Commissioner of
Public Lands
Yet another crowded field.
The Commissioner of Public Lands oversees the operations of
the Department of Natural Resources. Those operations include land management
of +/- 5 million acres of public land;
regulation of private forest lands (they’re the ones who issue those Forest
Practice (logging) Applications/Permits); firefighting (they’re the ones who
get called to those fires which are now beginning to happen on the west side of
the Cascades); conservator (they operate the Washington Natural Heritage
Program, which creates Natural Area Preserves).
This position is very important to me. I have personally
dealt with a number of Commissioners of Public Lands in trying to prevent some
horrendous logging and gain protective regulations. The incumbent, who is,
thank goodness, stepping down, has overseen 8 years of increased logging and
resource damage.
This gets really hard. Its easy to eliminate the wackos who
want to privatize the forest and open it up to ORVs and target shooting. But
then we have a batch of highly competent people, any of whom might well do a
good job. How to decide?
Hilary Franz runs an
organization with which I work and whose help I very much appreciate. I suspect
she would do a creditable job. Karen Porterfield
sounds ok, but not particularly special. I’m looking for special. Dave Upthegrove is the odds-on favorite, with his
background in the legislature. I’m just bothered that he has not provided us
with a specific agenda. Mary Varner might be
good. She’s an assistant to the current Commissioner of Public Lands. And that
gives me some heartburn. To what extent is she responsible for the bad policy
coming out of that office? Which leaves me with Hilary
Franz and Dave Upthegrove. Given what
I’ve seen of her work with Futurewise, I think I’ll go with Hilary Franz.
The candidates:
education: Northeastern University law
director, Futurewise, Washington’s leading environmental and
land use non-profit.
“I would work closely with the community to identify what
the resources are here and what investments need to be made.” She proposes to
diversify DNR revenue by increasing agricultural land use and investing in
renewable resources.
Advocated for prescriptive burns, trimming, clearing debris,
diversifying stock, training DNR teams, collaborating with communities on
emergency prep. Its important to provide
opportunities for all user groups in every region.
Endorsed by Washington Conservation Voters.
Endorsed by FUSE Progressive Voters.
management consultant
She cites a lack of leadership and a disregard for public
safety (i.e. Oso). Would put a moratorium on potentially dangerous logging.
Incidentally, she says she’s a leader in affordable housing.
Consultant, faculty in Masters of Public Admin @ Seattle U.
Wants to look at renegotiating geoduck and land leases to help communities
maximize economic opportunities. Would explore eco-tourism. Wants to institute
early season controlled burns. Wants to thin and treat, discourage monoculture
plantations, and increase training for firefighters. Wants to balance use of lands
for shooters, hikers, equestrians, and ORVS. Seeks a comprehensive land use
plan for public lands with a consistent predictable approach.
education: US Naval War College MA
retired naval officer, ‘avid naturalist’
Wants to open up public lands to horsemen, motorcyclists,
quad drivers, shooters to create more local jobs. “We can generate revenue by
allowing these folks back in the forest.” He’s an NRA certified instructor and
wants no regulation of target shooting.
Wants controlled burns, thinning, and buffer zones.
mission: To increase revenues through healthy forests and
revitalize economies through job creation. The primary duty of the Public Lands
Commissioner is to distribute state trust funds to public schools, and nothing
else.
Modern, science based forest harvest practices will grow and
maintain healthy forests. This will increase revenue to schools. Firefighting needs to be across
jurisdictional boundaries.
how to get there: Work with all stakeholders, from industry
to environmental groups to find science based cutting edge (his words, not
mine) solutions. Improve access for forest harvest while building and
maintaining healthy forests.
This guy obviously has not read the job description on the
state’s website. Anyone who wants cutting edge solutions to forestry is not my
friend.
education: University of Colorado BA in Environmental
Conservation, University of Idaho Grad Cert in Energy Policy Planning.
Staunch environmental champion. Stood up against coal export
proposals.
While he has a long list of environmental accomplishments, I
am bothered that none of his plans for DNR are on his website. He is endorsed
by just about everybody.
Endorsed by Washington Conservation Voters.
Endorsed by FUSE Progressive Voters.
http://www.maryverner.com/
education: Yale School of Forestry, Gonzaga law
DNR deputy supervisor for resource protection and admin.
Advocates for a public advisory committee.
Wants prescribed burning after mechanical thinning, wants
smaller regional plans to meet concerns of local communities. Wants to
designate certain state lands for target shooting.
Endorsed by the best Commissioner of Public Lands we’ve had
in the last 60 or so years.
On forest health – our forests are in decline from a number
of factors. That increases risk of wildfires, deteriorating habitat, declining
economic values. She wants to restore forest health.
On development pressure – conversion of ag and forest land
to urban; construction in fire prone forests; development in geo-hazard areas;
surface water runoff - all are cascading
impacts of human activity. She will work to find a way to accommodate growing
population while maintaining forests.
On climate change – she proposes to partner with federal and
private agencies to change the underlying economic models which drive the
damage.
She says she wants to resolve the “butting heads” between
business and enviros. “We have to manage our resources in a sustainable way,
but we also need industry.”
Re: Millenium bulk terminal. She says the region needs to
wean itself off fossil fuels.
She says she has an advantage over other candidates because
she has worked under the incumbent and understands that bureaucracy. She also
wants to ‘bring closure’ to the longtime discussions around endangered species
strategy. Says she doesn’t want to short circuit the process, just wants “an
assertive timeline”.
aerospace engineer
“Private conservation efforts are necessary for habitat
protection and preservation of our natural resources. Property ownership and
resource stewardship go hand in hand.”
“Government failure in land management and its restriction
of state land use has eliminated opportunities for economic growth. . .” He
describes forests as “market viable resources.” He also wants to return federal
lands to the state. He prefers private to public land management.
“Passive land management doesn’t work.” So he plans to
‘clear excessive deadwood and snags from beetle kill areas, reducing unnatural
fire hazards. Thin overcrowded and unhealthy forests.’
“Healthy working forest management is best achieved by
reducing government regulation. He then cites the Sustainable Forestry
Initiative (an astroturf program). He wants to ‘minimize the use of preserves
in favor of managed forests.
It gets better. He wants to protect water claims of private
land owners and investors. Wants to develop a water right trade market. He wants to declare that ‘waters of the
state’ belong to Washington and not the federal government.
Wants to open up more public lands to “multi-use”, including
federal lands. Not surprisingly, he supports increased aquatic land leases (can
you say Atlantic salmon net pens?) This opening of public lands includes
hunters, fishers, hikers, bikers, rockhounds, equestrians, motor enthusiasts,
without limitation.
Wants to run DNR “more like a business” "We have to work the
state like a business and not like a preservation environmentalist society (to)
ensure the forests we do have are healthy for maximum revenue return."
Wants no limitations on target shooters, and no designated areas.
This
is the classic private property Libertarian, who wants to do away with public
lands altogether. No thanks.
education: UW BA math
& philosophy
general contractor.
And that’s all I’ve been able to find.
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