Meeting Joe Kent
Like most people, when I meet a candidate it is usually at a rally or similar gathering. Security personnel and a throng of voters surround them. That makes it tough to ask questions. I might be able to ask one or two but there won’t be any discussion. I’ve grown adapt at surfing the internet for information about candidates. However, I recently had the chance to sit down and talk with congressional candidate Joe Kent at length.
Joe Kent sits down with Kyle Pratt, Julie McDonald and a few others to discuss politics.
Typically, articles about politicians cover policies but, there is always a person behind the policy. Life events and their influence on personality affect how a politician will govern. Because of that, I like to know a candidate’s background. Some of the things I like to know are where did they grow up? Have they been married or are they now married? Do they have children? Do they have family nearby? Did they serve in the military? What were their past professions? Are they accessible?
As of this writing, I’ve met with Joe Kent, the Republican candidate for Washington State’s third congressional district, a total of six times. Once, I was part of a small group that included my friend and columnist Julie McDonald. We gathered at a restaurant just a few minutes from my home and interviewed Joe for over an hour. That is what I call being accessible.
The Person
Joe Kent was born in Sweet Home, Oregon, a town of less than 10,000 people. On his website bio he stated, “Growing up, I spent much of my formative years in the Cascades and Columbia River Gorge, thanks to Boy Scouts and Explorer Scouts. I have always considered the Pacific Northwest my home….” According to Wikipedia, “Kent enlisted in the army at age 18 as an infantryman. He served as an officer of the United States Army Special Forces (Green Beret), having applied shortly before the September 11 attacks, and served on 11 combat deployments.”
In 2019, his wife, Shannon, a Navy cryptologic technician, died fighting ISIS in Syria. At that point, he states, “I had to step away from putting myself in physical danger so I could be there for our two young sons.” He retired from the military and moved back to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to family. Joe and his boys eventually settled in Yacolt, Washington, a town with fewer than 2,000 people.
The Policies
Joe Kent supports an “America First” policy. This includes returning jobs to the district and to America. According to Joe Kent, over-regulation by the federal government is harming local industries, such as timber and fishing. He pledges to work on reducing regulation and removing cumbersome rules.
Kent wants to bring American troops home from endless wars in places like Iraq, and Syria and instead of sending an endless flow of dollars and weapons to Ukraine, Kent supports a negotiated settlement of the conflict.
“So is Putin wrong for going into Ukraine?” Julie asked at our meeting.
“Of course he is,” Kent replied. “You shouldn’t start killing.” But, he added, it’s important to bring people to the negotiating table. “It’s simply not going well for Ukraine. I mean, all you have to do is look at a map. Ukraine is small, Russia’s big. This is an existential threat to Russia, so Russia will, in some way, shape, or form, win. Ukraine’s only play right now is to get us and NATO involved in this conflict. And for what? What’s the purpose of us getting involved in European conflicts?”
He expressed frustration with both Republicans and Democrats for urging the United States to take on Putin. “We’re talking regime change nonsense once more,” Kent said. “That has never worked out for anybody, especially the people in the country (where regime change takes place), but it hasn’t worked out for us either. So get to the negotiating table. Every day that this goes on we lose leverage.”
When the subject turned to border security, Kent said, “We need to build an actual, physical wall.” Julie responded that “I saw the fence during a visit to Arizona, and it’s short enough that even I could climb over it.” I don’t doubt that she saw such a low barrier along the border but, that is the problem. I agree with Kent that we need a wall—and a good one. The 455 miles of wall that Trump built average thirty feet high.
Kent considers energy independence to be non-negotiable and essential to securing our sovereignty. “I will pursue an all-of-the-above strategy that utilizes our natural gas and oil reserves while accelerating the development of clean and safe breakthrough nuclear reactor technology.”
Our Founding Fathers envisioned a government of the people, not a government of career politicians. Kent supports that idea. He states, “Our founders fought against the ruling class and monarchy to create a government of the people by the people. We need more regular government officials who go to DC to serve their people and return to the communities that elected them. I will push to have Congressional and Senate term limits mirror the limits placed on the President.”
My friend Julie has often referred to Joe Kent as a “baby Trumper.” but to me, this allegation stems entirely from the reported actions of Trump on January 6, 2021—not the actions or policies of Joe Kent. So, I asked him where he was on the day. He said, “I was at home in Yacolt.” As the events occurred he condemned the riot stating, “The violence hurts the country & diverts attention from the issue.” He went on to call it both “dangerous & foolish.” He has said, “Anyone who acted violently on that day, I don’t support it. I don’t condone any violence. I condemn all the violence.”
Kent and Trump remain politically close, but they are also two individuals and should be judged accordingly. I support Joe Kent.
What do you think of the America First agenda? Do you support the policies put forth in this post? If you live in the district do you support Joe Kent? Let us know in the comment section below.
