2020 Voters Guide
District 39 Rep 1
Claus Joens
Prefers Democratic Party
Joens has experience as Skagit County Democratic Party Vice Chair, Skagit County 39th Legislative District Representative, and as Precinct Committee Officer. He is a 3rd generation public school teacher in Business Education who achieved his OSPI Principal Certificate. He worked 20 years for Ford Motor Company in accounting, auditing, corporate finance, customer service, sales and marketing, software development and strategic planning. He attended Western Governors University (MS Educational Leadership), Gonzaga University (MBA Business Administration) and Eastern Washington University (BA Finance and Economics)
Responses to Tribe's Questions
To read about this candidate’s responses to the Snoqualmie Tribe’s questions, click through each question below.
Q1: What do you know about the Snoqualmie Tribe?
Responses:
They are one of the original tribes who signed the Treaty of Point Elliott, and run the Snoqualmie Casino. I do not know any tribal members personally.
Q2: What is your experience working with Tribes?
Responses:
They are strong allies and environmental partners who believe we should preserve nature for those who will follow us. My brother in law is full blooded Cherokee and Choctaw. I have no inhibitions working directly with Tribes, and strive to keep the promises our forefathers made in exchange for the land my ancestors settled upon.
Q3: What does the ideal government-to-government relationship with tribes look like to you?
Response:
Cooperation with mutual dignity and respect.
Q4: If elected, what would your Indian Country-related goals be?
Response:
I am in contact with local members of the Swinomish, Sauk-Suiattle and Upper Skagit Tribes. I have reached out to the Stillaguamish but have received no response. Some tribes are closed societies. I listen to what they have to say and try to represent their interests.
Q5: What is your knowledge of tribal treaties and trust obligations?
Response:
The federal/state performance of these obligations could have been better.
Q6: Do you support increasing funding to tribes for services such as health care, cultural resources, and education?
Response:
I know that different tribes receive different funding so I would have to look more in depth at each tribal situation. In general, yes I support all three, but lack the detailed information to be more specific.
Q7: What do you know about free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC)? If elected, would you advocate for these principles to be included in legislation and policy?
Response:
From Wikipedia…”The aim of free, prior and informed consent is to establish bottom-up participation and consultation of an indigenous population prior to the beginning of development on ancestral land or using resources within the indigenous population’s territory.” I have not personally dealt with this before and have no experience with it. However, I once was a Superior Court Personal Representative on a probate case that lasted for 25 years, so I have some understanding of contracts, fiduciary duty, equity, and good faith. It would be only right to include FPIC in legislation and policy. The relentless pursuit of profit should not circumvent tribal traditions and culture.
Q8: What protections do you believe Tribal cultural resources and sacred sites should have?
Response:
I would have to work with each tribe to understand the cultural significance of cultural resources and sacred sites and do my due diligence to protect indigenous cultures for future generations.
Q9: What do you believe is the best role of government in the fee to trust process for tribes to gain jurisdiction over their traditional lands?
Response:
Depends on the tribe and the location. As a rule I am supportive. However, locally in the Skagit Valley the tribes have severed water rights to some 6,000 parcels which may help the salmon but is not very popular with local property owners. One tribe would like to start a business with unlimited use of water near property where the local residents cannot sink a well. I do not support excessive use of water next to a resident who is denied any use of water. In this same valley, residents cannot sink a new well, but a local small town sells water by the truckload to raise revenue. I do not support this situation either. Another tribe has land that is totally in a flood plain and may need to relocate. Fee to trust may be appropriate there so their lands cannot be taken from them again. Fee to trust in the 39th LD is a complex issue with respect to water rights and long term planning for the whole region, especially when salmon conservation is important.
Q10: What do you know about the Snoqualmie Tribe's sacred site, Snoqualmie Falls? Do you support the Tribe's right to have a say in any future decisions made on its sacred site, including hydropower licensing?
Response:
I have visited it once and it is beautiful. That is really all I know at the moment. Please provide more background so I may be better educated on this sacred site.
Of course. I do need to become better educated on your sacred sites so I can have an intelligent conversation with you and support your interests.
Again, I need more information. This is obviously an important topic for you and I do not want to sound callous or disrespectful. I am still learning about the local tribes, as my residence is located on the ancestral home of the Sauk-Suiattle and Upper Skagit Tribes. I would like to have a face to face discussion when COVID-19 permits so I can fully understand and appreciate your concerns.
Q11: What role, if any, do you feel the State of Washington plays in Treaty Rights disputes?
Response:
I am conflicted in my answer. On the one hand, the Snoqualmie Tribe is a sovereign nation and your treaty is with the federal government, so the state should not play a role in any dispute. On the other hand, that is not the personal relationship I prefer to have in business. I like close working relationships where both sides treat each other with dignity and respect, so disputes are solved between partners and no not escalate to a legal level. I would guess your history in these things has been less than positive. I can’t change that. I do hope change our relationship going forward. I would require significant background on your culture, not to justify your position, but so I can better understand and empathize with the problems you are facing from your perspective.
Q12: Do you support the Snoqualmie Tribe as a signatory of the Treaty of Point Elliot having equal rights to its fellow treaty signatory tribes?
Response:
Yes. I am unsure why the Snoqualmie Tribe lost federal recognition, just as I am unsure what circumstances allowed you to regain your status. I imagine this lapse of recognition may have compromised your original treaty rights, and therefore am very interested in listening to your elders as to what happened, and what should have happened. I cannot promise we will always agree. I can promise I will always listen and try to do the right thing for the people of the Snoqualmie nation.
Robert Sutherland
Prefers Republican Party
Sutherland has experience as Washington State Representative, as Snohomish County Republican Party LD Vice Chairman, and as Precinct Committee Officer. He is a biochemist who has worked in lung and breast cancer drug development. He has a Biochemistry degree from Gonzaga University.
