Dear San Juan County Democrats,
You will be receiving your ballot for the August primary in mid-July. In preparation for that election, our Endorsement Committee of the San Juan County Democrats has been looking at races and candidates. We have received answers to questionnaires from a number of candidates, which will be posted below for your review. The committee will present its recommendations at our June 20 general meeting., which will again be held through a Zoom conference. All voting members will be eligible to vote on endorsements. You are a voting member if you have attended at least two meetings in the last twelve months. If you think you might be eligible but aren’t sure, I have the attendance records, so you are welcome to check with me. If you are not eligible to vote, you are still welcome to express an opinion, which you could do by sending me an email.
We sent questionnaires to the Democrats running for Congress, lieutenant governor, and public lands commissioner, as at least one candidate in each race requested our endorsement. The county council races are nonpartisan, but we had two Democrats request our endorsement here too, so they are included as well.
Congress
Rick Larsen, incumbent:
How long have you been a Democrat? __I have always been a Democrat, from the day I registered to vote in 1983, to the time I was a Precinct Committee Officer, to now as a member of Congress.
List the Democratic and pertinent organizations that you are a member of such as non-profits, and community groups. What have you done in these groups to show leadership and to accomplish positive change?
My parents were an important influence on me, encouraging me to be involved in my local community. Their encouragement continues to be a motivation for my service to our communities.
I have accomplished positive change throughout my time in public service, for example:
? As chair of the Snohomish County Council, I helped negotiate a labor benefits package that preserved the healthcare benefits of the hundreds of union workers at Snohomish County, saving them hundreds of dollars.
? Despite Republican opposition and because of my persistence, I successfully negotiated the first Wilderness Area in Washington State in over 20 years. The Wild Sky Wilderness Area is a testament to the collective commitment of people with a strong environmental ethic and of my commitment to the progressive conservation ethic of Washington State.
? Probably nothing exemplifies my commitment to universal access to healthcare then the healthcare town hall I held in 2009 at Everett Memorial Stadium that attracted 2,800 people to the open air venue where I defended President Obama’s signature social policy effort and where it cemented my continued commitment to the ACA as the effort to ensure healthcare as a right of all Americans.
1. What actions to address climate change do you believe are most urgent?
The most important step Congress can take to address climate change is setting real requirements and timelines to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That is why I support the 100% Clean Economy Act, which would set a national goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Certain sectors contribute greatly to emissions and climate change. As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I support investments to increase efficiency and reduce emissions from transportation, including maritime, air, and ground transportation. Finally, America must be a leader in this global effort, which is why I support rejoining the Paris Climate Accord.
2. How would you strengthen our transboundary protections with Canada for the Salish Sea and its airshed?
The U.S must continue to work closely with Canada to advance regional maritime transportation within the Salish Sea, while harmonizing regulations to ensure the sustainability of this environmentally sensitive ecosystem. I support improving the U.S. Coast Guard’s ability to work with its Canadian counterparts on vessel traffic monitoring, oil spill prevention and response and maritime infrastructure needs. I also support investing in coordination with Canada to protect Southern Resident Killer Whales and endangered salmon, restoring critical habitats within transboundary waters and mitigating the impacts of emissions and pollutants to the region’s airshed.
3. How would you allocate COVID stimulus dollars to stimulate new environmentally sustainable industries?
America can and should be a global leader in the green industries of the future. In COVID-19 relief, as in regular spending bills, I support federal investments in innovative sectors like renewable energy and green and resilient infrastructure. Additionally, Congress should support education programs like apprenticeships that give workers the skills to compete for high-paying careers in these fields.
4. How would you address providing healthcare to all Americans?
I support universal healthcare because ensuring access to high-quality, affordable healthcare is essential for people in Northwest Washington. Healthcare is a human right. I believe the best way to provide universal healthcare is to protect the Affordable Care Act and expand coverage by adding a public option to drive marketplace competition. I am proud Washington state has taken the lead and passed its own public option legislation, which will help more people access healthcare coverage.
5. What would you do to encourage environmentally sustainable economic development in CD2, WA state, and America?
Too often, economic development and environmental responsibility are framed as being in conflict. In fact, the opposite is true.
I will continue to support economic policies that spur growth, benefit the environment, and create good-paying jobs.
Congress has a number of ways to advance these priorities, including strong environmental oversight, investing in training and education for students and workers, and supporting broad investments in infrastructure, including road, rail, aviation, maritime, and water. After all, Washington state and the country cannot have a big league economy with little league infrastructure.
6. How would you address wealth and income inequality?
I will continue to take steps to address income inequality and the hyper-concentration of wealth.
First, I opposed the Republican tax cuts which slashed taxes on corporations and the wealthiest Americans.
I am proud to represent a state that has recognized the importance of jobs that pay a living wage, and I support raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour.
Reduction in union membership, largely driven by partisan attacks from Republican leaders, has hurt workers and led to increased income inequality. That is why I support efforts like the PRO Act, which would create real penalties for violations of labor law and strengthen the middle class by making it easier for workers to organize and bargain collectively for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.
7. What actions would you take to reform our justice system?
I support reform efforts to establish diversionary courts, reduce recidivism, and implement post sentencing support. Specifically, I supported legislation that reformed sentencing standards for non-violent drug offenders. I also support allowing previously incarcerated individuals to access employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, housing, family programming, mentoring and victim support. These reforms are important to address the disparity in criminal justice outcomes.
Additionally, I support federal investments in alternative and diversionary courts (e.g. drug courts). Drug courts are both a sound investment and a successful way to address serious addictions. Federal partnerships in these courts ensure access for non-violent and drug-addicted offenders. When drug courts intervene, addictions are overcome, crimes prevented, families reunited and lives saved. 8. What is your position on our current, ongoing foreign military actions?
