WAWG
By Diana Carlen
WAWG Lobbyist
After a crowded field of seven candidates in the primary election, only two candidates remain in the race for the Commissioner of Public Lands, the position that heads the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The two finalists are Republican Steve McLaughlin and Democrat Hilary Franz. The current commissioner, Peter Goldmark, is not seeking re-election.
The duties of the commissioner include managing 5.6 million acres of state-owned forest, agricultural and aquatic lands to generate revenue for Washington’s K-12 schools, universities and prisons. This duty is an actual constitutional mandate to maximize income for state trust lands. DNR also manages the state’s firefighting efforts. Devastating wildfires in recent years have called attention to the state’s preparedness for fighting wildfires and forest conditions.
Steve McLaughlin
McLaughlin resides in Seabeck, Wash., and retired from the Navy after serving for 25 years. He has personally provided disaster relief services in communities impacted by Eastern Washington fires and the Oso landslide. He has also trained thousands of firefighters and public safety personnel in incident management. His involvement in the community is significant, particularly in his work with the Rotary Club of Wenatchee, the Liberty Disaster Relief Services, Navy League of the U.S., American Alpine Club and Operation Steadfast Veteran’s Suicide Prevention.
His priorities for the office are:
• Providing state trust revenues to the schools and counties of Washington. McLaughlin believes this is a core tenant in the duty of the commissioner in that these secured funds must not be used for other projects beyond public school trust funds.
• Working with stakeholders to find science-based, cutting-edge solutions to forest and lands management issues. McLaughlin plans to use modern, science-based solutions to protect forests and land, which will increase school revenues and create jobs.
• Improving access for forest harvest while building and maintaining healthy forests. Because forest fires are detrimental to the vitality of forests, McLaughlin states that engaging in modern, science-based forest practices while simultaneously protecting the environment will improve productivity.
• Providing positive leadership to the DNR. McLaughlin will act as a servant leader and will provide positive, clearly defined goals to create an efficient team at the DNR.
Some of McLaughlin’s endorsements include the Washington State Farm Bureau PAC, the Building Industry Association of Washington and Green Diamond Resources. The Washington Forest Protection Association is also supporting him.
Hilary Franz
Franz resides on Bainbridge Island and is a land-use attorney who has served as the executive director of an environmental group known as Futurewise that focuses on growth management issues. She was a former board member of the Washington Environmental Council, Conservation Northwest and the Center for Environmental Policy. Franz was appointed by Gov. Christine Gregoire to Washington’s Climate Action Team on the State Environmental Policy Act.
Franz’s priorities include:
• Restoring forest health. Franz plans to protect forests by implementing wildfire prevention funding, management practices to reverse disease impact and reforming management to stop risky logging.
• Sustainably managing state aquatic, range and agriculture lands. This management will be highlighted in promoting the DNR’s grazing and agricultural lands for local food production and farm-to-market enterprises and in finishing the Habitat Conservation Plan for aquatic lands.
• Increasing clean energy and new jobs that work for all Washingtonians. As a supporter of clean energy, this plan includes acting as a leader in addressing climate change and supporting sustainable energy development. She has dedicated the last 20 years to working on climate change and will bring this commitment to DNR.
• Promoting access to public lands and recreation opportunities. This promotion would include better access and engagement with schools, nonprofits and communities as well as increasing outdoor recreation activities and public investment in public lands.
Franz’s endorsements include the Sierra Club, the Stranger and the Washington Conservation Voters.
In the primary election, McLaughlin finished first with 37.9 percent of the vote, while Franz finished with 22.8 percent. A recent Elway poll shows that the race is neck and neck, where Franz is leading with 33 percent and McLaughlin trailing just slightly at 32 percent. However, the Elway poll also shows a notable 35 percent of undecided voters.