Letter: Facts over fiction

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

In her recent column published by Clark County Today, Nancy Churchill makes several claims about LEOFF 1 that are simply not accurate. As a retired firefighter in LEOFF 2, I feel we deserve facts over fiction.

LEOFF 1 is not being “ended,” as she states. That is false. The benefits remain fully intact, and the bill she references does not eliminate the plan or reduce the pensions of any member or surviving spouse. LEOFF 1 retirees continue to receive one of the strongest public safety pensions in the country. A pension that also provides lifetime benefits to surviving spouses. Nothing in HB 2034 changes that.

She also claims that Democrats “skimmed four billion dollars” from the fund. Not true. The amount moved was $2.5 billion, and even after that transfer, the plan remains funded at roughly 110%. That means it still has more than enough to pay every promised benefit for every retiree and survivor. The surplus exists because the state — not the retirees — invested the funds wisely over decades. That surplus is not part of anyone’s earned benefit.

The suggestion that LEOFF 1 members are helpless or unable to speak for themselves because they “cannot strike or march anymore” is insulting. The men and women I served with are fully capable of advocating for themselves, and many do so regularly. And the claim that firefighters “cannot strike” shows a lack of understanding. Firefighters have never been able to strike. To do so would be a disservice to the public we protect.

What concerns me most is the pattern of rhetoric. Churchill frames routine fiscal decisions as “theft,” labels fellow Washingtonians as “despots,” and implies that our state government is engaged in some kind of assault on retirees. None of that is grounded in fact. It is political theater designed to frighten people who deserve better. It also ignores the reality that Washington’s firefighters have consistently been able to rely on Democratic support over the years.

This community deserves honest information, not exaggerated claims meant to inflame. LEOFF 1 retirees are not being robbed. Their pensions are secure. And responsible budgeting is not an attack on law enforcement or firefighters, it’s part of governing.

We can disagree about policy. But we should at least start with the truth.

Ms. Churchill ends her column by asking whether voters will “look for better candidates this fall.” I agree with her on one point: we should always look for better candidates. Across the country, many voters are doing exactly that by choosing leaders who respect democratic institutions, tell the truth about elections, and work within the rule of law. The search for better candidates is shifting many states and legislatures toward leaders who value stability and accountability.

What concerns many of us is not disagreement over policy, but the growing pattern of rhetoric and behavior from some Republican leaders that undermines confidence in elections, weakens long standing checks and balances, and treats political opponents as enemies rather than fellow citizens. That is not the direction our state or our country needs to go.

Washington voters have consistently supported candidates who focus on practical governance, responsible budgeting, and protecting democratic norms. That’s not about party labels — it’s about choosing leaders who strengthen our institutions instead of attacking them.

So yes, we should look for better candidates. And for many of us, that means supporting those who defend the rule of law, respect the will of the voters, and work to preserve the democratic system that has served this state well for generations.

Brian D. Kendall
Republic, WA

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