Jody Spurgeon

Born and raised in Spokane graduating from Ferris High School in 1975. I began my Law Enforcement career in 1981 and retired in 2016 after 28 years of service. I received over 2000 hours of specialized training throughout my career. Classes like Homicide investigation, Advanced collision, Hostage Negotiations, Firearms training to include shotgun, I held a state certification as a interviewer of Child Victims of Sexual Abuse, Interview techniques among several others which are too many to list here. For those years I worked protecting and helping people. After I retired I felt I was missing something. Then I realized that my entire adult life was spent being out in the public dealing with the everyday problems and situations that occur. I intend to use that knowledge, training and experience as a member of Congress for Washingtons 5th district.

• Due to the rising cost of fuel, families are being forced to choose between putting gas in their vehicles in order to go to work or put food on the table. Something has to be done and as a member of Congress I intend to put in the time and effort needed to reduce the fuel costs and to lower inflation. This cannot be a one-person job. It will take all of the members of the house of representatives and the Senate. I believe that I can work with those members to achieve that goal.
• More time and effort must be put towards helping the homeless and our veterans who gave everything for their country and received very little. We must come up with housing, mental health and drug addiction treatment to, at the very least, attempt to put them on a path to recovery so that, once again, they may become productive members of society. If you talk with many of the homeless they don't want to be on the street. They want to be free to hold a job, raise a family but most of all to feel that they are free to move in a positive direction. We can do this if enough people stand up with their representatives both local and federal and say "something must be done"
• Our Criminal Justice System is in shambles. Laws are in place but not enforced. You can read about how criminals are arrested and then released from custody that same day even those accused of murder or other heinous crimes. We cannot let that happen here in Eastern Washington. We must stand alongside our Law Enforcement officers. Give them additional training to deal with the influx of new designer drugs that can kill just by handling it. In times of extreme danger an officer has only a millisecond to make a decision, shoot or don't shoot. That is a tremendous responsibility. They are out there protecting us, I believe we should do a little more to help protect them.

The criminal justice system affects us all. Crime rates have risen to the point that people are afraid to walk down the streets at night or walk through a park. I know this is an old saying but it fits "You do the crime, You do the time!" Enforce the laws that exist!

I looked up to my brother Lynn. He worked for a small department northwest of Spokane. He got me interested in law enforcement when I was in high school. I would go up to visit him and was allowed to ride along with him on his shifts. It was then I knew what I wanted to do in life. After being hired with his department we worked together for a couple of years until he took a job over on the coast. After all the dangerous situations he was involved in he was killed while on his motorcycle. I still look up to him and cherish the time we spent together.

This will sound funny at first but I'm impressed by the movie "Patton". If the storyline is accurate, Patton never gave up. Always forward, no retreat. That's how I view my expectations on how I will perform in Congress. Being an historian of World War Two, I've spoken with veterans that worked under Patton and to German soldiers as well. Some soldiers truly hated Patton but others thought he was the best General of the War. A german soldier that i spoke with told me that he was captured by the russians. After being tortured and having part of a finger cut off he escaped. Making his way to the american lines he chose to surrender to Patton's 3rd Army.

Honesty and integrity are the most sacred when running for public office. I have personally seen candidates running for office that promise one thing but when elected they change their story and say "Well, I really didn't mean that!"
My life has been based on honesty and integrity. I expect that of all politicians. We, the citizens, must be able to trust all elected officials to "say what they mean and mean what they say."
I intend to be open to all people of the 5th District, to listen to their concerns and let them know that they have a voice in what happens here. You are the people I will be working for.

Honesty and Integrity are the most important qualities I have. If you don't have those you have nothing. People need to know that you wouldn't lie to them and if you promise to do something you will follow through on it. I always told my daughter that I would never promise anything I can't deliver. Instead of a promise I would say "I'll try to make it happen. She always knew that I would never lie to her. I still hold those values today. I will never promise anything I can't deliver.

To protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Doing this protects every citizen in this country. To stand up for the people of the 5th District so they know they do have a voice in government.

That I had integrity and honesty. That if someone needed my help I was there. That I lived my life with those traits.

The birth of my daughter in 1983. I was 25 at the time. I was attending the Spokane Police Academy at the time. Above all this was the greatest moment in my life.