I have a strong and consistent record of support for requiring presidents of both parties to respect Congress’ constitutional authority to declare war. And I believe that prolonged engagements must be authorized by Congress. Sunsets are one effective tool for ensuring continued oversight of a conflict and to prevent mission creep, by requiring Congress to debate and vote to continue an action. For too long, Congress has been negligent in its responsibility over these issues of the use of force. I have worked hard to ensure that my constituents know where I stand and that servicemembers know that their elected officials are invested in preventing conflicts from escalating. For example, I voted against the Iraq War authorization and was one of just four members to cosponsor a new authorization to use force against ISIL in 2014.
9. How can you reduce the carbon footprint and other environmental effects of our military?
The United States military is one of the largest sources of carbon emissions in the world and is the largest consumer of fossil fuels. Reducing the military’s carbon footprint is good for the environment, but it is also good for the military, as it is uniquely vulnerable to sea level rise and instability caused by climate change.
Often, the military wants to be more environmentally friendly. Reliance on fossil fuels makes bases and assets sensitive to disruptions in fuel supply, like attacks or market forces. And outdated infrastructure means the military spends billions of dollars every year on heating and cooling. Modern infrastructure and renewable energy can significantly reduce the military’s environmental impact and Congress should be a partner in these efforts.
I will also continue to oppose Republican attacks on the environment that cite military readiness as justification for disregarding environmental law.
10. Do you support reducing our military footprint around the world, and, if so, how would you do it? I will continue to support ending conflicts in the Middle East and bringing U.S. forces home from the region, closely coordinated with allies and partners.
Worldwide, the United States faces significant military challenges, like an increasingly capable Chinese military and a Russian government intent on provocation in Europe. Often, U.S. military presence can be a force for stability and deterrence. However, under the Trump administration, military force has seemed to be the only element of national power. In my conversations with allies, they care as much about U.S. economic and diplomatic commitment to their regions as they do security commitments.
I support preserving and enhancing U.S. global engagement and commitment to partners and allies, and I am confident this can be achieved with a strategy that focuses on diplomatic and economic engagement ahead of military force.
11. What is your philosophy on what we should be supporting with our foreign aid?
Foreign aid is a powerful tool for achieving U.S. policy goals. I believe foreign aid should be values-based, with the aim of supporting freedom of speech, religion and expression, equal rights for women and minorities, and promoting civil society and the rule of law.
Foreign aid can also help lift millions out of poverty and protect vulnerable people from disease and hunger. Last year, I participated in a congressional delegation that visited Rwanda, and saw firsthand anti-HIV/AIDS efforts funded in part with U.S. foreign aid.
12. Would you vote to end US support for repressive regimes like Saudi Arabia?
Sanctions and export controls are important tools promoting human rights worldwide, and ensuring American tax dollars are spent in accordance with American values. I have voted to end U.S. support for the Saudi-led air campaign in the Yemeni Civil War and opposed arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
13. What are your goals for our national immigration policy?
I support comprehensive immigration reform that creates pathways to citizenship for immigrants who have spent their lives in the United States. And I will continue to oppose the Trump administration’s bans and wall construction.
Ultimately, I support an immigration policy that replaces deterrence with compassion, callousness with humanity and any talk of a border wall with more talk about the Statue of Liberty and the freedom she represents to people around the world.? ?The Statue of Liberty is more than a tourist attraction. The words on the statue beckoning the world’s tired, poor, huddled masses convey what is exceptional about the U.S.
14. What would you do to make our voting/elections system more democratic and secure?
I support strengthening the FEC’s oversight and enforcement role to ensure real penalties for violators of election law. To strengthen voting rights and accountable democracy, I also support legislation that would overturn Supreme Court decisions in the ?Citizens United ? and ?Shelby County ? decisions. And I support mail-in voting nationwide modeled after Washington’s system and the Voting Rights Advancement Act.
15. What are your top priorities?
I am focused on fighting for an economy that works for everyone, bringing middle class families better jobs and higher wages, increasing access to healthcare, fighting climate change, and protecting the right to vote. My priorities include: Addressing the transportation needs of my state:? In our state, transportation means jobs. And if we want bigger paychecks, we need to invest in better transit, including road, rail and maritime, where union women and men get the work done and we can train another generation through registered apprenticeships. I also support bridge safety investments, ensuring bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure gets its fair share of investments and that we invest in electric bus transit and other means to lower emissions from transportation. Fighting climate change and protecting our environment: ?It is my priority to address the impacts of climate change, ensure the U.S. transitions to clean renewable energy and environmental sustainability, protect the environment, and create good-paying jobs. I support global and local Paris Climate Agreements, Clean Power Plans, lower emissions for aviation travel, green resilient infrastructure to restore estuaries and salmon habitats, a net-zero emissions economy, and jobs investment to prepare next-generation innovators and workforce to support a green economy. I support stopping Pebble Mines in Alaska and protecting Bristol Bay fishing while stopping mining in Skagit River headwaters. Creating jobs and investing in skills training: ?I believe in creating jobs and investing in skills training right here in the second district. I support ensuring that workers have access to registered apprenticeship programs that help them learn the skills they need to succeed. My Youth Access to American Jobs Act will establish a 2-2-2 pilot program that allows students to go from high school to community college to an apprenticeship program, creating a real pathway for young people looking to enter the workforce. I helped write the section of the aviation bill that helps fill in gaps in aviation technicians and mechanics. Our local community and technical colleges play an important role in training the next generation workforce and investing in local jobs. My record stands strong in support of them.
16. Do you support the Washington State Democratic Platform? Why or why not? If you do not, what specific planks do you disagree with and why?
Yes, I support the current version of the Washington State Democratic Platform. The 2020 platform has not yet been adopted and I have not had a chance to review it. I anticipate it will be done this month and then I will be able to review it.
