Travis Couture

Travis Couture was born in Sidney, Montana, and lives in Allyn, Washington. Couture served in the U.S. Navy from 2007 to 2011. He earned a bachelor's degree in organizational leadership from Brandman University in 2019 and an M.B.A. from Brandman University in 2020. His career experience includes working as a defense contractor at Naval Submarine Base Kitsap.[1][2]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Travis Couture is a U.S. Navy submarine veteran, a program manager for the world's largest defense contractor at Naval Base Kitsap, and a father of four school-aged kids, with a Master's of Business Administration and a Bachelor's in Organizational Leadership.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Constitutional Rights - Following the Constitution is my top priority. I will always defend your rights and freedoms, and protect your liberties.Public Safety - We need to get tough on rising crime and reverse laws that make our communities vulnerable. I respect our police and first responders, and will help them keep us safe.Quality Education - Every child should feel safe at school, with all the resources to learn. I will oppose unfunded mandates that crush school budgets, and support policies that focus on strengthening core skills comprehension, safety, and school choice.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am running for office because I am concerned with the direction of Washington State. State government is too big, intrusive, expensive, and focused on the wrong priorities. I am particularly concerned with the erosion of public safety, K-12 education, and our Constitutional Rights. This is a critical time in our State and Nation’s history, and as someone with four kids, I want to play a key role in creating a better future for them and the families of the 35th district.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty and integrity, passion for what they are doing and not themselves, and also a spine to do what's right.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The absolute core responsibility is to follow and protect the Constitution.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a restaurant cook in high school, and I had that job for a few years. It taught me fast-paced hard work, team work, and I remember the good people I worked with that worked hard to make very little.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The relationship is that they are separate and equal branches of government. The legislature makes the laws and appropriates funds, the Governor executes those laws, or vetoes them when appropriate. In Washington State, the Governor and the legislature have forgotten their proper roles, and this has resulted in over two years of emergency power rule complete with onerous mandates from the Governor. No person or branch of government was meant to consolidate so much power.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

There are many challenges, however the erosion of Constitutional rights, K-12 education, and public safety rise to the top. Transportation and freight mobility, affordable housing, and a government that rakes in billions of surpluses while continuing to raise taxes are also threats to the future of Washington State.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

Any time powers can be separated, and political power can be reduced or given back to the local level, it is for the benefit of all citizens. Unicameral legislatures consolidate power to push forward legislation faster, however faster legislation is not always for the benefit of the people.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

The Washington State legislature was intended to be and set up as a citizen legislature. It can be beneficial to have legislative experience to a point to understand procedure, history, and parliamentarianism, however, talent, leadership, and good ideas can come from anywhere, and career politicians definitely do not have a monopoly on them.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

It is definitely beneficial to build relationships with other legislators, but also with staff, and people you may disagree with across the aisle. It is also imperative that you build relationships with constituents in your district, their businesses, charities, and organizations. Not one person is smarter or more effective because they shut others out of the process. True leadership begins by setting a vision, building coalitions, and destroying barriers to success.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Any process that is least partisan, independent, and focuses on drawing lines that are equal in population, recognize the character of communities, and are electorally competitive. The Washington State Redistricting Commission, albeit far from perfect, is a superior model compared to other States.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

I would be honored to be a part of any committee, however, committees on transportation, education, energy, or law and justice would be committees I would especially be excited about.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

We are made of a mixture of our learned experiences, and there are many legislators I have learned something from that I will add to my toolbelt.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

I never say never, but at this time I am not interested in a career in politics. I want to go serve my district to the best of my ability with the energy and passion that they deserve, and then hopefully pass the reigns on to someone else and go back to my real job and my family.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I have heard many, and sometimes these stories can weigh upon you. I will never forget having to watch grown men explain to me in tears how unfair it was that they lost their life long medical careers because they made a personal decision about getting a vaccination, which was mandated with the threat of unemployment. Government should protect people, not needlessly harm them.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

The legislature should definitely oversee and grant the use of emergency powers. In Washington State, as I write this, the Governor has held emergency powers for over 762 days with no intention of giving them up. Those broad powers were exercised in devastating ways for over two years.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

There is a time for compromising, and also a point in which you have to make a firm stand for what is right. These decisions should always be made through the lens of what is best for your constituents and your district, as well as what the law and the Constitution deem possible.

Couture's campaign website highlighted the following issues:[7]

Individual Liberty

Excerpt: "As your State Senator, my main priority will be to protect our unalienable rights, granted to us by our creator, and ensured to us by our Constitution."

Economy

Excerpt: "Eliminate tax-payer funded lobbyists."

Excerpt: "End wasteful earmarks and pork barrel spending by sending capital budgets to an independent ethics review board."

Industry

Excerpt: "Protect private property rights."

Healthcare

Excerpt: "Repeal the WA State Health Exchange and Medicaid Expansion (Obamacare)."

Higher Education

Excerpt: "Reduce in-state tuition costs for science, medical, technology, business, and engineering majors by offering a tax rebate for 4 years of in-state employment."