Candidate Surveys — Benton County Sheriff

I am running for Benton County Sheriff because many of my fellow Benton County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, Detectives, former Deputies, former Detectives, and former Supervisors came to me on many different occasions, in many different settings, and in several different manners and asked ME to run to be the next elected Benton County Sheriff. The four reasons I heard the most from them as to why they wanted me to run for and be the next Benton County Sheriff were they wanted: 1. “A return of Integrity to the Benton County SHERIFF’S office,” 2. “A return of Morality to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office,” 3. “A Sheriff who knows how to be a true Servant Leader,” and 4. “Mike is really not a very nice guy.”

If elected as the next Benton County Sheriff three of my highest priorities will be: 1. Return trust and integrity to the person and title of the Benton County Sheriff. Throughout this campaign I have been told over and over again that many of the employees of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office are afraid to share their true feelings for fear of retaliation by the current Sheriff (and Administration). In the 2026 Benton County Primary Voter’s Guide under the heading of “Elected Experience” Mike Clark listed “Current position Benton County Sheriff.” To the best of my knowledge Mike Clark has never served in an elected office. At best this is deceptive to the public / the people he intends to serve as Sheriff. Mike was “appointed” to the position of Sheriff by the 3-person Benton County Commission, not elected by the people. On his campaign website Mike Clark said he was endorsed by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Clerks. We asked multiple Clerks if this was true. Not one Clerk said, Yes, we the Clerks voted to endorse Mike Clark as the next Benton County Sheriff. We were told by individuals associated the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Clerks, “This (at best) this is misleading,” or it could actually be called a straight up lie. Mike was asked to remove this endorsement by the Clerks from his website and he did so. The people of Benton County, WA, deserve a Sheriff who can be trusted to be: truthful, not deceptive or misleading and one who does not lead by fear and intimidation. 2. Drastically decrease the property crime rate in Benton County. Benton County’s property crime rate is significantly above the national crime rate norm and must be reduced. People have a right to feel safe and secure in their homes and their property. We can do better! 3. As long as there is one child sexually exploited or trafficked in Benton County, this is unacceptable. WE must always strive to do everything we can to make sure that not a single child is sexually exploited, abused or trafficked in Benton County, WA.

That world would not differ from my own. In my 15 years of elected public service I have always tried to do the right thing. Once in Olympia, when I was asked to take a vote for the sake of the caucus and our bargaining ability with the majority caucus, I felt dirty inside and swore to myself to never do that again. I learned my lesson then and now always try to do, “The Right Thing,” every time. I have been the lone no vote on the floor of the WA State House of Representatives multiple times and have since been the lone no vote on the Kennewick City Council!