Strategy Brief: The Plot to Fire the Voters
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Link to ShareIn Washington, your County Sheriff is the only law enforcement leader you get to vote for directly. They do not answer to a Mayor or a City Manager, County administrative staff member, County Council, Commission, or even a County Executive.
They answer to you.
But right now, the political establishment is trying to break that link. They are moving to turn the Sheriff from an elected official into an "appointed" employee. This essentially makes them a department head who can be hired and fired by a few politicians behind closed doors.
We are seeing this play out in real time as a targeted attack.
In Pierce County, the establishment could not beat Sheriff Keith Swank at the ballot box, so now they are trying to change the rules so they never have to face a candidate like him again. This is the blueprint. If a Sheriff stands up for the Constitution or refuses to follow a radical agenda, the politicians try to "appoint" someone more obedient.
Whether your county has a 3-member Board of Commissioners or a County Council, the goal is the same: centralizing power in the hands of the few and taking it away from the many.
We are not waiting for this to hit all 39 counties. Our asymmetric strategy is to treat the attack on one Sheriff as an attack on the office itself.
Now that the majority Democrats have the power to use a Governor-appointed board to remove any elected sheriff from office, to essentially force the rollout of appointed sheriffs, we need to build a statewide vanguard to protect the independence of the Sheriff’s office. We can’t let Olympia Democrats "modernize" your vote away.
We have to be where they are not: in the community, reminding people that the Sheriff works for the citizens, not the courthouse.
Before you read today’s playbook, are you finding value in these daily tactical briefs? If so, please consider a monthly donation of $25. This helps me afford the technology and infrastructure to grow our vanguard and take back WA.
Support the Vanguard ($25/mo)HERE’S YOUR PLAYBOOK FOR TODAY
1. Identify Your County Structure
Most Washington counties are "non-charter," meaning they are run by three Commissioners. These counties cannot simply appoint a Sheriff without a massive legal fight or a move to a "Charter." If you hear your Commissioners talking about "changing our form of government," that is the warning bell that your vote is about to be targeted. Reach out to me directly (by replying to this email) if you need any assistance figuring this out. I spent 15 years in local government, 8 as a strong mayor. I know how this works.
2. The "Sheriff Keith Swank" Case Study
When you talk to neighbors, use the Pierce County example. Explain that the establishment is trying to change the law specifically because they did not like the person the people chose. It is the ultimate "sore loser" move, and it sets a dangerous precedent for every other county in the state.
3. Force a Public Statement
Go to your next County Commission or Council meeting. During public comment, ask one simple question: "Do you believe the Sheriff should remain an elected position accountable to the voters, or should they be an appointed position accountable to you?" Take note of the answer, and find the public recording. If you are confused by an answer, schedule time to meet with the council members or commissioners.
4. Digital Vanguard: Share the "Top Cop" Fact
Post a simple status on social media: "The Sheriff is the only law enforcement officer I get to vote for. I will never support a politician who tries to take that right away." This creates a "no-go zone" for local politicians who might be considering a power grab. Tag me, tag your friends, share and care.
5. Monitor the "Administrative" Creep
Watch out for "Director of Public Safety" positions being created. Sometimes, politicians will hire a "Director" to sit above the Sheriff to supervise the Sheriff’s office or starve it of resources. This is an asymmetric way to force an elected Sheriff out without a vote. If you see this in your county budget, sound the alarm.
MY CHALLENGE TO YOU
You now have the playbook. But having a tangible asset means nothing if you do not run the play. Your next step is to take this off the screen and into the real world.
I challenge you to talk to just one neighbor, coworker, or friend about this issue. The movement fails if we stay silent while they rewrite our local government.
Use this simple, 2-sentence script:
YOUR COUNTER-NARRATIVE
The political class has their talking points ready. Here is how you dismantle them:
The Spin: "An appointed Sheriff is more 'professional' and less 'political' because they do not have to run campaigns."
The Reality: "An appointed Sheriff is more political because they have to suck up to the three or five politicians who can fire them at any moment. An elected Sheriff only has to answer to the law and the people."
The Spin: "This change allows the county to hire experts from outside the area to run our police force."
The Reality: "This allows the establishment to hire a 'yes-man' from Seattle or out of state who does not know your community and will not stand up for your local values when the state puts pressure on them."
If today's brief armed you with a strategy you can use, consider funding the machine that built it.
Thank you for continuing to follow me as I build the machine we need to take WA back. I’ll see you on the campaign trail, but always know you can reach out to me directly by responding to this email.
Josh Penner
State Representative | Defending the 31st. Fighting for WA.
Calling All Allies & Organizations
I want to highlight your good work and help you organize. If you lead a local group, whether it is a County GOP chapter, a local business advocacy coalition, or a parent group, reply to this email and let us coordinate. I want to help you protect the vote in your specific county before the politicians try to cancel it.
YOUR CHECKLIST FOR TODAY
| ☑ | Execute the Playbook: Take the local actions outlined above and accept the neighbor challenge. |
| ☐ | Report from the Ground: Reply to this email and tell me: who are your 3 County Commissioners (or Councilmembers), and have any of them ever mentioned "appointing" department heads? |