2020 Voters Guide
Attorney GeneralAn Introduction | The Attorney General serves as counselors to their legislatures and state agencies. They also serve as a “people’s lawyer” for all citizens. Typical powers include issuing formal opinions to state agencies, representing the state and state agencies before state and federal courts, acting as public advocates in areas such as consumer protection, and proposing legislation.
Bob Ferguson
Prefers Democratic Party
Ferguson is a 4th generation Washington, born and raised in Queen Anne. He served as student body president at the UW and earned his law degree at New York University. He has served as Attorney General since 2012.
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?
I was proud to earn the Snoqualmie Tribe’s support in my first run for Attorney General in 2012. I visited the Snoqualmie reservation and met with the Snoqualmie Tribal Council my first year as Attorney General. I am grateful for the relationships I have built with Snoqualmie tribal leaders. I deeply appreciate the opportunity to attend the Snoqualmie Rights Day Celebration commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Tribe’s successful fight to obtain full federal recognition as a sovereign Tribal Nation. I enjoyed having Vice Chair Ross to my home for a “Lego Summit” to discuss Free, Prior, and Informed Consent. I joined many in celebrating the Snoqualmie Tribe.
Q2: What is your experience working with Tribes?
Tribal issues constitute a significant part of the work of the Attorney General’s Office. Last May, in an effort to strengthen partnerships between Indian tribes and my office, I unveiled an AGO policy requiring my office to achieve free, prior, and informed consent before
initiating a project or program that directly and tangibly affects Indian tribes, rights, tribal lands and sacred sites. I remain deeply
appreciative of the Snoqualmie Tribe for helping me develop this historic policy. I look forward to working with all 29 federally recognized tribes to pass this policy into statute.
I have visited all 29 federally recognized tribes as Attorney General. I am the first Attorney General to hire a full-time tribal liaison. I partnered with Washington Tribes to sue the Trump Administration regarding Washington’s clean water. I have stood beside tribes to defend the Indian Child Welfare Act in the courts. Motivated by NCAI President Fawn Sharp’s leadership, I helped convince
Amazon to stop selling merchandise on its platform featuring a racial slur that, at the time, was associated with the Washington D.C. football team.
Q3: What does the ideal State/Federal and Tribe government-to-government relationship look like to you?
The ideal government-to-government relationships involve mutual respect between sovereigns, frequent communication, and a proactive effort to collaborate on shared goals where tribes are already leading, such as, among others, protecting natural resources, combating climate change, and enhancing civil rights.
Q4: If elected, what would your Indian Country-related goal(s) be?
See above. I also look forward to continuing to work with tribes to advance environmental protections and civil rights.
Q5: What is your knowledge of tribal treaties and trust obligations?
Tribal treaties are promises the government made to tribes in exchange for land that the tribes occupied long before white settlers came to Washington state. Honoring these promises is a sacred obligation.
Q6: Do you support increasing funding to tribes for services such as health care, cultural resources, and education?
Yes.
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?
I remain deeply appreciative of the Snoqualmie Tribe for assisting my office in the development in a free, prior and informed consent policy. I look forward to working with Washington’s 29 federally recognized tribes and the Legislature to enact this policy into law. I hope other local and state agencies use this as a model to adopt similar policies.
Q8: What protections do you believe Tribal cultural resources and sacred sites should have?
Tribal cultural resources and sacred sites must be protected. Meaningful consultation, collaboration, and recognition of tribes’ Treaty Rights and leadership is critical for the protection of cultural resources. Moreover, government and private interests should seek free, prior, and informed consent from tribes before taking any action that impacts sacred sites.
Q9: What do you believe is the best role of government (local, state, Federal) in the fee to trust process for Tribes to gain jurisdiction over their traditional lands?
The federal government must give sovereign tribes the ability to put lands into trust. This is critical for tribes’ economic development.
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? If elected, how would you support the Tribe in its effort to further its work to protect this site from further desecration?
I understand Snoqualmie Falls is the Snoqualmie Tribe’s most sacred site. I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the tribe for reclaiming this sacred site. I look forward to working with the Snoqualmie Tribe, when appropriate, to ensure Snoqualmie Falls is protected from desecration.
