The Commissioner of Public Lands oversees the operations of
the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
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 and manages 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.
education: US Naval War College MA
retired naval officer, ‘avid naturalist’
Wants to open up public lands to horsemen, motorcyclists,
quad drivers, and 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 – which on some DNR lands has create major
problems with lead pollution and safety, including for the shooters.
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.
From the Olympian editorial board: “McLaughlin
was part of a group that had ties to protesters who took over the Malheur
National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. . . . He has provided evidence that he
disavowed the occupation at the time and says he supports public ownership of
natural resource lands.”
The Gold Bar Reporter has a running story about McLaughlin stalking one of their reporters for much of
2014 as a favor to his friend, the former Snohomish County Director of Emergency Management. The
reporter evidently dug up a lot of dirt on the Emergency manager having to do
with failures and shortcomings around the Oso slide. Unable to get back at her
otherwise, he had his friend McLaughlin stalk
her. The paper has just published an email chain which verifies this. While
there seems to be a personal vendetta going on here, the fact that McLaughlin would stalk/watch anyone for any reason
gives me the creeps. As does his connection with the kind of people who
education: Northeastern University law
director, Futurewise, one of Washington’s
leading environmental and land use non-profits.
“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.
She advocates 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.
Her platform:
~ implement a wildfire prevention plan
~ enlist best available science and best management
practices to slow and reverse impacts of insects and disease on forests
~ reform management to stop risky steep-slope logging;
ensure setbacks for salmon streams; protect critical wildlife habitat
~ promote leasing of DNR’s grazing and ag lands for local
food production and farm-to-market enterprises
~ finish the Habitat Conservation Plan for aquatic lands;
continue to protect critical salmon habitat and shellfish beds
~ use state lands in and near growing communities to grow
local economies; safeguard habitat; support recreation; maintain urban growth
boundaries for future generations
~ implement a landscape approach to clean energy
development; identify best locations; ~ set renewable energy goals; improve
transparency; ensure local job creation
~ support sustainable energy development such as wind, solar,
and geothermal to reduce dependency on dirty fuels
~ be a partner and leader in efforts to address climate
change
~ work with schools, non-profits, and communities to promote
engagement of young people as active stewards and students of the environment.
~ increase outdoor recreation opportunities and partnerships
with cities and counties to improve access to the outdoors for millions.
~ develop a Conservation Service Corps to leverage public
investment and private philanthropy that will build job skills, improve public
lands, and create connections to our natural resources while building
experience.
Endorsed by Washington Conservation Voters.
Endorsed by FUSE Progressive Voters.
I have
known Hilary Franz at arm’s length for many
years, since we work directly with Futurewise on various issues. I see that McLaughlin has ties with the Bundy crowd, even if he
did disavow the Malheur occupation, and that he evidently thinks its ok to
stalk people. Sorry, I can’t handle far right religious ant-government zealots.
I can handle an environmental attorney who knows how to keep our forests
functional and to derive profit from them without destroying them.
I’ll be voting enthusiastically for Hilary Franz
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