Loren Culp in 2020 WA Governor's race
On Civil Rights:
No systemic racism, laws treat everyone equally
Culp has also said he doesn't believe there is systemic racism. And when presented the opportunity to explain how, if there is no systemic racism, there still exist racial disparities in education, income and health outcomes,
Culp dodged the question by simply pointing out that there are laws that say everyone will be treated equally.
Inslee, by contrast, says he's open to discussions on ending qualified immunity, but he hopes action to address racial inequity is not limited to criminal justice.
That would mean better preparing young students of color for school and providing their families health care, he says.
Source: Inlander.com on 2020 Washington Gubernatorial debate
Oct 22, 2020
On Crime:
For qualified immunity protecting cops from lawsuits
During the debate with Inslee, Culp said he didn't agree with ending qualified immunity that protects officers from civil lawsuits. (Note: He is facing a civil lawsuit in Republic over a sex abuse investigation.)
Culp was also asked about officers who are rehired after being fired for misuse of force, but declined to weigh in on another police department outside his own besides saying he's "all for" officers being held accountable generally.
Source: Inlander.com on 2020 Washington Gubernatorial debate
Oct 22, 2020
On Energy & Oil:
Questions climate change, fires from poor forest management
Inslee has called the fires that have decimated small towns in Washington "climate fires," while Culp has questioned climate change. But on the wildfires specifically, Culp blames poor forest management in the state and, by extension, Inslee.
But Inslee blames Trump for slashing the budget for thinning forests. He adds it takes time for forest management, but that the state's investment in forest treatment has gone up significantly since he's been in office.
Source: Inlander.com on 2020 Washington Gubernatorial debate
Oct 22, 2020
On Energy & Oil:
Climate change: get the bureaucrats out of the way
Culp all but dismissed climate science. He said that in the 1970s, he remembers talk about how the climate was getting cooler. "I don't deny that the climate changes," he said, adding that climate change had not played a role in the string of wildfires
that burned through Washington and the West Coast last month. Asked what he would do to address climate change, Culp said he loves "clean water, clean air and clean land" and "we need to get bureaucrats out of the way."
Source: Seattle Times on 2020 Washington Gubernatorial debate
Oct 7, 2020
On Health Care:
COVID: Wearing a mask should be a personal choice
On coronavirus: Culp argues that many of these restrictions, most notably a mask mandate, shouldn't be dictated by the governor. Wearing a mask, he says, should be a personal choice. "The problem is when we have one person
sitting in the governor's office telling everyone what they are going to wear," Culp says.
[Inslee in response]: "Because Washingtonians are not listening to Donald Trump, and frankly, Chief Culp, they are wearing masks, they are social distancing, and as a result of that we have lowered our infection rate dramatically,"
Inslee says in a recent debate against Culp. "We have saved lives."
Source: Inlander.com on 2020 Washington Gubernatorial debate
Oct 22, 2020
On Principles & Values:
I firmly believe in individual freedom and liberty
In response to his take on how to handle the coronavirus pandemic: "Everyone in government, whether appointed or elected, are public servants," Culp said. "And I firmly believe in individual freedom and liberty. The problem is when we have one person
sitting in the governor's office telling everyone what they're going to wear, whether they're going to go to work. That's the problem that I've had with this."
Source: Northwest News Network on 2020 Washington Governor debate
Oct 8, 2020
On Tax Reform:
No tax increase: cut anything with the word "study" in it
On the state budget, which faces a shortfall in the billions of dollars, Culp has said that taxes should not go up.
Pressed on what should be cut, he only said he would look at each program but would begin with cutting "anything that has the word `study' in it."
Source: Seattle Times on 2020 Washington Gubernatorial debate
Oct 7, 2020
Page last updated: Dec 17, 2023