My first job was at the age of 13. There was a city organization called "Neighborhood Youth Core". I worked for two summers. I racked rocks on baseball diamonds around the city, I worked at Fairchild Airforce Base in the Metal shop where I was taught to arc weld and gas weld. A skill I still use to this day.

The Bible. If I have questions, I can usually find the answers there.

Superman. He has the ability to help people all over the world and he doesn't expect anything for it.

"Don't stop believing" by Journey.

The loss of friends and family. I am the last of my parents and siblings but I have tons of memories to think on and that gives me strength to carry on.

The house is composed of several hundred representatives from all over the country. The house controls the purse-strings of the Government. At this time however the Republicans and Democrats are currently at odds and cannot agree on the most minor resolutions. The house has the ability to convene investigations into criminal activity in government. They have the authority to subpoena witnesses and recommend impeachment of politicians accused of ethics or criminal acts.

Not at all. I spent 28 years in Law Enforcement and spent a tremendous number of hours working within the Criminal Justice System. A candidate must be able to understand what they are reading and how to communicate effectively with the public and other members. To know how to draft a bill or resolution and gain support from their fellow representatives.
The Constitution wasn't written so only lawyers could understand it and run for office. It was written with the common man in mind.

We need to close the border completely until a comprehensive plan can be put in place to deal with the hundreds of thousands of people trying to enter into the U.S. Border patrol must be able to Vett anyone attempting to enter if, for no other reason than to keep all the citizens safe. Already enough got-aways have entered our country that could, very possibly, take over smaller cities and towns with limited law enforcement resources. As it sits today emigration is out of control and our border is totally open to the criminal element.

Actually, I believe that a two-year term is too short. The first year in office they will spend a lot of time working in their capacity as a representative but the second year they're going to be concentrating on getting re-elected. I believe the term should be three years in duration.

Depending on age, when a member turns 75 they should retire at the end of that term. Younger members should be held to 5 terms in the house and 3 terms in the Senate. Both houses would be eligible for retirement by the end of those terms. Younger candidates would come in and add a different perspective to governing.

Every representative in the past and present has had their good moments and bad moments. I don't want to be associated with any other representatives. I'm going to rely on my own attributes and abilities and be judged accordingly.

I recently spoke to a corrections officer and I asked him what he saw in the system that gave him concern. He stated to me that the corrections department is being pressured by the west side agencies to treat the prisoners with more respect rather than as prisoners. This disturbed the officer because the inmates are there for a reason. They have committed a crime. He said that he treats them professionally as policy demands. Once again, I say, "do the crime, do the time".
But be professional at all times.

It depends on what the compromise entails. Will this benefit the people of my District? Or will it take something away from them? There are always compromises in business and politics. A person needs to know how to read through the bulk and locate the fine print. That will tell you if the compromise is beneficial or detrimental.

If it's fair for the public then I would agree. I would have to look for the fine print to decide if I would support such action. Our national debt has risen to such a great extent that our great grandchildren will be paying on it. I would not vote for any un-necessary expenditures.

We need to weed out possible illegal and/or dishonest politicians. We cannot gain the trust of the people if they see nothing is being done to combat dishonesty among members. At this time, it appears that the criminal justice system is one sided. If you're a Republican you go to trial. If you're a Democrat, "I don't see any crime here it's all Trumps fault or it's Russian Collusion". We are, to put it mildly, at war with the Democrat elites in Government. Not the Democrat voters. I've heard many democrat voters state bluntly that they are democrats but they are, in this election, voting Republican because they don't agree with the Biden policies.

Currently there are several committees in progress. Some more important than others but all deserve consideration. In my opinion a few, such as the Ethics, the Oversight, Armed Services and Budget committees are, at this time, the most important. The budget committee handles the Armed Services appropriation. We need a strong and well supplied military for all services. Right now, we have a shortfall of volunteers. Our military is sadly understaffed. We need to increase conditions such as better pay, better equipment and better living conditions for members and their families. After all, we are asking them to risk their lives to protect our country, what are we willing to do to show them that we support them.

Honesty and integrity must be observed at all times. Once again it boils down to politicians being honest. If they break the rules or laws will they be held accountable by the house? Right now, it is becoming more and more difficult to keep track of who's doing what, and what are they up to? Corrupt politicians need to be reprimanded or expelled from congress. That will be the only time the people will begin to trust politicians.