Gubernatorial candidate claims information omitted from Voter's Guide

OLYMPIA – The Washington Secretary of State's office released a statewide, online voters' guide for the upcoming primary, with votes due Aug. 4.

Republican candidate for governor Loren Culp claims information his campaign manager submitted to the office of the Secretary of State on three separate occasions was not included in the voter's guide.

The Secretary of State's office responded to the claim by stating emails allegedly submitted by Culp's campaign manager May 20 and May 22 were not found within the email system.

"My campaign manager talked to Kim Wyman this last weekend, and she said there was a glitch with the email server," Culp said July 13. "That's all that I know, and they're not going to re-do it."

Kylee Zabel, Communications Director with the Office of the Secretary of State said a technical issue with the email server occurred over Memorial Day Weekend.

Zabel said an email with a time stamp of May 24 contained the information included for Culp in the Voter's Guide.

"The statement submitted with the time stamp of May 24 is exactly what is in the Voter's Guide," Zabel said.

She said additional information could not be submitted for the Voter's Pamphlet before the November general election.

"Information submitted in May is what will be in the November pamphlet," Zabel said.

Zable said the Culp campaign is the only one they've received complaints from.

Biographical information allegedly left out included Culp's elected experience of being appointed Chief of Police in Republic, Washington, in 2016; a position he currently holds.

Under Other Professional Experience, Culp listed: Law Enforcement Officer, City of Republic, 2010 to present; Narcotics Detective; North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force; Dual-purpose K-9 handler; Owner, Stamped Concrete, 21 years; Combat Engineer – 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Army.

Under Education, Culp listed: Honor Graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Academy (Leadership Academy), 101st Airborne Division; Repel Master School; Air Assault School; Drill Sergeant School (attended as a corporal); Honor Graduate, Combat Engineer School.

For Community Service, Culp listed: Police Chief of the Decade, Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA), 2019; Hero of the Year, Okanogan County Reader Poll, 2019; Key to the City of Republic, 2016; Life Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Life Member, American Legion; Life Member, Fraternal Order of the Eagles; Life Member, Gun Owners of America.

The statement listed for Culp in the Voters' Guide is also different than the one Culp claims was submitted for publication. For the complete statement, visit Culp's campaign website.

Culp gained nationwide attention last year when he refused to enforce Initiative 1639, limiting gun owner rights. He went on to publish American Cop: Upholding the Constitution and Defending Your Right to Bear Arms.

Culp said he entered law enforcement after a successful career as a business owner to fulfill a childhood dream. He said entering politics wasn't a goal, until citizens began asking him to run for governor.

Culp said the run so far has been surprisingly successful.

"We've been the leading campaign on the Republican side for the last three months, in both amount of people donating – individual donors – and in the dollar amount raised," Culp said. "And not by a little ways, by a long ways."

Culp said contributions to his campaign were over $132,000 in the first week of July.

"No other competitor even broke through $50,000," Culp said, adding totals for the second week of July hadn't been added up yet, but "it's going to be better than the first week."

Culp said campaign rallies held have been well attended.

"We usually have between 400 – 800 people, but at my rally in Battleground, there was over 1,000 people. The support is incredible," Culp said. "When I get done with a meet-and-greet, there will be a line-up 50-70 yards deep of people waiting to meet me. And so many of them are Independents and Democrats who don't like the lawlessness. And they're voting for a Republican for the first time in their lives."