Jason Call, challenger
How long have you been a Democrat? Since 1992
List the Democratic and pertinent organizations that you are a member of such as non-profits, and community groups. What have you done in these groups to show leadership and to accomplish positive change?
I have been a member of the WA Dems State Committee since 2016, for Snohomish County and the 44th LD. As a member of the body I have written and had passed a number of important platform resolutions, and was an elected member of the State Party platform committee in both 2018 and 2020. I am active in both my county and Legislative District local parties. In 2018 I was the Chair of the Snohomish County Democrats platform committee. I have helped cofound both the Economic Justice Caucus and the Separation of Church and State Caucus, where I was recently Chair. I have also been on the Executive Board of the WA State Progressive Caucus.
I am a Board Member of Whole Washington, the volunteer led nonprofit that is trying to, in the absence of passing a federal Medicare For All bill, bring single payer healthcare to Washington State via ballot initiative or bill through the State Legislature. I have also worked gathering signatures for other recent ballot initiatives, most recently I-735 (Move to Amend) and I-1433 to raise minimum wage
1. What actions to address climate change do you believe are most urgent?
If we can’t manage the global warming feedback loop by eliminating emissions, we will be faced with a massive climate refugee concern here in coastal areas due to rising tides. The most important direct action is to eliminate fossil fuel emissions (the pandemic crisis has proven this is possible with the political will, at least temporarily – we have taken cars off the road and seen results), which should be done by job creating federal investments right here in WA-02 in tidal and geothermal energy, as these are our local sustainable and renewable sources. Concurrently we have to get an efficient green mass transit system in place to get cars off the road, (which will also help manage the climate refugee problem if it gets to that stage). Beyond that we need to scale back cutting our forests and let them do their healing work cleaning our atmosphere.
2. How would you strengthen our transboundary protections with Canada for the Salish Sea and its airshed?
(This is the one question that I don’t feel informed enough to provide a competent response, but based on some research I’m going to try.)
I located a US-Canada agreement from 2002 which states a partnership that recognizes the need for clean air in the Georgia Basin-Puget Sound area. Not surprisingly commercial fossil fuel use is a primary culprit in diminished air quality. Legislation in line with Green New Deal goals should require merchant fleet to adhere to environmental standards or be barred from using our waterways. I also support cessation of pipeline building through BC from the Alberta tar sands, pipelines which terminate at points on the Salish coast and put waterways at risk for pollution, as well as elimination of refineries and the use of coal trains through the area. There are obvious concerns that both US and Canadian Government works hand in glove with the fossil fuel industry to promote continued construction of pipelines. Both governments will resist real accountability here, and progressive activism in Congress will be a necessity.
(I am always open to further education on issues, and this is one I want to look more deeply into, so anyone who has resources for me, please share.)
3. How would you allocate COVID stimulus dollars to stimulate new environmentally sustainable industries?
Like France, I would put restrictions on access to any bailout dollars without strict conditions on commitment to environmental standards that meet carbon emission reduction goals. France did this with the airline industry, and so should we. Stimulus money should have a goal of requiring existing business to retool, redesign, and invest in new technologies as applicable, that are supportive of the goals of the Green New Deal. This should expand employment with existing businesses. Startups that meet the goals of the Green New Deal should be subsidized. Money should not be going to the fossil fuel industry directly. Money going to state and local governments should be heavily invested in updating and constructing public transit. There should also be conditions on the rate of reinvestment of stimulus to continue to provide employment as opposed to making CEOs and shareholders wealthy. Economic justice and environmental justice should be coequal.
4. How would you address providing healthcare to all Americans?
I am 100% in support of National Improved Medicare For All HR 1384. Healthcare is a human right.
5. What would you do to encourage environmentally sustainable economic development in CD2, WA state, and America?
We need federal standards for green building both commercial and residential properties, and federal subsidies to retrofit existing buildings with solar panels and other energy efficient upgrades. We need to subsidize new green technologies as we phase out petroleum-based products and energy. We need a federal waste management program to partner with private industry to ensure that the recycling and other waste management technology and infrastructure is fully funded. We need efficient green public transit, including rail and buses, that is fare free as an incentive to reduce use of personal vehicles. We need to upgrade our rail systems for transport of goods to reduce use of long haul trucking. We need to invest in solar panel production as likely our primary source of sustainable and renewable power. All of these efforts will be part of the federal jobs guarantee and just transition provisions of the Green New Deal.
6. How would you address wealth and income inequality?
There are state issues in WA with regressive taxation that I would address if I could at the federal level, but hope our legislature will forge ahead with an income tax, and sales and property tax reductions. We need a federal wealth tax. We need to maintain estate taxes. We need to increase corporate taxes, and also hold corporations accountable for their own pollution cleanup and for low wages that force employees onto public assistance. We need to raise the federal minimum wage to at least $20/hr. We need federal rent control standards. We need a vacancy tax to reduce speculation in the housing market. We need Medicare For All. We need to cancel student debt and make colleges and vocational schools tuition and fee free. Supreme Court Justice Brandeis said you can have democracy or you can have concentrated wealth, but you can’t have both.
7. What actions would you take to reform our justice system?
I write this as riots are occurring in Minneapolis following the murder by police of George Floyd, who was at worst suspected of passing a bad check, which does not carry a death sentence. Our policing is broken, our courts are broken, and institutional racism in the justice system is rampant. We need improved police screening and training for de-escalation. We need to demilitarize the police. We need to federally decriminalize cannabis, release all incarcerated for nonviolent drug offenses, and expunge those records so these individuals can rebuild their lives. We need to prosecute police when warranted, and eliminate the code of silence in the police force. We need to do away with blanket immunity for prosecutors. All police forces should be accountable to community review boards, not mayors, and all police shootings should be immediately investigated by such boards. We need to end private for-profit prisons.
