Candidate Surveys — Franklin County Sheriff

Initially, I believed God was calling me to run for the Legislature to be a reasonable and logical voice in addressing policies coming out of Olympia that have increasingly tied the hands of law enforcement and made our communities less safe. Through prayer, counsel, and reflection, however, it became clear that my calling was not to write the laws, but to lead the people entrusted with enforcing them. That is what ultimately led me to run for Sheriff. I am running for Franklin County Sheriff because I am deeply committed to keeping our communities safe and building a Sheriff’s Office rooted in integrity, accountability, and exceptional leadership. My purpose is to serve and protect the people of Franklin County with honesty, transparency, and decision-making they can trust. I envision a Sheriff’s Office that is an active partner with our communities; one that relentlessly pursues justice, advocates for victims, supports deputies with the tools and resources they need to succeed, and works collaboratively to solve problems before they become crises. As Sheriff, I will faithfully uphold the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Washington, enforce the law fairly and impartially, and be a reasonable and logical voice for public safety. I will work to build a culture centered on courage, integrity, humility, selflessness, positivity, and duty. Success will not be measured by my title. It will be measured by whether Franklin County has a Sheriff’s Office that the public trusts, deputies are proud to serve in, victims know will stand beside them, and communities are safer because of the leadership we have provided.

1. Strengthen Leadership, Professionalism, and Accountability I will work to ensure the Sheriff’s Office operates with transparency, professionalism, and accountability at every level. Strong leadership sets the tone for the entire organization, and I believe employees perform best when expectations are clear; ethical standards are upheld, and they are provided with the training, resources, and leadership necessary to succeed. 2. Support Deputies and Improve Recruitment and Retention Law enforcement agencies across the country are facing significant staffing challenges. I will prioritize recruiting and retaining high-quality deputies and staff by fostering a positive organizational culture, investing in training and professional development, and ensuring employees have the tools, resources, and support necessary to succeed. 3. Enhance Partnerships and Public Safety Public safety works best when law enforcement and the community work together. I will continue building strong relationships with residents, schools, businesses, fire and EMS agencies, local governments, community organizations, and regional partners to proactively address crime, improve communication, solve problems, and maintain public trust.

To answer that question, we first have to recognize that people will not always agree on what the “right thing” is. One of the things that makes this country great is our ability to hold differing, and sometimes opposing views. What matters is how we navigate those differences. We should be able to disagree civilly and respectfully while continuing to see one another as people rather than political opponents. A world in which elected officials always did the right thing would be one where decisions were guided by principle, service, and the public good rather than personal or political gain. It would not be a world without disagreement; it would be one where disagreement did not prevent people from working together. In the end, I can only control my own conduct. My responsibility is to lead through my character and actions, treat others with dignity and respect, and hopefully have a positive influence on those around me. If each of us, elected officials, and citizens alike, approached our responsibilities that way, I believe our communities would be stronger for it.