Sheriff John Lovick steps into Snohomish Co. Executive role
Jun 3, 2013, 11:20 AM | Updated: 11:31 am
Sheriff John Lovick has resigned following his appointment as the new Snohomish County Executive.
“I know and trust the Council to choose a leader for this organization who will continue to serve our county at the highest level, with integrity and pride,” said Lovick. “It has been a tremendous honor to serve as Sheriff.”
Undersheriff Tom Davis will fill Lovick’s spot as acting sheriff. The council has 60 days to find someone to serve as new sheriff until the 2014 fall election.
Lovick replaces Aaron Reardon, who stepped down after nine years in office, marred by an affair and allegations of misuse of public funds.
Reardon has assured voters he never spent county money inappropriately. Last week, Reardon told KING 5, “I’m probably the most thoroughly vetted candidate in the United States of America.”
In 2012, the Washington State Patrol concluded an investigation of allegations that Reardon, a Democrat, used taxpayer money during an extramarital affair, but found just $6 was not accounted for.
A county prosecutor declined to file charges.
In the weeks before he resigned the Everett Herald reported links among members of Reardon’s staff and what the newspaper termed “a campaign of online harassment and cloaked records requests made against Reardon’s political rivals.”
He also told KING 5 his extramarital affair was a “wrong turn” in his life, but now he and his wife are back on track.
KIRO Radio’s Tim Haeck contributed to this report.
