Law enforcement candidates head WA governor’s race

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For the first time in 12 years, Gov. Jay Inslee will not be heading back to the governor’s mansion. Instead, Washingtonians will send either the state’s Attorney General Bob Ferguson, or former King County Sheriff David Reichert to Olympia.

If Reichert is elected, it’ll be the first time in 40 years that a Republican has returned to the state capitol. Ferguson’s election, on the other hand, would continue to cement Democrats’ strong hold on constitutional offices in the state.

Both men have law enforcement backgrounds and agree Washington needs to do something about public safety. They also agree that the cost of living crisis is impacting people’s pockets. But their approach to those topics differs from one another.

In an interview with Cascadia Daily News’s Editorial Board, Ferguson said one of his top priorities in the first 100 days of his administration would be directing the Legislature to place $100 million as a budget line item to help local jurisdictions hire more law enforcement officers.

That money “can be signing bonuses, that can be increased salaries,” he said.

Reichert, who also served as a member of Congress, said at the second governor’s debate Sept. 18 that if elected, he would also support hiring more law enforcement officers, and has repeatedly said people need to be held accountable for their actions.

“We’re going to enforce the law … we’re not allowing cops to enforce the law,” he said, adding that when police officers make a decision, they will not be sued by the Attorney General’s office. “We have to support our police officers, we have to elect officials that support our police officers. We have to make sure, yes, that our police officers are held accountable to the policies and laws of Washington state.”

Reichert did not accept multiple invitations to be interviewed by CDN’s Editorial Board.

As for targeting the high cost of living crisis, Reichert has said the amount of taxes in Washington, including the Climate Commitment Act which critics have said has led to the rise in gas prices, has contributed to the issue.

“What we’re doing right now on this gas tax is it is a burden on each and every one of us living in Washington state,” he said during the second debate. “We need to pause that gas tax. We need to step back and take a look at where we’re heading.”

Voters will have a chance to vote to either keep the CCA or repeal one of the crowning jewels of Inslee’s administration in November.

Ferguson wants to tackle the cost of living crisis by creating 200,000 units of affordable housing in his first term.

“We’re going to lean into that goal because when you make that happen, that will make life a bit more affordable for folks who need to buy a home or rent a place,” he said.

As for the candidates’ campaign chests, Ferguson has been vocal that he’s not accepted donations from political action committees. Instead, some of his largest contributions have come from the state’s Democratic party and small contributions.

Reichert has also accepted a majority of donations from small contributions.

Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.