8. What is your position on our current, ongoing foreign military actions?
I have been an anti-war activist since I was a sophomore at the University of Washington, when the US invaded Iraq in Desert Storm under false pretenses. It is one of the reasons I chose Political Science as my undergraduate major. I have marched countless times to protest military actions and have involved myself in pro-peace activities with groups such as Veterans For Peace. The US has a record of worldwide military engagement that is tarnished at best given what we know about the Gulf of Tonkin and WMD, among other actions. I oppose military interventions that are not based in verifiable national security threats, and are grounded in national defense. I oppose violations of the Geneva Conventions, and military operations that are humanitarian engagements should be approached as a multinational effort guided by the UN. I oppose all war profiteering, which is the driving force behind ongoing actions.
9. How can you reduce the carbon footprint and other environmental effects of our military?
The most important way to reduce the carbon footprint of the military is to reduce the size of the military. I support cutting the defense budget drastically, which will in my mind include closing bases worldwide and in the US. I can’t speak from a perspective of military strategy or national security, but I do believe our military as it exists is far larger than is strategically necessary. There is no doubt that this will be a huge and contentious fight in Congress, but as an antiwar activist for 30 years, this is a commitment I am willing to keep fighting through because it has to be done. As with all workforce transitions, a just transition to private sector labor force must be assured. I do not believe that the US military should be a jobs program for surplus labor.
10. Do you support reducing our military footprint around the world, and, if so, how would you do it?
Continuing from my prior response, I would add that whatever we do retain as far as military power (and I’m sure that it would be substantial, but there’s no strategic value in the excess that we currently face, that is purely for industry profits/war profiteering) must be redesigned and retrofitted to be “green”. All of this is in line with how we should be investing in the Green New Deal with accompanying jobs guarantees. The only thing that stands in the way of this is lack of political will.
Locally, I support the reduction and relocation of the Navy Growler fleet, as part of these overall objectives. I made a campaign statement on the decade old Growler concerns in February, and I have been in communication with Sound Defense Alliance to better understand the direct human and environmental issues with this program.
11. What is your philosophy on what we should be supporting with our foreign aid?
Our foreign aid should be used to support legitimate humanitarian efforts worldwide, funding education, healthcare, and infrastructure that will benefit people. All aid must have strict accountability and oversight measures to ensure that it is not propping up oppressive corporations or corrupt political establishments. Aid should have requirements that support the global goals of the Green New Deal as much as possible. Governments with a history of oppression, apartheid, and genocide should not be recipients of aid. In areas of strife and violence, aid should be used to encourage peace and negotiations with legitimate actors to eliminate warfare and promote sustainable local economies to retain peace.
12. Would you vote to end US support for repressive regimes like Saudi Arabia?
Yes, however we cannot oppose the brutality of the Saudi regime while giving subsidies to fossil fuel industries. We also cannot sanction countries in a way that harms the people of that country, who are the victims of such oppression. While I oppose interventionism on behalf of corporate profits, there is legitimate concern with some countries that routinely break human rights conventions. Political actions must be well devised and have a goal of liberating people from oppression. Regimes like Bolsonaro’s are a threat to human rights and the planet with the destruction of the Amazon. Duterte in the Philippines, who has imposed brutal penalties on drug addicts and sex workers. I would be remiss if I didn’t note the often unspoken offenses committed by the right wing Likud government on the people of Palestine. We must strive not to be a part of hypocrisy in these human rights affairs.
13. What are your goals for our national immigration policy?
The best immigration policy is to stop assisting corporations in privatize and exploiting resources and labor in developing nations. Global capital is often backed by repressive regimes that use fear and political oppression as a tool of control. Many immigrants are political, economic, and increasingly climate refugees. The best remedy is to work to reduce refugee status by eliminating corporate colonialism. I oppose the current system of for profit immigration detention centers, and I support the abolition of ICE, which has proven itself an unaccountable human rights violator. I support the DACA program, and I support a pathway to citizenship for current undocumented immigrants so they can come out of the shadows. Many undocumented exist in highly exploitative circumstances. I support subsidized legal assistance for undocumented workers so they can navigate the immigration process without fear. Our immigration courts need better funding and staffing.
14. What would you do to make our voting/elections system more democratic and secure?
I have been an Election Integrity advocate since 2004. I have studied electronic voting machine systems and proprietary vs open source code for those systems. I do not believe that any electronic system is secure and I oppose their use for ballot counting purposes unless they are backed up by continuous random audits for accuracy. I support hand marked paper ballots, but access to such balloting presents challenges for many marginalized groups, and is likely disenfranchising. Thus I am in support of federal standards for mail-in ballots, which provides equitable accessibility to voting. Mail-in ballots are efficient, effective and provide the best option on balance for voting security and accuracy. This also would eliminate voting suppression frequently seen at the ballot box. I support Ranked Choice or STAR voting. Corporate lobbying should be eliminated. Political campaigns should be publicly finances. Citizens United should be overturned.
15. What are your top priorities?
Medicare For All
Green New Deal
Money out of politics
16. Do you support the Washington State Democratic Platform? Why or why not? If you do not, what specific planks do you disagree with and why?
Having helped write a good deal of the current State Party platform (as of this writing, the convention in June may present changes) and a number of resolutions, I can confidently say I am 99% in support of the platform. Without re-reading the document, I can’t identify a point of disagreement at this time. There’s probably a plank somewhere. It’s an extremely detailed progressive vision.
Lieutenant Governor (open seat, no incumbent)
Marko Liias
How long have you been a Democrat? I have been a lifelong democrat.
List the Democratic and pertinent organizations that you are a member of such as nonprofits, and community groups. What have you done in these groups to show leadership and to accomplish positive change?
I am a Democratic PCO in the 21st District, also allowing me access to Snohomish County events. I have used my positions with both organizations to be part of the discussion on what we should be looking for in leadership and in endorsing candidates at every level of government to best represent us to keep our communities strong. I am also a proud union member with AFT Everett Higher Education Local 1872.
