The Commissioner of Public Lands oversees the operations of the Department of Natural Resources. DNR has several sides. It manages millions of acres of state lands specifically to generate income for the state school trust fund. It also oversees logging and mining on private lands. And it is in charge of a very large fire fighting operation. A tiny subset is the Natural Heritage division, which monitors rare and endangered plant species and communities. It is DNR which issues the permits for the logging we see all over Island county. Its rules are far more flexible than those of Island County about protecting "critical areas."
Cameron Whitney R
could find no info beyond the bare fact of this person having filed
another ‘also ran’
Frank Wallbrown D
https://votefranknaturally.com/?fbclid=IwAR14D7e-b3IMbk-RJ9VzFLZAtSzal6AFC6aYLxF9iWbfvMo3nMCFNnouaEk
This looks like it was started and then dropped
“for the people, not the corporations”
and that’s all we get
His Facebook page shows a YouTube video on industrial hemp, which he believes can help WA out of the new depression.
Another entry: please help me stop the spraying of toxic chemical at Blue Heron Middle School.
I get the distinct impression of well intentioned callow youth. Unfortunately not a serious candidate. Lets hope he gains experience with time and tries again later. Meanwhile, another ‘also ran.’
Kelsey Reyes Libertarian
link is not working
was not able to find any other sources of info
she is endorsed by this foundation
this appears to be a campaign manager shop, offering websites, support management, and fundraising.
Another ‘also ran.’
Maryam Abasbarzy R
college student
facebook page was down, Instagram was down, could find no info
I found a LinkedIn listing of her as a student at Penn State U 2016- 2019, from Seattle.
This is not a serious candidate. Another ‘also ran.’
Steve Sharon R
self employed, 2012 candidate
from 2012:
This site claims he has no party.
A former salesman, he now collects rent on property he owns.
He believes there is no difference between the 2 major parties, and is spending no $ on his campaign.
Issues: He describes himself as a conservationist who believes people need to be better stewards of the land.
He supports a tax on every tree cut down on public or private land
He would remove dams on the lower Snake River to protect endangered salmon.
Notable: He hasn't voted since 2004 because he hasn't found anyone he could support, and is proud of it, because "it means my vote has integrity."
Who knows, maybe some of his ideas are good. I find it very hard to take seriously a candidate who has not bothered to vote in over 15 years as a matter of principle. Why should he expect others to give him their votes? He won’t be getting mine.
Sue Kuehl Pederson R
research scientist, fisheries biologist, 2016 state senate candidate
former chair, Grays Harbor Republic Party
fisheries biologist at UW, NOAA Fisheries, Army Corps of Engineers
power manager, Gray’s Harbor PUD
senior power analyst, Seattle City Light
senior environmental analyst, Seattle City Light
research scientist/publications manager, Biosonics Inc
Its time to bring new leadership for our public lands
She believes improved timber management can reduce disease and excess fuel in our forests, leading to a reduction in wildfires.
She believes that salmon and hydropower can coexist.
“We deserve good resource management and a keen understanding of the balance needed between the natural world and humanity.”
The Commissioner of Public Lands has a constitutional duty to responsibly manage timber harvests in a way that will improve forest health, reduce forest fires, provide living wage jobs, and support our public schools.
Her focus is on generating income from the forests, increasing the rate of harvest to do so.
Her Facebook page reports her going to the Spokane GOP Lincoln Day Dinner on June 9. Really?
This looks like the Republican machine candidate.
The fact that she can talk about salmon and hydro co-existing tells me she is not a serious scientist. The idea of a “balance between the natural world and humanity” tells me that she does not consider humans as part of the ecosystem but somehow apart from it. That is an outdated and dangerous point of view. While there is actually a need to thin our overcrowded forests, this must be done from the standpoint of forest health rather than generating income. We’ve seen all too many “forest health” cuts that ended up being either high-grades of all the best timber or just flat out clearcuts.
I don’t think Ms Pederson would be a very good replacement for incumbent Hilary Franz. I would not vote for her.
Hilary Franz D incumbent
~ supporting our schools and communities
~ protecting our communities and firefighters
~ growing our rural economies and clean energy
~ conserving our lands and waters
I have my gripes with Hilary. We’ve known her peripherally for years and years, as she was executive director of Futurewise, a statewide environmental protection organization. We thought all our troubles would be over when Hilary was elected in 2016. Oh, come on. How naïve. Actually, she’s doing great things on all fronts – except my particular focus, forest practices in the “area likely to convert” to a use other than forestry. We’ve brought up our problems to her several times and she has seemed absent. I should not have to explain the Forest Practices Act to her.
