The third of 16 children, John Ladenburg was born in Leavenworth, WA and graduated from Stadium High School in Tacoma. He received both his undergraduate and law degrees from Gonzaga University. John's father was an outdoor high wire electrician who was a lifelong member of IBEW 77. John married his wife, Connie, 40 years ago. They have five grown children and nine grandchildren.

          Prior to elected office, John spent a decade managing his own law firm, representing accident victims and small business clients. He was also involved in several high-profile cases ranging from the federal Salmon-scam to the Pierce County Racketeering trials. John represented tribal members in Washington and Oregon attempting to recover their treaty fishing rights. John's considerable trial skills often resulted in his appointment to represent criminal defendants. Several times John was appointed by the courts to represent defendants facing the death penalty.

          John entered public service as a Tacoma City Council member. Right away he became a leader in protecting the environment and in establishing clean drinking water standards. John led the fight to force the Federal EPA to clean up polluted water wells owned by Tacoma's water utility. He helped bring the first secondary treatment plant to Tacoma's sewer utility and forced Tacoma to withdraw from the W.P.P.S.S. power fiasco.

          After being encouraged to run by members of law enforcement, John was elected Prosecuting Attorney in 1986, defeating an incumbent Prosecutor. Throughout his time in office, John received national recognition for innovative and positive changes. As the Legislative Chair and then President of the State Prosecutor's Association, he was instrumental in writing new laws against drug dealers and gang violence.

          After a brutal sex crime in Pierce County, John created the nation's first "Sex Predator Notification Law", later approved by the U.S. Supreme Court. He also was a major participant in the re-writing of Washington's sex predator laws, receiving special recognition from the Tennis Shoe Brigade. Later, John's office wrote the nation's first sex predator Civil Commitment law. After John helped support the law's passage, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld it.

          John was one of the founding members of Safe Streets of Pierce County, a nationally recognized neighborhood watch program. He served 10 years on the Board of Directors. Recognizing the danger of Meth addiction, John organized the first "Meth Summit" in the State to bring the issue to the forefront of law enforcement. He then helped organize the first "Drug Court" in the State, in an effort to treat the addiction as a disease.

          After the first attempt to pass a "Three Strikes And You're Out" law in Washington failed, John and Norm Maleng, the King County Prosecutor, joined forces to write a better law. Their work produced the law citizens adopted later that year. It was the first in the nation and still serves as a national model for a reasonable statute that did not bankrupt the State.

          As County Executive, John led an exceptional effort to clean up the County. His program, “Pierce County Reponds” cleaned up over 15 illegal dumpsites and won the National Association of Counties highest award. He also fought for funding for salmon recovery efforts, was a leader in the Tri-party Salmon Recovery efforts, and established new setback levies on Pierce County rivers to improve habitat. He was an activist in environmental and land use issues. A complete listing is in his resume above.

          When he became Pierce County Executive, John joined the Sound Transit Board right at the time the agency was forced to announce it was far over budget and behind schedule. John wasted no time turning the troubled agency around.   Although it was tradition for members to serve only two years as Chair of the Board, John was asked by fellow members to serve an unprecedented four straight years, stepping down in January 2008. When John took over as Chair, the Link Light Rail line to the airport was less than 10% complete. When he left it was 85% complete and on time and on budget. It opens in mid 2009.