I have the privilege to sit on the Board of Directors for the Washington Institute for Public Policy, a bipartisan partnership with The Evergreen State College, to research policy that will best benefit our state. Additionally, I’ve previously served on the Boards of the Youth Suicide Prevention Program, Community Transit, and Snohomish County Board of Health. I am proud of the work I have done with these organizations to save the lives of our kids who are struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel, promote transit options in my community, and make scientifically informed decisions in how we address public health.
1. If elected, one of your main duties would be to act as President of the Senate. What qualifies you for this role?
For the last four years, I have served as Floor Leader, elected by my colleagues to lead our caucus on the Senate floor. Since 2018, I have been the Majority Floor Leader, where I have had the responsibility of drafting the Senate’s parliamentary rules, scheduling bills for floor action and serving as our caucus liaison to the Lt. Governor—all experiences that make me uniquely qualified for the role of our next Lt Governor. Furthermore, I am the only person in this race who has ever served in the State Senate. It was these experiences that led our current Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib to endorse my campaign, calling me the most experienced candidate in the race.
2. Another important job of the lieutenant governor is to step in as governor should the governor become unavailable. What executive branch or other relevant experience do you have to step into this position?
I am running for Lt. Governor because I am excited at the opportunities to use the role as President of the Senate and number two in the executive branch to help make progressive change for our state. The role does mean that I will step in as acting governor when Governor Inslee travels out of state, and there is always the possibility that any Governor may not complete their term of office. I know that I could step in, if needed, to ensure the continuity of our government and the success of our shared progressive vision for our state.
I have over a decade of experience in the Legislature and deep relationships with lawmakers and leaders all over our state. These are reflected in the endorsements by 21 of my Senate colleagues, more than any other candidate in the race, as well as a wealth of other early endorsements by elected officials and community leaders from Seattle to Spokane. I have deep experience with state budgets and a broad array of policy issues, and I have been selected by my colleagues to negotiate major legislative victories on transportation funding, paid family and medical leave, and aerospace competitiveness. This has given me a deep and comprehensive understanding of state government.
My priorities, no matter where I am called up to serve, are the same: chart a bold, progressive path forward for our state. We must build an economy that works for all Washingtonians, not just the rich; we must invest in public education and workforce training to ensure there are equitable paths to opportunity and into the middle class; we must address the crisis of affordability in housing, health care, and child care that threatens our middle class; and, we must boldly confront the challenge of climate change and use this opportunity to build a sustainable, resilient economy for our shared prosperity.
3. Washington state has one of the most regressive tax structures in the country. What changes would you help try to make?
I have been a longtime supporter of more equitable tax structures and I voted for every single progressive tax structure change that the legislature put forward when we crafted our finance package in 2019. In that package, we closed loopholes on corporate taxes, we lowered real estate taxes for low and middle income families while raising it for the multibillion dollar corporations building skyscrapers in Seattle, and many other progressive changes. While we did not get every win on moving us towards a more balanced tax structure, it has set a precedent that I hope we are able to continue with so we can get smart, progressive revenue sources like a capital gains tax.
This progress is more important than ever as we recover from COVID-19. We cannot go back to the austerity measures of the Gregoire era that harmed our most vulnerable, and must instead raise new, progressive revenue so we can bounce back faster and stronger.
4. How could you help in the position of lieutenant governor in the fight against climate change?
The Lt. Governor has historically worked on trade and economic development policy, as well as education and workforce development issues. I look forward to continuing this critical policy work, while applying a social justice, equity and environmental justice lens. I look forward to growing the youth development initiatives that my predecessors have started, the Legislative Youth Advisory Council, Boundless Washington, and Washington World Fellows programs. I am excited to embed environmental justice as a focus of these efforts, to channel the deep commitment of our newest generation of leaders to our climate crisis and mentor them in advocacy and action to realize their goals. But I am also committed to ensuring that our broader policy advocacy focuses more directly on the incredible potential in green jobs as a tool to grow economic opportunities all over the state, and considers access to healthy housing and good mass transit as priorities in this work.
As President of the Senate and Chair of the Senate Rules Committee, I will use my full authority to demand bold climate action in 2021 and the years to come. I will continue to leverage my strong relationships in the Legislature and my detailed knowledge of the Senate rules and procedures to help partner with environmental leaders, the Governor, legislators and advocates, to take continued action to address the existential threat we face and meet it head on. I am proud that under my leadership as Majority Floor Leader since 2018, we have seen more meaningful climate action than ever before in state history, I will continue that leadership as Lt. Governor.
5. What would you do to encourage environmentally sustainable economic development?
The Lt. Governor presides over the State Senate, but also serves as number two in the Executive Branch, all while running a small state agency. This unique combination of responsibilities makes it an ideal role to continue my work building a green economy that works for everyone, expanding equitable access to education and opportunity, and ensuring that our state is a model for social justice and inclusion. I completely agree with Governor Inslee that climate inaction is the same as climate denial, we cannot shirk our responsibilities in this critical moment. I will use my leadership role in the Senate to insist on bold climate action that recognizes the magnitude of the crisis we face.
In the Senate, I have focused on growing green jobs in every corner of our state, which I believe is critical to ensuring a just transition to our carbon-free future. I sponsored legislation to transition our state off coal-fired power and to authorize the largest expansion of mass transit in history through ST3; this massive undertaking will create tens of thousands of family-wage construction jobs for decades to come. I have helped pass new building codes to encourage the use of carbon-sequestering mass timber, and also championed investments in pollinator health and soil research, so that our agricultural economy in this state is both competitive and sustainable. As Lt. Governor, I will never stop fighting for green jobs and opportunity in every ZIP code in Washington. As chair of the Senate Rules Committee and as President of the Senate, I will use my full authority to ensure that my colleagues take action to address this existential threat to our state and our shared human community.