Ok, crab session over. The fact is, as I said, that on all other fronts she is doing a really great job. By way of explanation, the Commissioner of Public Lands oversees the operation of the Department of Natural Resources. DNR has kind of a mixed bag mandate. On the one hand, it manages millions of acres of public land for the specific purpose of generating capital for the state schools. On the other hand, it oversees resource extraction – logging, mining, shoreline uses – on private lands. That’s a lot of bases to cover, so I suppose I should cut her some slack for covering all but the one that interests me the most. She’s been doing spectacular work in fire fighter training on the east side, which has surprised and encouraged vulnerable communities there. And she yanked the permits from Cooke Aquaculture after the cataclysmic failure of their Atlantic salmon net pens at Cypress Island.
I will be voting for Hilary Franz.
Superintendent of Public Instruction - non-partisan
The Superintendent of Public Instruction administers the basic education program for all public and private schools in the state; prepares the state school budget; grants certification to teachers and administrative staff; develops and distributes curriculum; administers accreditation of public and private schools; prepares rules for disabled, gifted, remedial, health services, food services, vocational, basic education, bilingual, and other state programs; reviews expenditures of local school districts; regulates apportionment of federal program funds; and administers education programs for children in state institutions.
Maia Espinoza
non-profit group executive, 2018 state rep candidate
She’s an R, but this is a non-partisan office
involved in a lot of educational committees, and is a member of Catholic Daughter Assoc
Exec director and founder of Center for Latino Leadership.
She’s an Army brat, an active member of Military Order of the World Wars.
Issues
- schools that work
- life long learners
- essential skills
- fresh is best, provide fresh local foods
- innovative classrooms
- stop mandatory sex ed
https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/northwest/as-covid-19-changes-education-systems-state-school-superintendent-candidates-push-for-local-control/article_e968571b-f51b-5296-947b-950d38ade2df.html
- covid response, schools were ill prepared for distance learning
This one is a mixed bag. I certainly agree that kids should be provided fresh local (preferably organic) food at school. And she’s probably right that the schools were ill prepared for distance learning. Who knew? This was not exactly on anybody’s agenda. I’m sure some are coping surprisingly well and others depressingly poorly. What I’m not seeing is any constructive suggestion as to how to improve the situation.
And her main issue is that “mandatory sex ed.” She, like so many of her fellow candidates, is totally focused on this issue without having done the homework. Which is why I went to the trouble to summarize the legislation for you. (see the discussion of sex ed at the start of the blog)
Nope. Even if she has some good ideas, she has more really bad ones.
Ron Higgins
republican, teacher, retired engineer, Vietnam vet, frequent candidate
pro life, pro family, pro property rights, pro 2nd amendment, pro free enterprise
As Superintendent, I will emphasize instruction in basic academic subjects, healthy lifestyles, and respect for the United States, our Constitution, and our God-given civil and religious liberties, while strongly supporting the rights of parents to homeschool their children and control their children's healthcare. I vigorously oppose “comprehensive sex education” and any curriculum that promotes or glamorizes unhealthy behavior or the sexualization of children. We need common sense, not common core; and education, not indoctrination. (see the discussion of sex ed at the start of the blog)
I pledge to:
• comply with existing state laws (RCWs 28A.230.020 and 28A.405.030) that not only mandate instruction in basic academic subjects, but also mandate instruction in manners, honesty, honor, morality, truth, and patriotism;
• make the health, safety, and Constitutional rights of parents and children a top priority; and
- • put the public back in charge of public education.
His primary issue appears to be the threat of communism and antagonism to the National Education Association.
My Pledge:
Ensure that schools emphasize academics in compliance with the letter and spirit of RCW 28A.230.020 and RCW 28A.405.030.
- • Put the public (parents and taxpayers) back in charge of public education.
- • Contend for the emotional and physical wellbeing of our children and their intellectual growth.
- • Strenuously oppose any program or activity that adversely affects the health, safety, or learning environment of our children, or which interferes with the Constitutional rights of the parents or their children.
- • Oppose any attempt to implement any curriculum that sexualizes our children. I consider any such curriculum child abuse.
- • Work to ensure that our schools fulfill their mission to produce men and women who
- - Are competent in communication, computation, and civics;
- - Continually grow intellectually;
- - Are independent thinkers who work well with others;
- - Can courageously stand by the truth, even when unpopular
I don’t like the man’s agenda, which seems to be getting back to the “good old days” of reading, writing and ‘rithmatic. And of course he hits on the ‘comprehensive sex education’ without quite knowing what its all about.
Not my cup of education. Nope.
David Spring
education: UW MA in education and child development
taught 20+ years at Bellevue College, mainly in problem solving and conflict resolution. Rescue leader, King Co Search & Rescue. Owner, Wilderness Sports store. Leader, Washington Public Bank Coalition. Politically independent.
