About Cliff
 Brief Synopsis
Cliff Courtney was born in 1961, and grew up in the small community of Stehekin, Washington, where he still resides with his wife, Kerry, and their two sons, Logan and Colter. At age 21, Cliff started his own small business which has grown to provide a successful livelihood for himself and his family. Now, at age 48, he has turned to politics, passionately and honorably defending our rights to life, liberty, and property.
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Family History — The Story of Cliff's Roots
Cliff's interest in our country's beginnings and governance began at an early age. During his youth, Cliff was drawn to a study of the founding of the United States. He became particularly inspired when he was told that he was a direct descendant of the Honorable Roger Sherman - the only person to sign all four of the founding documents (Articles of Association, Articles of Confederation, Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution). A lifelong interest and broad research have solidified Cliff's belief that the men who invested so much time and willingly sacrificed for the greater good of liberty were on the right path. Cliff's conclusion that those principles were of great value and still apply has motivated him to invest his effort safeguarding the freedoms that patriotic Americans hold dear.
Cliff is a descendant of generations who loved liberty. His great-grandparents were involved in the westward expansion and played a significant role in the early settlement of Chelan County. Cliff is the fourth generation to embrace the pioneering life in the upper Lake Chelan area. Being the youngest of six brothers born to Ray and Esther Courtney and living in a rustic cabin allowed Cliff to imagine quite vividly the lives of his forebears. When he was six years old, Cliff's younger sister was born, and the family moved from their one-room, early homesteader's log cabin to a slightly larger home built by Cliff's father. He likes to joke that "we had running water — we ran with the buckets from the river to the house!"
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Education — A Lifelong Pursuit
In 1974, upon graduation from the top level of public education that the Stehekin School District offered, Cliff began learning on his own. His hunger for knowledge propelled him. The concept of self-education was modeled to Cliff by his parents. His father's limited formal education did not hinder him from becoming a well known and respected community leader.
Though Cliff holds no formal degree, his knowledge is broad-based, and his ability to research allows him to be very well-informed. Being raised in Stehekin, Cliff did not always have the luxury of being able to call upon an expert to solve a problem - whether it was in his normal day-to-day life or in the workings of his business. Cliff's circumstances required him to study and find answers for himself. He has researched a variety of subjects, including taking courses on the Constitution, Constitutional and Common Law, management, food safety, emergency care, water systems, gunsmithing, auctioneering - to name just a few. He often had the added benefit of testing his newly acquired knowledge in real life situations with experiential knowledge often trumping book learning. Owning a business has allowed Cliff a very thorough and personal education regarding government rules, regulations, and law.
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Businessman — Applying His Passion at an Early Age
The horse packing business, Cascade Corrals, established by his father before Cliff was born, provided an education of a different sort. Cliff learned about physical hard work, farming, horse packing and backcountry guiding. He learned how to converse with and put at ease guests who were new to the wonders of the country his family had known and loved for generations. As a teenager, he spent winters working in Alaska and on the Washington coast. Wanting to settle and establish himself in his hometown of Stehekin, Cliff started his own business from the ground up.
 Through hard work and dedication, Cliff has successfully owned and operated Stehekin Valley Ranch since 1983. Due to the personal attention Cliff gives to his customers, the Ranch has developed a reputation for providing a high quality experience while serving guests from all over the world. He has a passion for people and goes out of his way to listen to their needs. His interactions with his diverse clientele have taught him to value the opinions and experiential knowledge of others, providing him with a rich education.
In addition to running his business, Cliff is an accomplished auctioneer, heavy equipment operator, carpenter, plumber and electrician.
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Community Leader — Standing Out in the Crowd
Cliff has always been an active member of the Stehekin community, serving in many leadership roles. In 1983 -the same year he opened the doors of Stehekin Valley Ranch- Cliff helped establish Stehekin Heritage. This is an organization that has been in the forefront of the protection of the Stehekin Community and property rights. Since its creation, Cliff has been a key player in the organization, and also served as president for several years.
Cliff has served on the Stehekin School Board, the Stehekin Community Council, and was a certified First Responder for eight years.
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Political Involvement — Investing in the Future
Through the years, Cliff has had plenty of practice debating important issues, even in the small community of Stehekin. In recent years he has:
- Fought to re-open the Upper Stehekin Valley Road to Cottonwood - When the National Park Service chose to do nothing to preserve the historic road which provided access into the backcountry of the North Cascades, Cliff took the lead in finding a way to once again open that breathtaking area to the general public. He helped raise money to fund the battle to reopen the road. He actively researched the subject, and was a very involved in coming up with a viable solution. When it became clear that it would literally take an act of congress to re-establish the road, he met with local and state lawmakers, informing them of the situation, and gaining their support for the campaign to re-open the road. The issue is now before the US Senate, having passed the House in 2009.
- Actively sought to de-regulate passenger boat service on Lake Chelan - Cliff has never supported monopolies, believing that the free market system better serves the needs of the public. The government-regulated monopoly of passenger service on Lake Chelan has been a hot topic in the area for years, as residents and tourists alike have become progressively less satisfied with the single option, limited access and rising prices. While the legal options for fighting the monopoly are extremely limited, Cliff has researched every facet of the situation, and continues to make his case at every opportunity.
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Family and Interests — What Is He Fighting For?
 Cliff has been happily married to his wife Kerry since 1987. They have 2 sons, Logan and Colter.
Cliff is a lifelong sportsman, enjoying the valuable resource of the abundant game that the State of Washington manages. He enjoys hunting, using archery as well as modern firearms. In his youth, he spent many summers in the high country which surrounds the Stehekin Valley. He enjoys many outdoor pursuits, including alpine skiing, whitewater rafting, and fishing.
Having been an advocate of gun ownership rights all his life, Cliff understands that without the right to keep and bear arms, all other rights protected by our constitution are meaningless. He is a lifetime NRA member and a life member of Gun Owners of America.
Cliff's passion comes from living the American Dream, and he is working hard to restore this state in the hope that he can help ensure that Dream will survive and thrive for future generations.
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