City Attorney Ann Davison

An effective leader 
we can trust

As your City Attorney, Ann has provided steady, proactive leadership for Seattle following one of the most difficult periods in our city’s history. We can’t go backward. Our future depends on continuing to respect our laws and protecting the things that make Seattle unique. Ann is firmly committed to protecting Seattle from political extremism and unlawful behavior, locally and nationally.

PROTECTING SEATTLE FROM TRUMP

Ann will always stand up for the rule of law and Seattle's values, defending against unlawful Trump Administration actions and ensuring we have the resources and capacity to focus on Seattle's priorities. “We cannot take the bait on Trump’s stunts or allow emotional exhaustion to drain our time, attention and resources. That is why I created a federal response unit in the City Attorney’s Office to monitor Trump’s actions. We are already suing the Trump Administration for its threats to withhold Federal funding from Welcoming Cities like Seattle. Defending Seattle’s values as City Attorney is my top priority.”

FIGHTING EXPLOITATION

As the first woman to serve as Seattle City Attorney, Ann has prioritized the fight against human trafficking in Seattle’s north end. Disrupting the cycles of exploitation that mainly target women and girls, combatting gun violence, and decreasing the surrounding criminal enterprises remain top priorities for Ann going forward.

FOCUSING ON REPEAT OFFENDERS

Ann immediately started off her first term in the first quarter of 2022 by using data to launch the High Utilizer Initiative, now being used by the National Retail Industry Leaders Association and other governmental entities to focus on repeat offenders.

RESTORING REAL-TIME ACCOUNTABILITY

When Ann took office in 2022, the misdemeanor criminal justice system was paralyzed. Ann got the system moving again by clearing a backlog of 5,000 inherited cases, working to remove booking restrictions from King County Jail, and self-imposing a Close in Time Filing policy for the criminal division to make sure charging, diversion and decline decisions are made promptly. Conditions have improved, but—from the Seattle Municipal Court to the King County Jail—there is still more work to do to improve the function and throughput of our city's misdemeanor criminal justice system.

THE DRUG CRISIS

As City Attorney, Ann partnered with City Council to ban public drug use and curb open-air drug markets, protecting our public spaces and enhancing public safety in some of Seattle's most troubled areas.

HOLDING CORPORATIONS ACCOUNTABLE TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY

After vehicles highly susceptible to theft flooded the market, a rash of Kia and Hyundai car thefts threatened the safety of Seattleites. Ann was the first in the country to initiate a multi-governmental entity lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai for cutting corners at the expense of their customers and the safety of their vehicles.

FIGHTING FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT

As City Attorney Ann held polluters accountable, winning the largest settlement of its kind against Monsanto for pollution in the Lower Duwamish River. Ann negotiated the largest single city settlement against the chemical giant Monsanto for its PCB pollution.

NIGHT-LIFE LEGISLATION TO COMBAT GUN VIOLENCE

In response to ongoing gun violence in our most troubled areas putting vulnerable communities at risk, Ann worked with the Mayor and City council to pass measures that implement new security procedures. “One thing we all agree on is that we want to reduce gun violence in Seattle. This legislation requires after-hours lounges to take common sense safety measures to improve safety.”

DRUG ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM

After decriminalization efforts pushed drug cases into Community Courts not designed to handle such cases, Ann worked with the Seattle Municipal Court (SMC), Seattle Mayor’s Office, and Seattle City Council, to craft a new and innovative approach to handling misdemeanor public drug use and possession cases. Ensuring its successful implementation is among her top priorities at City Hall.