Shea’s absence, prohibition on questions raise concerns at Valley GOP meeting

Party leaders in Spokane Valley’s 4th Legislative District said they were pleased with a session update held Saturday morning, but some Republican officials expressed concerns about the repeated absence of Rep. Matt Shea and a prohibition on questions about the investigation that determined Shea engaged in domestic terrorism.

Coming up on the 22nd day of a 60-day legislative session, Sen. Mike Padden and Rep. Bob McCaslin addressed about 40 Republicans, most of them precinct committee officers, at Spokane County Library District’s Argonne branch. They gave updates on bills relating to statewide comprehensive sex education, potential business and occupation tax modifications, impacts from the passage of Initiative 976 and a proposition to replace the state gas tax with a per-mile fee, among other topics.

Shea originally was scheduled to appear at the meeting, but cancelled citing the death of his uncle. A video update prepared by Shea wasn’t able to be played in the library meeting room where the meeting was held.

The gathering initially was proposed to be closed to the press and anyone other than Republican precinct committee officers, but outside guests were allowed after some officials protested.

During a question-and-answer period, McCaslin and Padden told precinct committee officers they plan to run for re-election and that it’s more important for a Republican legislator to stop bills they oppose from passing than to propose legislation of their own. As far as the upcoming governor’s race, Padden said he will support Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, and McCaslin said he was undecided.

But when 2020 Shea challenger and former Republic legislator Leonard Christian asked them to comment on their impressions of a House-commissioned investigation of Shea, McCaslin and Padden declined.

That investigation determined Shea’s preparation for a Christian holy war and his role in an armed 2016 standoff at an Oregon wildlife refuge amounted to domestic terrorism. Soon after it was released, House GOP leaders expelled Shea from their caucus.

When declining to comment on Shea, Padden said he and McCaslin made an agreement with meeting organizers to only discuss Legislative issues.

But when Christian noted they had already deviated from that agreement by discussing the governor’s race, Padden said he had erred by doing so.

After the meeting, precinct committee officers said they were glad the meeting occurred but underscored concerns about Shea’s non-attendance. Officials said Shea has been absent at the last three or four legislative update meetings, including a scheduled appearance at a Spokane Valley City Council meeting in December.

“It’s highly interesting that things happen (at the last minute) and he can’t appear,” said precinct committee officer Diana Wilhite, a former Spokane Valley mayor who ran against McCaslin in 2014.

Wilhite said she thought McCaslin and Padden should have discussed the Shea investigation because it relates to how he’s representing the 4th Legislative District.

“Matt Shea has not been very active in the Legislature,” said Wilhite, who hopes Spokane Valley voters will be informed about the 2020 election. “He’s abdicated his responsibilities.”

Padden told The Spokesman-Review Saturday that he does not think Shea is a domestic terrorist and is waiting for more information to be released from Shea and investigators.

In an interview after the meeting, McCaslin said Shea should be presumed innocent until proven guilty and questioned why the representative hasn’t been arrested if there is proof he engaged in domestic terrorism.

He said he wished the entire GOP caucus could have voted on whether to expel Shea and not just its leadership. If that had been the case, McCaslin said he would have voted in support of Shea.

With Shea’s expulsion from the caucus, McCaslin said he has been giving him frequent updates about legislative issues. Because Shea has remained involved and still votes, McCaslin said Shea’s expulsion hasn’t affected his ability to represent the 4th Legislative District.

Precinct committee officer Matt Hawkins, who helped organize the meeting, said Shea and his assistants have not indicated when he might be able to reschedule a legislative update. Hawkins said voters need to hear from Shea in order to decide if he’s the best person to serve the district.

“The only way he can close that credibility gap is by talking to leadership in the 4th,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins, in an email to precinct committee officers on Friday, said local “Republican leaders have not turned on him, he has turned on the general public that has elected him to represent their interests in Olympia. Shea was not elected to represent the interests of those who are outside of the 4th District.”

“If he does not show in-person tomorrow, then I think the message is clear, we need to look for someone that will help to secure legislation that will be in the best interest of the citizens of the 4th,” Hawkins said in the email.

Hawkins said he received a number of negative emails from local Republican leaders during the lead-up to the meeting because they think Shea has represented the district well and that the investigation into him was a sham.

“We’re just looking for the best representation,” Hawkins said. “All I know is that he hasn’t been here.”

Most of the meeting was focused on legislation under consideration in Olympia.

Padden said sex education curriculum in public schools should be decided at the local level and pointed to an Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction survey where 58% of 10,000 respondents said comprehensive sexual health education should not be required in kindergarten through 12th grade.

McCaslin said abstinence must be presented as a valid choice in sex ed curriculum.

McCaslin and Padden both spoke about I-976, the ballot measure to reduce the cost of motor vehicle tabs, saying it would have a smaller effect than previously reported. Gov. Jay Inslee put a “pause” on some local road projects funded by the fees, such as the North Spokane Corridor, while the courts decide whether to uphold the measure.

The Legislature is working to cut some $450 million from the state transportation budget if the ballot measure is upheld in court.

“That’s a relatively small amount of money in our whole budget,” Padden said, adding that Inslee made a mistake by postponing some local projects.

Padden also spoke against a proposal to require training for concealed carry permit holders. He said he supports stronger DUI laws and expansion of compensation for parents of crime victims.

McCaslin said he supports measures to allow private child care providers to determine their own training and establish a warm water fishing advisory group.