Commissioner of Public Lands – Vote for Peter J. Goldmark (Democrat)

Seattle Times: Goldmark
Post Intelligencer: Goldmark



Both papers believe a change is needed at this job. The Seattle times endorsed Sutherland twice before this, but has now switched to Goldmark after last winter’s flooding in Lewis County, where a Times investigation showed an absence of expert review of slide potential on land approved for clear-cutting.

What does the top dog in charge of the Department of Natural Resources do? From the Seattle Times Editorials:

Management of DNR is a big job. The commissioner oversees millions of acres of state-owned timber and aquatic lands. The office also has responsibility for harvest levels on industrial-scale forestland and small lots. In the summer, the department runs the state's biggest fire department.

Key issue related to this contest? Logging. From the latest article in the Seattle Times:

Goldmark: Environmentalists seem to support (encouraged Goldmark to run and have been a big source for his campaign). Environmentalists have won several lawsuits against the timber policies of Sutherland. Knows that last winter’s storm was bad, but belives DNR did nothing to determine if there was a risk of landslides in areas before they were clear-cut. Supports logging levels set after a 2005 court decision, and wants an approach that balances the needs of industry with environmental protection.

Sutherland: Timber industry supports (they’re pouring vast money into his campaign). Landslides were product of an extraordinary storm that dumped more than 19 inches of rain in some places, and not from mistakes by his agency or logging companies. DNR more open to logging, which means more money for schools (school construction is funded by timber sales from state lands). Has earned some grudging praise from his environmental critics in relation to creating a 1,600 acre reserve protected from logging in Skagit County.

Vote for Goldmark if you’re a tree hugger and blame the Lewis County landslides on the DNR. Vote for Sutherland if you like Paul Bunyan and believe there was nothing that could have prevented the landslides.