6. What would be your top priorities as lieutenant governor?
In the face of gridlock in Washington DC, our state has made progress these last few years. We have funded our schools expanded access to college, taken bold action to transition to a clean energy economy, and worked to make sure that everyone — white, Black and brown — has access to opportunity. We have shown that a growing economy, clean air and water, and rising wages and benefits can go hand-in-hand. I know that we can accomplish so much more in the years to come for Washington. I know that we can harness the spirit of innovation that has led our state to build the best airplanes, write the best software, and grow crops that feed the world to meet the challenges we face today.
My highest priority will be to lead our efforts to create green jobs in every community in our state. As we turn to the urgent work of recovering from this global health emergency, we cannot lose sight of the existential emergency that still exists. And we cannot ignore that persistent reality that too many communities across our state have been left out of the prosperity of these last few years. I will continue to lead youth development and higher education partnerships that ensure our future leaders are part of the policy process now, not ignored until the decisions we have made have consigned them to a stark future. And embedded in all the work we do will be a commitment to social justice, equity and environmental justice.
I am a proud, lifelong Washingtonian. I would not be who I am or what I am, without this place. As I take this next step, I am more committed than ever to expanding opportunity and building on the progress we have made together. We have risen above our challenges in the past with our courage and our innovative spirit. And I know that the best is yet to come. I hope you will join me in this moment as we lead the way to a brighter, more inclusive future for this state we all love.
Denny Heck
How long have you been a Democrat?
I am a proud lifelong Democrat. While still in junior high, I organized and was president of the Teen Democrat Club and have been an active Democrat my entire life serving as a precinct committee officer to various state and national party leadership roles.(see below)
List the Democratic and pertinent organizations that you are a member of such as non-profits, and community groups. What have you done in these groups to show leadership and to accomplish positive change?
I am the co-founder and former president of TVW, the statewide public affairs network where I had a ringside seat to the legislature and where for many years I hosted the award-winning public affairs program, Inside Olympia. I have been active in my community my entire life including serving on the board of trustees of my alma mater, The Evergreen State College, serving on Governor Gregoire’s Washington Learns Commission, serving on the advisory boards of the New Market Skill Center and the Clark County Skills Center. My wife, Paula, and I co-founded the Olympia Principals’ Emergency Checkbook Fund.
I have held numerous party leadership roles over the years including serving as a precinct committee officer multiple times. I chaired the State House Democratic Caucus Campaign Committee three times (and we increased our seats every time!). Nationally, I served as chair of the HDCCC’s recruitment committee the last four years, which is generally credited with playing a vital role in the US House flipping to Democratic control in 2018. In addition, I co-chaired the HDCCC’s Red to Blue Committee the last four years.
1. If elected, one of your main duties would be to act as President of the Senate. What qualifies you for this role?
The Lt Governor is the president of the Senate, where he/she breaks ties and maintains parliamentary order. They must be committed to presiding in a fair and civil way – it is the only way the process works. I was elected to five terms in the State House where I served as Majority Leader and I have hundreds of hours presiding over the State House (which uses the same rulebook as the State Senate) and have also presided over the US House multiple times. The Lieutenant Governor also becomes governor in the event of a vacancy. I served as Chief of Staff to Governor Booth Gardner, and being a COS is as close to being governor as you can be without actually being governor. The Lieutenant Governor, by law, chairs the Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations. In Congress, I serve on both committees of jurisdiction for the economy – the Financial Services Committee and the Joint Economic Committee. I also have had a successful career in business having co-founded a company, which we grew from two employees to more than 300. In some ways, I think my life’s experiences have led me exactly to this point. I have a passion for public service and for this office, my experience counts.
2. Another important job of the lieutenant governor is to step in as governor should the governor become unavailable. What executive branch or other relevant experience do you have to step into this position?
With Lt Governor, the question always has to be: Is this person ready to be governor if necessary. I am. I think my experience outlined above demonstrates that my experiences have prepared me should I need to step into this position.
3. Washington state has one of the most regressive tax structures in the country. What changes would you help try to make?
Higher income people need to pay more of their fair share, and we must vigorously resist taxes that fall disproportionately on lower income people. Once again, this is going to be a particularly important question in the 2021 session with the budget challenges it will face. My commitment to fairer taxation goes way back to my days in the legislature when I was the prime sponsor of a constitutional amendment to create an income tax.
4. How could you help in the position of lieutenant governor in the fight against climate change?
It is time to go big and bold with a plan to rebuild our economy that prioritizes investments in infrastructure of all kinds and notably green energy and renewables, and provides for more broadly shared prosperity. We get lower carbon output by making carbon pollution more expensive (carbon fee). (I am a sponsor of just such legislation at the federal level.) We use revenues to invest in all manner of infrastructure notably to include green energy. But we also use revenues to help displaced workers make a transition to good jobs of the future, a transition that safeguards their compensation and health care. (As you will recall, the failure to do this is the primary reason why I opposed fast tracking TPP.) But I also think we need to think more broadly about this. It is not just carbon-dependent employees who are the cusp on being displaced; it is also the millions of jobs under pressure by forces such as AI and globalization. Now is the time to invest in workers. We have a window of opportunity.
Finally, please note that I am endorsed by the Washington Conservation Voters. Among those members of Washington’s Congressional delegation that I’ve been serving with since I was elected to Congress, I have the highest League of Conservation Voters voting record.
5. What would you do to encourage environmentally sustainable economic development?
There is an incredible opportunity before us as we rebuild our economy. Inarguably, we will consider infrastructure investments to put America back to work. We need to define infrastructure broadly, and not just as roads and bridges. Investments need to be made in all manner of environmentally sustainable areas such as improving the electrical grid system, adding more electric car recharging stations, finally getting serious about storm water retention, retrofitting public buildings to be more energy efficient, updating water and sewer systems, and expanding public transit. I feel especially strong about efforts to improve water quality in the Puget Sound as I am the co-founder of the Puget Sound Recovery Caucus and the author of the Puget SOS (Save Our Sound) legislation that passed the US House overwhelmingly earlier this year.
