Derrill Fussell's personal pronoun is “One of We the People.”
Derrill Fussell has spent his life doing the kind of work where being precise matters, and being honest matters more.
Skagit Valley roots
Derrill has deep roots in Skagit County. He farmed the Skagit Valley for twelve years and rose to General Manager of one of the largest flower bulb farms in the world. He and his wife raised their three daughters in Mount Vernon, where he still calls home.
An inventor and a builder
Derrill later moved into the high-tech sector, where he invented and patented a removable hard drive system that helped shape modern computing. He went on to serve as CEO of a technology company whose advanced computer upgrades were recognized by the National Security Agency as critical for government use.
Trust at the highest levels
That expertise earned him the highest civilian security clearance granted in the United States — a level of trust extended only to those whose judgment, discretion, and integrity have been tested at every stage of a career. Holding that clearance, Derrill has worked as a contractor at the West Wing of the White House and at the Pacific Naval Command Center (NIWC Pacific). In February he visited Vandenberg U.S. Space Force Base in Santa Barbara, California, as an observer.
A storyteller for the next generation
Education has always been part of the work. Derrill has two semesters of college, with his last studies completed at Skagit Valley College. Passionate about early childhood literacy, he has authored and published ten children's books under the pen name Dr. Qooz — work that helps children understand kindness, curiosity, and the world around them.
“Trying to get children to read without colorful pictures is the equivalence of teaching a child to ride a bicycle blindfolded. Reading to your child until they say ‘Stop!’ is the greatest college education you can give your child — for free.”
Why Coroner. Why now.
The biggest challenge facing coroner's offices nationwide is:
- Funding, staff shortage, and staff burnout.
- Information delays that prevent families from finding closure. One year ago, Derrill's only son was killed in a single-car crash, (in Texas). The mandatory autopsy process left the family without control over the timing for closure or funeral arrangements.
As Coroner, Derrill will lobby for adequate funding, pursue grants, rotate the staff so no one is required to serve 24/7, 365, and Derrill will ensure families have a direct line of communication, so they receive timely updates and the support they need during the most difficult moments of their lives.
Qualifications for the office
Both candidates in this race meet the basic requirements for the office: registered voter, no prior experience as a coroner. The winner will receive comprehensive formal training and certification from the State of Washington after the election. What the voters provide is something the state cannot: the character of the person who will hold the office.
Why Derrill Fussell
Leadership When It Matters Most
The Skagit County Coroner does much more than sign death certificates. The office runs a public budget, supervises staff and contracted professionals, and works every day with local law enforcement, hospitals, and funeral homes. It also works with state agencies and, when a case calls for it, with federal authorities. Families get answers only when that work is done well, and taxpayers are protected only when it is managed well. Derrill Fussell brings decades of hands-on experience doing exactly this. He has managed budgets, led people, and delivered results while working with local, state, and federal government. He will not be learning to run a public office on the job. He has already done it.
The stakes are higher than most voters realize. Under Washington law, RCW 36.24.010, "the coroner shall perform the duties of the sheriff in all cases where the sheriff is interested or otherwise incapacitated from serving." In those cases the coroner holds the sheriff's full powers and duties. When the county's chief law enforcement officer has a conflict, the coroner steps in, and Skagit County needs someone ready on day one. This is not a job for someone who got it by appointment and is still building a résumé. It calls for proven judgment, steady leadership, and a record of results. Derrill Fussell has the experience to carry out every administrative duty of the office, including the ones that matter most when something goes wrong. On November 3rd, vote Derrill Fussell for Skagit County Coroner.
With decades of hands-on experience and a lifetime of navigating real-world challenges, Derrill brings a depth of perspective and wisdom that only extended time can forge — effectively more than doubling the practical qualifications he can offer compared to someone earlier in their journey. His roots run deep in the Skagit Valley, and he has earned the highest levels of trust in both local agriculture and national security.
A neighbor first
Derrill lives in Skagit County. His commitments are to its families, its first responders, its hospitals, and its tribal nations. He is ready to complete the state's required training and to serve Skagit County families with dignity, compassion, and distinction.