KIRO NEWSRADIO OPINION

‘Bad leader’: Gee condemns Sheriff Swank after vulgar text messages surface

Dec 18, 2025, 4:53 PM | Updated: 4:57 pm

Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank is facing scrutiny after text messages surfaced during his ongoing court battle that revealed Swank called Pierce County prosecutors “motherf***ers,” a deputy prosecutor “incompetent,” and the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs as a bunch of “libtards.”

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin, co-hosts of “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, condemned Swank’s comments, calling him a “bad leader,” and debating whether a sheriff should be appointed or elected.

“I’m going to go with the appointed sheriff because of the problems that I see,” Gee said. “It’s no secret I didn’t like the last sheriff, and I don’t like this sheriff. The one thing that I’ll say about the last sheriff, the difference is that the last sheriff did not cause the problems the way that this one does. Keith Swank is causing so many problems for this county. Right now, Pierce County can’t do anything. They are stuck with that bad leader.”

“And why? Because you can’t recall someone just because they have embarrassing behavior, use crude language, or have bad judgment,” Ursula responded. “You have to prove specific illegal actions tied to the job, convince a judge that the case is legally valid, and then collect tens of thousands of signatures, so most recalls go nowhere.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.

Gee and Ursula Show

KIRO Newsradio Opinion

camera...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘We kicked this can 7 more weeks down the unsafe city road’: Jake, Spike rip Mayor Wilson for delaying camera decision

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson resurfaced at a news conference, but her answers on surveillance cameras, left Jake and Spike unimpressed.

4 hours ago

seattle mayor junk fees rent recall approval wilson...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘You knew what you voted for’: Gee says don’t act shocked as Katie Wilson’s approval plunges amid recall effort

A new poll shows only one in three Seattle voters trust Mayor Wilson's safety plan as recall efforts intensify, and Gee Scott wonders why people are surprised.

5 hours ago

boeing netflix documentary...

John Curley Show

‘You failed if you weren’t safe’: KIRO hosts weigh in on Netflix doc alleging Boeing bypassed inspections

KIRO hosts analyze the Netflix documentary on Boeing's alleged inspection bypassing and its impact on safety culture.

10 hours ago

Photo: The exterior of a Seattle Public Schools building....

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘I’m tired of doing this every year’: Gee, Ursula sound off on Seattle teachers’ strike threat

Seattle educators voice frustrations over contract talks, warning of a potential strike if an agreement isn't reached soon.

11 hours ago

permit seattle katie wilson apartments...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘I don’t think this is really political’: Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson orders faster Seattle permitting as apartment reviews stretch past a year

Large apartment projects in Seattle currently spend about 374 days in city-controlled permit review, more than double the city's own 180-day target.

12 hours ago

17-year-old...

Charlie Harger

Harger: A 17-year-old was convicted, locked up, released, and the allegations got worse. Now what?

He's 17 years old. He's already been through the juvenile justice system for serious crimes. But we know what happened next. He eventually got out.

14 hours ago

‘Bad leader’: Gee condemns Sheriff Swank after vulgar text messages surface