The Lieutenant Governor can help do this and more through use of the bully pulpit the office has and in his/her role as chair of the Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations.
6. What would be your top priorities as lieutenant governor?
Three issues that I don’t think are getting enough action are 1) income inequality, 2) climate change, and 3) storm water pollution of the Puget Sound and other bodies of water. The Lieutenant Governor has the unique opportunity to use their bully pulpit to define the problem and provide real intellectual thought leadership on solutions. There is gravitas to the office that can and should be used to solve problems.
Commissioner of Public Lands
Hilary Franz, incumbent
How long have you been a Democrat? _Lifelong Democrat________
List the Democratic and pertinent organizations that you are a member of such as nonprofits, and community groups. What have you done in these groups to show leadership and to accomplish positive change?
Former Board member Washington Environmental Council, represented on critical environmental cases before Supreme Court and Court of Appeals; Former Board Member of Conservation NW; Former PCO, 23rd LD Democrats; Puget Sound Regional Council board member, developing transportation, housing and economic development policies and investments; Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Council, setting policy and investments for salmon recovery.
1. What actions to address climate change do you believe are most urgent?
We’re on the front lines climate change as we respond to increasing floods, wildfires and drought. We are taking action.
We’re reducing our agency’s emissions through energy efficiency and clean transportation solutions. We’re increasing carbon sequestration through conserving forest and agricultural lands and implementing our Forest Health Plan to reduce catastrophic wildfires and forests dying. We’re expanding clean energy on our public lands, including completing the first solar leases for the largest solar farms in the state. We’re now working with large and small utilities to build out 100% clean energy by 2040. We’ve developed the state’s first Climate Resilience Plan which sets forth strategies to manage our lands and waters to be more resilient to a changing climate and sets forth investments needed throughout the state to make our communities more resilient to climate change. We’re working with communities to increase the resiliency of our lands, waters and communities.
2. How would you address providing conservation of Washington’s public lands?
Specifically, under my leadership we have begun to increase our public lands by thousands of acres. We will continue to expand our NCRAs, NCHAs, and our working forest and agricultural lands by: • Creating a carbon market program where we can increase conservation of state’s old growth forests and also prevent conversion of our working forests. • Implementing 20-Year Forest Health Plan for the state, restoring 1.25 million acres of forests to health to prevent them from dying and burning up.
• Placing thousands of acres of forests in protected conservation status and preventing thousands of additional acres of working forests from being converted into development. • Increasing our agricultural lands portfolio through strategic acquisition and addressing our checkerboard issue. • Placing thousands of acres of high value natural areas in conservation status, including some of the highest natural resource conservation and natural resource heritage areas.
3. What would you do to encourage sustainable economic development that conserves our public lands and moves us to a transition away from fossil fuels?
We’ve expanded our wind portfolio and completed 2 solar leases with 33 solar leases in the works. Our goal is to generate over 1,000 MW of clean energy by 2025. We helped push for 100% Clean Energy along with labor, and we are now working with utilities to help meet 100% clean by 2040 on our public lands. We’re also doing geothermal mapping and exploring biomass energy on the slash left behind after timber harvests and forest health projects. DNR already sells some biomass but markets are limited so we are working to expand this market and ensure that labor is part of each of these projects. We’re also expanding agriculture on our public lands, increasing vineyard, orchard and high value crop investments. And we will continue to invest in projects like the derelict vessel removal facility we did and cross-laminated timber manufacturing facilities in NE Washington.
4. What actions would you take to protect our islands from forest fires?
I’ve made our catastrophic wildfires and forest health crisis one of my top priorities. I immediately implemented strategies to protect our communities, pre-positioning equipment and utilizing air resources on initial attack. I then took action, bringing together state, federal, and local agencies to develop Washington’s first interagency 10 Year Wildfire Strategic Plan. And I went to bat for our firefighters, working to secure record-setting funding of $50 million to give our firefighters the resources they need to build a 21st century wildfire team, including more resources for the San Juan Islands. We’re also getting at the root of increasing wildfires. In 2017, we developed the Forest Health Plan for Eastern Washington where we’re making 1.25 million acres of forests more resilient. We’re now developing the Forest Action Plan for Western Washington with a focus on San Juan Islands and communities that are seeing increasing wildfires and increasing forest death.
5. What is your philosophy on the use of herbicides and pesticides on public lands?
We need to be careful about herbicides and pesticides on our lands to prevent harm to humans, fish and wildlife and our water quality. I have worked with the Department of Agriculture to set forth task force to address concerns around use of herbicides and pesticides on public and private lands. We are now working to deploy recommendations
from that task force to ensure the health of our public, our lands and waters, and our fish and wildlife.
6. What is your philosophy on managing timber sales from public lands?
DNR manages 3 million acres of trust lands to provide a continuous flow of revenue to our schools and counties — through revenue-producing activities such as: harvesting timber, biomass products; agricultural purposes, like orchards and vineyards, irrigated agriculture, dryland crops, and grazing; Leasing communications sites, mining and mineral leases, wind farms and energy production, commercial properties. In addition to earning income, activities on trust lands are managed to protect habitat for native plant and animal species, provide clean and abundant water, and offer public recreation opportunities. Everyone in Washington depends on wood products. The most sustainable thing we can do is grow our wood products here in Washington State and do it with sustainable practices, practices that are set out in our multi-species Habitat Conservation Plan. We need to be expanding our conservation lands and our working forest lands to avoid conversion to development and keep the Evergreen State evergreen.
