Municipal/Other Questionnaire
Candidate Info
Candidate Name: Craig Gocha
Position Sought: Pierce County Sheriff
Are you an incumbent for this position? Non-incumbent
Home Legislative District: 25th
Are you a Democrat? no
Campaign Info
Campaign Manager or Point of Contact: Craig Gocha
Website: www.gochaforsheriff.com
Facebook: gochaforsheriff
Twitter: gocha4sheriff
Part I – Candidate Background
1. Please briefly describe your qualifications, education, employment, community and civic activity, union affiliation, prior political activity, and other relevant experience. Beyond your qualifications, what makes you the best candidate for this position or office? Please describe any specific background or unique perspective you offer and how those will help you accomplish your goals for the position sought. If possible, give practical examples.
I spent over 11 years in law enforcement spanning Yakima, Puyallup, and
Pierce County. In that time, I held a variety of positions from driving instructor, Training Officer, SWAT
Team Member, Violent Offender Task Force, Detective, and Scuba Dive and Swiftwater Rescue Team. I
also served as a negotiator on contracts for the union. I served as Union Vice President for the Pierce
County Deputy Sheriffs Independent Guild. I have my master’s in public safety leadership and
administration – executive police administration. I currently serve in the Washington Army National Guard
where I am assigned as the First Sergeant of an Information Operations Company. I will have 20 years of
service in of April 2024
2. What prompted you to run for this office?
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department needs a Sheriff that will bring accountability, transparency, and a
vision. This will provide for better trained, focused Deputies to serve the citizens of Pierce County.
3. What steps are you taking to run a successful campaign?
I am currently with a team of advisors that represent executive level leadership from Law Enforcement, County Government, Contract Agencies, Marketing Leaders, and community organizers. I have %250 volunteers ready to assist with doorbelling, sign placement and other tasks. I have already placed %1400 yard signs in Pierce County along with %20 Large Banners on major roads. I have an additional 500 yard signs and almost 15K doorhangers ready. I have started working with a consultant on an ad hoc basis for different needs, plans, and ideas. I have numerous fundraisers scheduled and meet and greets to speak to members of the community. We are also planning a large concert party to host %1500 people for the summer. I have a very active socal media presence and posts have pulled %16k views.
4. What are your campaign’s most important themes, issues, or priorities (three to five)? Share issues or priorities specific to the office that you’re running for.
Rapid Response to Criminal Threats
Strategic Crime Efforts
Community Transparency and Empowerment
Part II – Yes/No Questions, please qualify your answer if necessary
1. Do you support steps to build a fairer economy through tax reform and progressive taxes as wealth increases? Choose Not To Answer
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #1 Not relevant to position
2. Do you support robust investment in publicly owned housing/subsidized housing for elderly and low-income individuals/families, and zoning changes to support such housing? Choose Not To Answer
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #2 Not relevant to position
3. Developer impact fees are allowed under the Growth Management Act. Should they be increased to help pay for needed improvements to our roads, parks, and schools? Choose Not To Answer
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #3 Not relevant to position
4. Do you support building a municipally owned and operated broadband system in your city or jurisdiction? Choose Not To Answer
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #4 Not relevant to position
5. Do you support local investments to address climate change where applicable? Choose Not To Answer
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #5 Not relevant to position
6. Do you support women’s unrestricted access to reproductive healthcare? Choose Not To Answer
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #6 No matter my personal opinions, I will follow the laws of this State
7. Do you support laws regulating the purchase, ownership, and carrying of firearms? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #7 We currently have laws in place for convicted felons, ages, and medical situations.
8. Do you support the right of workers to unionize and bargain, including public employees? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #8 Was the Peirce County Deputy's Guild Vice President and was responsible for contract negotiations for all three agencies I worked.
Part III – Free Response (Please answer at least four fully, and consider the additional three optional)
1. Why are you requesting Democratic endorsement? What aspects of the Democratic platform most resonate with you?
2. What public policy reforms do you support to achieve greater equity and inclusion for BIPOC and LBQIA+ individuals in our communities?
We have strong policies and laws in place for these amazing contributors to society. We need to actually enforce them and protect every citizen of Pierce County.
3. What steps do you think need to be taken to improve voter turnout and increase voter trust in our election process?
Steps to improve trust that every valid vote is counted and matters. The further each major party gets from the other in terms of impact, the more it feels that individual votes don't matter. This is regardless of location or party in power.
4. What important local issues have you worked on (or taken an interest in) that you feel aren’t getting enough attention from elected leaders and the local media?
Mental health, work life balance, and the need to properly support the people that keep our communities healthy.
5. Please list at least three specific, concrete actions you would support to ease the homelessness crisis.
6. What safety, law, or justice issues are currently facing your jurisdiction, and how will you address them?
The top three important issues are Property Crime, inability to book criminals due to current booking
restrictions, staffing issues that have caused a spike in violent crime cases closed without any investigation. I have a 3×3 focus area method to target these problems, but make no mistake, this is not an overnight fix. For far too long, we have allowed toxic leadership in Pierce County and that takes time to correct.
7. What are the transportation/transit challenges which face your jurisdiction and how would you address them? What role does green energy play in your proposed solutions?
By typing my name below, I declare under penalty of perjury the foregoing is true and correct.
Printed Name: Craig Gocha
Date (mm/dd/yy): 04/20/2024
