BOTHELL – Another Republican has joined the growing field of candidates seeking to oust Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat.
Real estate developer and former Bothell mayor Joshua Freed is the fourth Republican to throw his hat in the conservative ring.
He joins Republic Police Chief Loren Culp, Anton Sakharov of Maple Valley and Sen. Phil Fortunato of Auburn in seeking the Republican nomination.
Freed announced his candidacy via a YouTube video Sept. 6, noting his candidacy will focus on the growing homeless problem as well as government transparency.
“Rampant homelessness is now viewed as the new normal,” he said in his video chastising state government’s failures to help everyday residents while rewarding the wealthy.
“Which Washington is Olympia helping? Not the one that needs it,” he said. “Instead, state government is focused on making life even more comfortable for those already doing fine.”
If elected, Freed said he would donate his salary to homeless and drug rehabilitation centers.
“My commitment is to helping others and lifting up those in need,” he said. “I will back that commitment by not taking a paycheck as governor. Instead, I will donate my salary every month to a nonprofit homeless shelter or drug rehab facility.”
While Freed focuses on homelessness, the other Republican candidates have different targets in mind.
Culp, the only Eastern Washington resident amid the field, was the first to announce his candidacy.
He is also the first law enforcement officer in the state to refuse to enforce gun-control measure Initiative 1639, which passed mostly on the strength of urban voters in the Puget Sound area. East of the Cascades, the measure was roundly rejected by 18 of 20 counties. His refusal led to a revolt by 22 sheriffs statewide who also said they would not actively enforce the law.
Fortunato, a Republican party insider, is basing his candidacy on the “unsustainable” state budget, taxes and school funding. Fortunato said his goal is to reduce the tax burden on residents.
Sakharov, a program manager in Maple Valley, has yet to release a public platform for his candidacy.
On the Democratic side, Gov. Inslee has announced he will seek a third term as the state’s top elected official.
Inslee’s candidacy was confirmed earlier this month when he dropped out of the presidential race. He is running again on his climate change agenda.
Roger Harnack is the new publisher of the Cheney Free Press. He can be reached at [email protected].
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, columnist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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