2020 Voters Guide
District 39 Senator
Kathryn Lewandowsky
Prefers Progressive Party
Lewandowsky has 30 years of Nursing experience in Oncology, Critical Care, IV Therapy, Hospice Care, and as a Nursing Admin. She is a Licensed Practical Nurse and has an Associates Degree in Nursing from Tacoma Community College, and a Bachelor in Science of Nursing from Western Washington University.
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?
Response:
My only knowledge is by name only. I know that you are a Pacific Northwest First Nation.
Q2: What is your experience working with Tribes?
Response:
I am sorry to say that it is minimal. I have participated in several protests though that included native tribal members and I have been honored to protest with them!
Q3: What does the ideal government-to-government relationship with tribes look like to you?
Response:
I would see the ideal Tribal/US/Washington Government relationship is one where our Federal and State Government would be working in collaboration with our First Nations for knowledge, insight and permissions when it comes to making ecological decisions for our State. We should be looking to your elders for leadership. We should be honoring original treaties made with First Nations.
Q4: If elected, what would your Indian Country-related goals be?
Response:
We need to improve the lives of all of our citizens, especially for those of our First Nations. What we have done to Indian Country is atrocious!
Q5: What is your knowledge of tribal treaties and trust obligations?
Response:
My knowledge of tribal treaties is very limited and I would welcome any help in understanding our local treaties. I did do a study project while working on my BSN on other healthcare systems and so did some research on Native American Shamanism.
Q6: Do you support increasing funding to tribes for services such as health care, cultural resources, and education?
Response:
I am supportive of providing healthcare to all of our citizens equally through a state based single payer health plan. I think that all residents should be included in this comprehensive plan. Definitely we should be helping the tribes out with funding and cooperation to support your cultural resources. I believe that all residents should have access to quality education through the community college level and we should be supporting all who want to advance further in their education equally.
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:
I am only familiar with informed consent in the healthcare setting. Informed consent can only be given prior to any procedure and of course it can only be given freely! Good Grief!
Q8: What protections do you believe Tribal cultural resources and sacred sites should have?
Response:
We have no right to your sacred sites. When you say Cultural resources, I think you may be talking about our local salmon and the hunting of whales. WE need to be looking also at their health and sustainability. What about our local timber? I feel that we have not been taking adequate care of our forests and open lands. Have the Snoqualmie tribe or other tribes been active in slowing timber harvest? Personally, I think our timber industry is raping the land! This is just my gut feeling. I’d sure like to research that more.
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:
Well, I don’t know what that is so I would need more information. They want you to buy your land back?
Q10: What do you know about the Snoqualmie Tribe’s sacred site, Snoqualmie Falls?
Response:
It’s beautiful. I have not been there enough in my life. I would hate for it to be damaged in any way. Don’t let them do it!
Do you support the Tribe’s right to have a say in any future decisions made on its sacred site, including hydropower licensing? Definitely! we need you because the white man is ravaged by greed only!
If elected, how would you support the Tribe in its effort to further its work to protect this site from further desecration? Of course I would support your tribe. How best to support you is still unknown. Certainly by supporting legislation that protects this sacred site and many more. I’m very sorry that you have had to deal with this for so many years and I commend you on your dedication to protecting our earth and all who inhabit it.
Thank you for sending me this! I hope that I will be able to support you in our state government!
Q11: Do you support the Tribe’s right to have a say in any future decisions made on its sacred site, including hydropower licensing?
Definitely! We need you because the white man is ravaged by greed only!
Q12: If elected, how would you support the Tribe in its effort to further its work to protect this site from further desecration?
Of course I would support your tribe. How best to support you is still unknown. Certainly by supporting legislation that protects this sacred site and many more. I’m very sorry that you have had to deal with this for so many years and I commend you on your dedication to protecting our earth and all who inhabit it.
Keith Wagoner
Prefers Republican Party
Wagoner has served as Senator of the 39th District since 2018, and previously served as the Mayor of the City of Sedro Woolley from 2016-2018. He served in the United States Marine Corp and the United States Navy for over 23 years. He retired from the U.S. Navy with the rank of Commander. He attended the United States Naval Academy and earned a BS in Physical Oceanography, and the University of San Diego where he earned a MS in Global Leadership.
