2020 Voters Guide
Treasurer
Mike Pellicciotti
Prefers Democratic Party
Pelliocciotti has served as Washington State Representative, and as House Capital Budget Committee Member. He served as an economic crimes prosecutor as Assistant Attorney General, and has a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, a Masters of Rural Development (Fulbright Scholar, economic development), and a Law Degree from Gonzaga.
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 the Snoqualmie Tribe has a long history in the Pacific Northwest. It has preserved treaty rights for over 150 years, and while it briefly lost federal recognition, it has a current enrolled membership of over 500 people and is again federally recognized and has vibrant membership throughout Western Washington.
Q2: What is your experience working with Tribes?
Response:
I have worked significantly in Indian Country through various points in my career. As a prosecutor, I assisted tribes with their law enforcement in western and eastern Washington. As a legislator, I have worked with tribes on the coast to address issues of climate change, I have worked with tribes in central Washington to address issues of census representation, and I have worked with tribes near where I live in the South Sound to address issues of police misconduct.
Q3: What does the ideal government-to-government relationship with tribes look like to you?
Response:
Cooperative and mutually beneficial among the sovereign governments.
Q4: If elected, what would your Indian Country-related goals be?
Response:
As Treasurer, I want to ensure there is greater diversity on the corporate boards for the companies that we invest in. This would, of course, involve greater participation by Native Americans in this corporate governance, where there is currently underrepresentation. I will also apply an equity lens to current financial literacy efforts in the office to ensure there is greater relevancy and involvement by everyone in Washington, including in Indian Country.
Q5: What is your knowledge of tribal treaties and trust obligations?
Response:
I have worked on statutory and constitutional issues related to treaty and trust land legal matters. I have also supported legislation in his area. I have much more to learn, but I have more awareness than most elected officials on these issues.
Q6: Do you support increasing funding to tribes for services such as health care, cultural resources, and education?
Response:
Yes. I have consistently supported these efforts as a legislator, especially related to dental services, issues of equity, and the financial literacy efforts I described above.
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 generally familiar with the important issues of consent. These issues intersect very little with the position of State Treasurer, but I personally believe there should be consent before the State takes legislative or executive action on policy.
Q8: What protections do you believe Tribal cultural resources and sacred sites should have?
Response:
They should be protected and preserved for their historical significance
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:
Fee trust land should be available for those tribes that have a right to that respective fee trust land.
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:
As Treasurer, I would not have any involvement with this specific issue. However, I believe in tribal sovereignty and the importance that tribes have a say in the use of land that has traditionally been that tribe’s land.
Q11: What role, if any, do you feel the State of Washington plays in Treaty RIghts disputes?
Response:
As Treasurer, I would not have any involvement with this issue. However, I believe that states have no authority over tribes without Congressional and treaty authorization. Thus, there is limited involvement that the State of Washington would play in Treaty Rights when there is clear treaty language.
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:
As Treasurer, I would not have any involvement with this issue. However, I look forward to becoming better educated on this issue, so I can comment in a more informed way at a later time.
Duane Davidson
Prefers Republican Party
Has served as Washington State Treasurer from 2016 to present, and served as Benton County Treasurer from 2003 to 2016. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and has a Bachelor Degree in Accounting from Central Washington University and an Associate Degree from Bellevue Community College.
