, my community leadership, and my lived experiences.

[00:47:11] Crystal Fincher: Well, that wraps up our conversation today. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your views and priorities and your approach to working, and as the City Attorney, should you be elected. As we've heard today, this office plays a really powerful role in shaping how Seattle handles safety, accountability, justice, and civil rights. And the decisions made here will have real impacts on people's lives every day. So thank you so much for your time and your willingness to speak directly to the people - that is so important for our democracy. And standing up and being accountable before the people is an important thing. And to our listeners - thank you for tuning in. We encourage you to learn more, ask questions, and, more importantly, make your voice heard in the upcoming election. Thank you so much, Erika Evans.

[00:48:02] Erika Evans: Thank you, Crystal.

[00:48:04] Crystal Fincher: Thank you for listening to Hacks & Wonks, which is produced by Shannon Cheng. You can follow Hacks & Wonks on Bluesky @HacksAndWonks. You can find me on Bluesky at @finchfrii - that's F-I-N-C-H-F-R-I-I. You can catch Hacks & Wonks on every podcast service and app - just type "Hacks and Wonks" into the search bar. Be sure to subscribe to get the full versions of our Friday week-in-review shows and our Tuesday topical show delivered to your podcast feed. If you like us, leave a review wherever you listen. You can also get a full transcript of this episode and links to the resources referenced in the show at officialhacksandwonks.com.

Thanks for tuning in - talk to you next time.