His platform:
1. fully fund schools
2. cut class sizes in half
3. fully fund school construction
4. provide 2 years of free college
5. provide homes for all homeless children
6. lower local property taxes
7. end high stakes testing
8. increase the graduation rate
9. restore a fair GED test
10. end unfunded mandates
11. oppose school privatization
12. clean up Olympia
School Funding Advocacy
Since 2008, I have, through a few caring legislators, introduced several bills that would have provided billions of additional dollars in school funding. Unfortunately, after 8 years of trying to convince the state legislature to fully fund public schools, I have reached the conclusion that the state legislature is so corrupt that they are never going to fund our public schools. I therefore decided to run for Superintendent in order to promote an alternative plan to immediately and fully fund our public schools in order to hire more teachers, reduce class sizes and increase the graduation rate in our state.
Provide Students with Fairer Assessments
In 2014, together with my wife Elizabeth Hanson, I wrote a book called Weapons of Mass Deception - about how Billionaire Funded Ed Reform Scams are harming our kids and destroying our schools. You can read most of this book for free at the following link: https://weaponsofmassdeception.org/
As a result of that research, we also created three education news websites: Coalition to Protect our Public Schools.org, Restore GED Fairness.org and Opt Out Washington.org. The goal of all of these efforts is to restore sanity to our public schools. Together, we have written more than 100 articles on important educational topics - read by more than 100,000 people.
Since 2008, I have, through a few caring legislators, introduced several bills that would have provided billions of additional dollars in school funding. Unfortunately, after 8 years of trying to convince the state legislature to fully fund public schools, I have reached the conclusion that the state legislature is so corrupt that they are never going to fund our public schools. I therefore decided to run for Superintendent in order to promote an alternative plan to immediately and fully fund our public schools in order to hire more teachers, reduce class sizes and increase the graduation rate in our state.
Provide Students with Fairer Assessments
In 2014, together with my wife Elizabeth Hanson, I wrote a book called Weapons of Mass Deception - about how Billionaire Funded Ed Reform Scams are harming our kids and destroying our schools. You can read most of this book for free at the following link: https://weaponsofmassdeception.org/
As a result of that research, we also created three education news websites: Coalition to Protect our Public Schools.org, Restore GED Fairness.org and Opt Out Washington.org. The goal of all of these efforts is to restore sanity to our public schools. Together, we have written more than 100 articles on important educational topics - read by more than 100,000 people.
That all looks very good, and he has quite a history as a teacher and advocate. What I’m not seeing is the part about how we get there. And of course some of his goals above are contradictory. All that funding has to come from somewhere, and lowering property taxes is not going to increase that funding. I’m also curious about what he means by “clean up Olympia.”
His website focuses on his personal history and his participation in a campaign to create a state public bank. I wholeheartedly approve, but that has little to do with OSPI.
While he is evidently a very well educated man, I believe he is on such a crusade that he has not read the fine print about what the OSPI can and cannot do. I don’t believe he is ready for prime time.
Stan Lippman
disbarred attorney, physicist, frequent candidate
this is the site for a run for King County Executive
disbarred lawyer, anti-vaccination activist, perennial candidate
he has run for Seattle mayor, city council, US Rep, WA AG, Seattle Monorail board, King Co Exec, Lake Forest Park mayor, WA legislature, Seattle mayor (again), WA Supreme Court.
Shall we say, not a serious candidate. Another ‘also ran’
Chris Reykdal incumbent
this is a non-partisan position, but Chris is a D
served 3 terms in WA legislature
was one of 13 no votes on the $8.7 billion tax break to Boeing
- leads with transparency and integrity, even in the face of the pandemic
- developed a new school accountability system
- ensured local timber revenue stays in the local school district
- increased k-12 investments by over $4 billion/year (=$3500/student)
- increased educator salaries to attract and retain our amazing educators
- expanded health care to tens of thousands of school employees
- de-linked high stakes testing from graduation
- added career and tech ed pathways to graduation
- returned civics classes to our schools
- enhanced formula funding for students with disabilities at a record rate
- increased graduation rates to a record high
- secured record high funding levels for school construction
- raised WA to a top 15 state level in English language, arts, & math
priorities
- provide full education, in various forms, beyond high school, to all
-100% high school completion
- closing the opportunity gap to close the achievement gap (Black Lives Matter)
- teacher excellence, have increased teacher pay 24%, need to do more
- expanding dual credit options (running start)
- recommitting to career and tech ed
- high standards with local control. minimize federal intrusion into WA schools
- early learning
- capital budgets. local bond funding inequitable. working to fix that.
objects to term “alternative”, seeing it as tainting students. All are individual and diverse.
