Benton County Sheriff Applicants Must Thread a Political Needle

The TCH got its hands on questions (subscribers only) being asked of applicants by the Benton County Commissioners. Rarely have I seen something as rife with dog-whistles as this.

▪ What political party do you affiliate yourself with?

▪ Is there anything in your personal past or present record that could be embarrassing to you or the Benton County Republican Party if it were to become known?

▪ Do you know the Republican Platform and do you support Donald Trump’s America First Agenda?

▪ Do you have conflicts of interest? (Example, are you involved in a lawsuit suing the County, on the Recall Committee or part of the Recall-Effort, or are you a Police Union member)?

▪ What do you believe the issues were inside the Benton County Sheriff’s Department that created the divide and eventually led to the situation we find ourselves in?

▪ How will you address the shortage of deputies and how long do you believe it will take to attract new officers?

▪ What kind of culture will you create in the BCSO if you are selected as the new sheriff?

▪ How do you feel about enforcing an unconstitutional law or initiative?

▪ Do you think every person must have a COVID vaccine and should they be required by government to get one?

▪ Do you think that laws should reduce and deter crime through strong and appropriate punishment?

▪ Will you Honor the constitutional resolution that Sheriff Hatcher signed from the Sheriff’s Association in July of 2021?

▪ What does the phrase “Constitutional Sheriff” mean to you and what are some of the actions that they would take vs one that is not?

▪ What is the one thing you would do differently than the prior Sheriff?

▪ Do you currently plan to run for Sheriff next year if you get this temporary appointment or not?

▪ The Sheriff is the Top Law Enforcement Officer in Benton County. With our very leftist Governor closing down our county businesses and schools last year, and our State Legislature taking away law enforcement tools, what would you as Sheriff do to protect the citizens? (Basic rights, peaceful assembly, right to keep and bear arms, etc. are guaranteed in the State and federal constitutions and as [sic] under attack.)

▪ Do you believe in Open Carry for the citizens in the state of Washington?

▪ Who should run the Sheriff’s office and Jail? (Remember there are 3 branches of County Government-Executive, Judicial, and Law Enforcement. The elected Sheriff.)

▪ What would your first steps be if selected as Interim Sheriff?