TACOMA, Wash. — The City of Tacoma and the nearby small city of Ruston have the highest violent crime rates in Washington state, according to the most recent FBI data — putting public safety at the forefront of Tacoma’s mayoral race.

The violent crime rates are based on population and the number of reported violent crimes.

Both candidates running to be Tacoma’s next mayor say addressing the city’s violent crime is a top priority.

Mayoral candidate John Hines called the violent crime rate “unacceptable.”

“It’s a real focus on addressing crime and the root causes of crime here in the community,” Hines said. “That means fully staffing our police department, but also making community investments. The more we can do both, the more successful we’ll be.”

His opponent, Anders Ibsen, said th

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