He’s being hammered by the “no sex-ed” crowd, who are calling him all sorts of names, mostly things like pedophile. (see the sex-ed rap at the start of the blog)
Chris explains that each school district determines its own curriculum and sex ed content, that younger children are primarily intended to learn that their bodies are their own and not to be touched without their consent. There is also a parental opt-out. When asked if he would consider an opt-in instead, he said that was very interesting.
It seems the bill is rather mis-named, based on this report. Young children would be taught concern for their friends and how to stand up for themselves. In elementary schools the class would amount to 1 hr/school year. Much of this relates to sexual abuse prevention. And as mentioned over and over, see the review of the actual bill at the head of the blog.
All in all, in spite of the hysteria and ugliness, Chris Reykdal has been doing a good job in a difficult time. Given that none of his challengers have much of substance to add, I will be voting for Chris Reykdal.
Anthony Welti Libertarian
He is an insurance agent.
platform
01 – government reform. focus on transparent and direct communication, no vague rhetoric, closed door meetings, or secret handshakes with corporate lobbyists. Will never take a call from a corporate lobbyist.
02 – health insurance reform. seek out the root cause of health care expenses and treat that cause. I will do everything to increase options for people to purchase - or not, as they choose. Government should not tax health insurance, which is passed on to consumers.
03 – auto insurance reform. He disapproves of regulation of the industry, which “strangles innovation.”
04 – Medicaid. End all state mandates and regulations on medical care, drugs, procedures, medical supplies, office visits, and lab tests. This will increase options available to both doctors and patients.
This story, from 2019, reports that Mr Welti is very bent with Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. It seems that Mr Welti, an insurance agent, sold a gun owners’ policy for members of a gun club. Mr Kreidler found that the policy was not legal because the company was not licensed to sell insurance in Washington and it tried to insure people for illegal acts. Welti complains that the law is wrong and unfair, so he’s running for insurance commissioner to change it.
His personal grudge against what strikes me as a perfectly reasonable law does not seem a very good basis for running for office. He’s bent because insurers have to be licensed in the state where they do business. And that they can’t insure for crimes. Imagine the scenario: Joe Crook robs the bank and gets caught. He then files a claim for the million dollars he didn’t get away with. Doesn’t sound terribly plausible to me.
I am just imagining what health care would look like without those mandates and regulations. I’m thinking about snake oil salesmen and patent cures. There is actually a reason why those laws were passed, mainly having to do with public safety.
This man definitely would not get my vote.
Chirayu Avenash Patel R
insurance agent
account executive at Goel Payment Solutions since 2013
insurance agent at All-in-One Insurance since 2013
can’t find any info. obviously not a serious candidate. ‘also ran.’
Mike Kreidler D incumbent
Priorities:
~ Protect health care coverage for all Washington residents
He supports ACA and wants to assure people are protected during the pandemic
~ Strengthen the law to protect consumers from surprise medical bills
The law passed in 2019, went into effect 1-1-20. Lets doctors and insurance duke it out without hitting on the patient.
~ Make insurance companies honor their commitments
He is a watchdog for consumers
~ Maintain a healthy business climate for the insurance industry
Insurance is a $43 billion industry in WA, employs over 50k people. He works to be fair to both business and consumers.
~ Connect insurance with the environment to help protect all citizens
He chairs the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Climate Risk & Resilience Working Group. He also leads the WA Disaster Resiliency Work Group, which makes recommendations to the governor on how the state can better prepare itself for climate change.
Tim Eyman’s buddy Glen Morgan’s website reports that Kreidler was fined $150.00 by the PDC for “campaign fund violations.” This is the same outfit that forced the Island County Dems to disband over a belated filing. The threat was a huge lawsuit against the individuals in the Dem party. I don’t know, but would be willing to bet that Kreidler’s ‘violation’ was a late filing or something equally earth-shattering.
The huge international re-insurers are looking at the impacts of climate change and realizing that they are on the hook for multiple billions and probably even trillions of dollars. They are looking for ways to reduce their risk, so they form work groups to find relatively easy steps to do that. I’m quite happy to see Mr Kreidler involved in such a work group. We are already seeing some pretty whopping bills from such climate change effects as flooded highways and homes, fires burning whole towns, and storms causing landslides which take out whole neighborhoods. I hope they come up with some “ounce of prevention” proposals for us.
He enacted emergency rules requiring that all health insurances operating in Washington waive co-pays and deductibles for clients requiring COVID testing. And then he extended it for another 30 days to the end of July.
Kreidler has in fact been doing a very good job of protecting the people of Washington from the insurance industry. That upsets people like Eyman and Morgan. Since I have had help from the Insurance Commissioner’s office under the incumbent, I will be voting to retain Mike Kreidler.
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