Upthegrove is best choice 

Posted 10/30/24

The contrast between the two candidates for Commissioner of Public Lands is stark. Dave Upthegrove has extensive experience successfully working with Republican colleagues to protect public lands and …

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Upthegrove is best choice 

Posted

The contrast between the two candidates for Commissioner of Public Lands is stark. Dave Upthegrove has extensive experience successfully working with Republican colleagues to protect public lands and manage growth. In the Washington House of Representatives, he served as Chair of the House Select Committee on Puget Sound and Chair of the House Environment Committee. In the Legislature, he led the Blue-Green Alliance, a pro-labor, pro-environment coalition, which promoted sustainable economic opportunities. Upthegrove was honored as Legislator of the Year by the Washington Conservation Voters.

In contrast, Upthegrove’s opponent was just named to the League of Conservation

Voters “Dirty Dozen,” a list of candidates across the country who are judged to be the most disastrous for the environment. Herrera- Beutler voted to weaken clean air standards, gut the Climate Commitment Act, and oppose the Paris Climate Accords. She has enjoyed large contributions from the timber industry. Meanwhile, Upthegrove has accepted zero dollars from the timber industry and has pledged to protect Washington’s legacy forests—our children and grandchildren’s old-growth — on his first day in office.

The Commissioner of Public Lands leads the state’s wildfire fighting force and manages 6 million acres of public lands. It is probably the most important environmental position in the state. I urge my fellow Washington residents to join me, the Washington Council of Firefighters, Washington Labor Council, Washington Education Association, the Sierra Club, and the Center for Biological Diversity in supporting Dave Upthegrove in the upcoming election. Thank you!

Annie Hartnett

Joyce, Washington