Photo courtesy of the Washington Conservation Voters
The race for Public Lands Commissioner in Washington State is a clear-cut good versus bad contest for environmentally concerned citizens.
Peter Goldmark (D-Omak) against incumbent Doug Southerland (R-Tacoma).
Goldmark: Endorsements by the Washington Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club helps. His doctorate in molecular biology, role as state agricultural director, and thirty years as firefighter are a plus. Memorable quote: “Over the last 150 years, deforestation has caused 40 to 50 percent of the climate change problem," Goldmark said. "The more we deforest, the more we leave ourselves open to drastic climate change."
Sutherland: It took a court order to stop Sutherland from boosting state land logging by 30 percent; 40 percent of donations for his campaign come from the timber and mining industry he’s appointed to regulate. He described his view on climate change as “I'm not one of those that is of the belief that the argument is already settled."
Lands Commissioner is a vital office in Washington, directly overseeing 2.8 million acres, and regulatory oversight of 10 million more. The position determines the amount of timber sold from said acreage, manages water resources, runs state wildfire control…basically a defender of conservation.
It’s another close election: The latest Elway poll has Sutherland regaining the lead from Goldmark 37-33, with 30 percent still undecided because it's a down-ballot race. In other words, few people know what the job means or who the candidates even are.
But this one is worth following.
The DTE blog is committed to reporting and sharing environmental news and sustainability information from across the Inland Northwest.
Photo courtesy of the Washington Conservation Voters
The race for Public Lands Commissioner in Washington State is a clear-cut good versus bad contest for environmentally concerned citizens.
Peter Goldmark (D-Omak) against incumbent Doug Southerland (R-Tacoma).
Goldmark: Endorsements by the Washington Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club helps. His doctorate in molecular biology, role as state agricultural director, and thirty years as firefighter are a plus. Memorable quote: “Over the last 150 years, deforestation has caused 40 to 50 percent of the climate change problem," Goldmark said. "The more we deforest, the more we leave ourselves open to drastic climate change."
Sutherland: It took a court order to stop Sutherland from boosting state land logging by 30 percent; 40 percent of donations for his campaign come from the timber and mining industry he’s appointed to regulate. He described his view on climate change as “I'm not one of those that is of the belief that the argument is already settled."
Lands Commissioner is a vital office in Washington, directly overseeing 2.8 million acres, and regulatory oversight of 10 million more. The position determines the amount of timber sold from said acreage, manages water resources, runs state wildfire control…basically a defender of conservation.
It’s another close election: The latest Elway poll has Sutherland regaining the lead from Goldmark 37-33, with 30 percent still undecided because it's a down-ballot race. In other words, few people know what the job means or who the candidates even are.
But this one is worth following.