Q11: What role, if any, do you feel the State of Washington plays in Treaty Rights disputes?
Generally, unless the State can facilitate mutual agreement, the State of Washington should stay out of Treaty Rights disputes between tribes and the federal government.
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?
My office has no explicit role in this matter. That said, I support treaty signatories having their rights respected, recognizing the federal government’s long history of failing to honor its promises and fulfill its obligations to treaty signatories.
Matt Larkin
Prefers Republican Party
Larkin is an attorney licensed to practice law in Washington and Oregon. He served as Attorney in the White House for former U.S. President, and was a Prosecutor in Pierce and Spokane counties. He has a Masters of Law Degree from George Washington University School of Law, a Law Degree from Gonzaga, and a double major BA from Westmont College.
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:
I know that the Snoqualmie Tribe has lived in the Puget Sound region since long before European explorers came to the Pacific Northwest. I know that the Snoqualmie Tribe were skilled hunters of deer and elk, skilled salmon fishers, and that berries and wild plants were utilized for food and medicine.
Q2: What is your experience working with Tribes?
Response:
To date, my experience working directly with tribes is minimal, but I have great respect for the history and traditions of the tribes. As your next Attorney General, I look forward to working with the tribes directly, and being an ally in the Office of Attorney General.
Q3: What does the ideal government-to-government relationship with tribes look like to you?
Response:
Ideally, it would be a relationship centered around mutualism. There are treaties detailing the rights of the tribes, and there is a federal and state constitution laying out the legal framework for citizens of Washington. There is no reason why the state of Washington, and the Tribe Government cannot work hand in hand for the betterment of all.
Q4: If elected, what would your Indian Country-related goals be?
Response:
If elected, my goals for Indian Country would be the same as my holistic goal in occupying the Office of Attorney General—to serve and protect all, and to be a legal watch dog for everybody residing in Washington. I will not hesitate to put the full weight of the Attorney General’s Office towards protecting the tribes or seeking justice if the tribe’s rights are violated.
Q5: What is your knowledge of tribal treaties and trust obligations?
Response:
My knowledge of tribal treaties and trust obligations is that the federal and state government must uphold their legal responsibilities to the tribe as necessitated in the mutually agreed upon treaties.
Q6: Do you support increasing funding to tribes for services such as health care, cultural resources, and education?
Response:
As Attorney General, I will have no legislative authority in regard to budget. This said, I will absolutely take a look at how the budget stands pertaining to tribal services like healthcare, cultural resources, and education, and if they are not up to standard, I will lobby for change.
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 know that the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) is a principle backed by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Convention of Biological Diversity, and the International Labor Organization 169 stating that all people have the right to freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development.
As long as an individual’s pursuit of economic, social, and cultural development does not impede on another human’s liberties, I see no problem with this principle being included in legislation and policy.
Q8: What protections do you believe Tribal cultural resources and sacred sites should have?
Response:
Tribal Cultural Resources and Sacred Sites should be afforded the same protections as prominent monuments of United States history.
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:
This question is interesting, and it largely varies situationally. Each municipality, whether it be state, local, or federal, may be governed differently, including and especially if traditional lands occupy several different local and/or state jurisdictions.
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 know that the Snoqualmie Falls is a sacred site of Snoqualmie Falls that is extremely beautiful, and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Washington. I also know that last year, this sacred site was threatened with development and a deal was ultimately struck with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, returning control of the land back to the Snoqualmie Tribe. Considering this, I think it logical that the Snoqualmie tribe have a say in any potential future developments, including hydropower licensing. When I am elected, if this problem were to arise, I would review documents relating to this deal and work within legal confines to protect the tribe’s sacred land.
Q11: What role, if any, do you feel the State of Washington plays in Treaty Rights disputes?
Response:
The only role that Washington should play in Treaty Rights disputes is confirming that the constitution and Treaty Rights do not impede on each other and taking appropriate action if such a dispute does occur.
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 think that any tribe deserves the resources allocated to them by treaty.