Exclusive | Benton sheriff applicants asked about loyalty to Trump, COVID vaccine

Applicants for the open Benton County sheriff seat were asked about their allegiance to former President Donald Trump and stance on the COVID vaccine.

The Benton County Republican Party’s nominating committee also questioned what issues they believe “created the divide and eventually led to the situation we find ourselves in,” according to the list of questions obtained by the Tri-City Herald.

Former Sheriff Jerry Hatcher was ousted from office last month following an overwhelming vote in a countywide election.

He was accused in eight charges of intimidating witnesses and public servants in investigations, retaliating against them, tampering with physical evidence and violating his oath of office.

Seven people applied to serve as the appointed sheriff for the next 1 1/2 years. Their names have not been released by the Republican Party.

It was up to the local party — since Hatcher was elected as a Republican — to vet the applicants and whittle them down to three finalists.

Those names will go to the Benton County Commission for further interviews and selection of a replacement through 2022. The appointment must be done by mid-October.

Sheriff’s Commander Jon Law, a longtime Benton sheriff’s employee who supported the recall effort, currently is serving as the interim sheriff.

Bill Jenkin, chairman of the Benton County Republican Party’s nominating committee, previously told the Tri-City Herald that each candidate was asked the same series of questions in an individual, hour-long interview.

“We didn’t use the questions that we had used in the past for a normal sheriff race,” Jenkin said. “With this being a recall, some of the questions have to do with different items that have come up during that time, so we were able to make the questions fit the situation.”

Jenkin could not be reached earlier Tuesday about the questions or the top three candidates that were recommended to the county commissioners.

The party’s central committee — consisting of about 120 precinct committee officers, or PCOs — met behind closed doors on Sept. 2 to hear from each of the candidates and vote.

None of the questions asked of each candidate specifically mention the fact that Hatcher was removed from office because of a successful recall election.

The only reference is when the candidates were asked about conflicts of interest, such as participation in the recall effort or as a member of the “Committee to Recall Sheriff Hatcher.”

Since the Aug. 3 election, that committee has re-branded itself to “Hold Jerry Hatcher Accountable,” referring to the Washington State Patrol’s criminal investigation into allegations of obstruction by Hatcher.

It currently is under review by the Lewis County prosecutor to determine if criminal charges are warranted.

The list of questions leaked to the Tri-City Herald include:

▪ 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?

This story was originally published September 7, 2021 at 1:55 PM.