Longtime community leader and experienced pro tem judge Tracy Flood filed last week for the seat vacated by retiring District Court Judge James Riehl.

Flood has 13 years of direct legal experience as a litigator, a pro em judge and an adjudicator to the Kitsap County District Court bench.

“I am excited to announce my intentions to seek the open seat for District Court,” Flood said. “For the last seven years I have served as a pro tem judge and I want to bring that experience and balance back to the bench.”

In addition to her extensive experience in the courtroom, Flood also brings a host of endorsements from across Kitsap County and Washington state.

Former Supreme Court Justice Bobbe Bridge will serve as honorary chair of Flood’s campaign committee. Supreme Court Chief Justice Barbara Madsen, Justice Stephen Gonzalez and Supreme Court candidate Mary Yu have endorsed her as well as retired Superior Court Judge Don Horowitz and retired Chief Administrative Law Judge Art Wang.

Flood has lived in the Kitsap County area for 25 years, serving in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserves, owning a small business, volunteering her time at the Kitsap County YWCA and the Kitsap County Domestic Violence Task Force. Tracy has a daughter, Anna, who is a junior at Crosspoint Academy.

Flood began her legal career nearly sixteen years ago when she worked at the Department of Assigned Counsel working in the Felony Division. From there, she moved to a private law firm as an associate attorney and public defender at Crawford, McGilliard, Peterson and Yelish.

She then opened her own law office focusing on family law, criminal misdemeanors, personal injury, wills and collections. Her firm also held a conflict contract with Bainbridge Island.

For the last seven years, she has served as a pro tem judge in both King and Kitsap counties as well as the Port Orchard Municipal Court and the Washington State Office of Administrative Hearing.

She is a graduate of the Seattle University School of Law.

For more information, go to www.tracyfloodforjudge.com.