7. What is your philosophy on managing recreation and tourism on public lands?
We’re blessed to have beautiful forests and trails, beaches and waterways. These areas provide rejuvenation and refuge from the chaos of daily life. I am increasing opportunities for people to connect with nature. If people of all ages can connect to nature, they will have commitment to protecting them. I’ve expanded recreation areas throughout the state on our 6 million acres of public lands. We’ve developed a regional recreation planning approach, connecting our urban areas to our mountains to our seas while providing a diversity of recreation opportunities from diving to biking to skiing. We’ve launched an effort to increase opportunities for all to get outside through our Trail Direct program. We’ve also partnered with USFS to increase recreation areas and connect our state and federal landscapes together for recreation users. I funded a study of our recreation economy to increase jobs and recreation and increased enforcement to reduce impacts.
Franklin Wallbrown, challenger
How long have you been a Democrat? _As long as I could vote.________
List the Democratic and pertinent organizations that you are a member of such as non-profits, and community groups. What have you done in these groups to show leadership and to accomplish positive change? PCO Mountlake Terrace 001, Washington State Progressive Caucus, Washington State Veterans’ Caucus, Washington State Young Democrats,
1. What actions to address climate change do you believe are most urgent? Getting corporate money out of politics and reducing the inequity of the people of this country. Until we get corporate money out of politics, our politicians will be beholden to them and not the people. Until we reduce inequities, we cannot have people truly participate in urgent climate action.
2. How would you address providing conservation of Washington’s public lands? Implement large scale hemp farming on legacy farmland to stop clearcutting. Listen to experts and my constituency for more ideas.
3. What would you do to encourage sustainable economic development that conserves our public lands and moves us to a transition away from fossil fuels? Hemp farming. End corn & fossil fuel subsidies.
4. What actions would you take to protect our islands from forest fires? Stop spraying Glyphosate (which kills and dries our flora). Smaller controlled burns (as our native people did). Diversify the flora of our forests. Heal our soil (to capture moisture).
5. What is your philosophy on the use of herbicides and pesticides on public lands? Don’t do it…
6. What is your philosophy on managing timber sales from public lands? Very small, surgical sales…
7. What is your philosophy on managing recreation and tourism on public lands? It should be open to everyone.
County Council, San Juan Island (Open Seat)
Ryan Palmeteer
How long have you been a Democrat? 5 Years
List the Democratic and pertinent organizations that you are a member of such as non-profits and community groups. What have you done in these groups to show leadership and to accomplish positive change?
San Juan County Democrats – Executive Secretary
San Juan Islands Electric Vehicle Association – Founder/President
Transition San Juan Island – Co-founder, steering committee member
Transition Lopez Island – steering committee member
Transition Orcas Island – Co-founder, steering committee member
Islands Public House – Board Vice President
Energy Roundtable – Chairman
Citizens Climate Lobby – Group Leader
San Juan Islands Stewardship Network – Member
San Juan Island Grange #966 – Member
Within all the organizations I belong, I have brought with me technical and communication skills that have allowed them to expand their abilities and outreach capabilities. From hosting virtual meetings at the San Juan County Democrats, to expanding San Juan County to the largest percentage of Electric Vehicle owners in the State of Washington, to forming community organizations at a grass roots level and expanding them to regional and international influence to achieve large goals.
1. County Councilor is in name a nonpartisan position. How will you explain why you chose to seek the endorsement of the San Juan County Democrats?
I plan to seek endorsement from both political parties in San Juan County. I feel that together as Islanders, we have more in common with each other at the local level, than the political divides at a State or Federal level. While there may be differences of opinion rooted in political affiliation, the shared goal of making our Islands a better place to live is not politically motivated. The paths we take in achieving these goals may diverge, however the end location is the same. It is my most sincere desire to unify and amplify the voices of all Islanders in a spirit of collaboration in making our home better for all.
2. What will you do about our affordable housing crisis?
The Affordable housing crisis in San Juan County is one of my top concerns. Which I believe is linked to the lack of regulation with vacation rental permitting and financial incentives regarding long-term rentals vs. short term rentals. Given the increasing number of homes now operating as a vacation rental property from off island interests, every home for sale on the open market currently has the potential to be taken out of the long-term rental market and turned into VR investment properties, forcing renters out. To protect affordable homes, I would 1) Retain and protect the real estate excise tax and 2) Introduce fair regulations for vacation rental permitting to reduce the rate of VR conversion.
3. How would you address the issue of growth versus sustainability?
I don’t believe that the two terms of growth and sustainability are necessarily at odds with each other. Economic and ecologically sustainable practices can be blended together to improve the environment and take care of the needs of the residents of San Juan County simultaneously. The wise use of a given resource is the key to achieving a balance between the two. Take for example our existing tourist based economic model; tourists come here to witness our beautiful ecology and, in the process, damage it. Without that ecology, we will cease to have tourism. What I propose, is that we mitigate damages to the environment by supporting renewable, clean and sustainable technologies that helps our islands to blend economic growth and ecological sustainability. With this practice, one day ‘growth’ will not simply be calculated with dollars, but with the level of integration within the environment.
4. What is your stance on vacation rentals? What will you do to address this problem?
I believe that we have been and will continue to feel the increased negative effects of a lack of simple and fair regulations governing the practice of vacation rental permitting. The very first step that is necessary to addressing this problem is to listen to the people who have been adversely affected by the current established practice. Establishing a diverse committee to come up with fair and balanced regulations. The second step is increased enforcement of vacation rental permitting compliance. We must establish fair rules and then make sure everyone is following them. Given that there is a larger percentage of owners of vacation rentals who do not reside within San Juan County, this issue disproportionately effects those who do.
5. How would you manage the tourism in San Juan County?
Tourism is the linchpin of the current economic planning within San Juan County. It affords us the ability to have the lowest property taxes in the State, as the county budget is heavily subsidized from the income generated from tourism. However, over-tourism threatens, both ecological tranquility and beauty of the islands as well as the ability for locals to live on island year-round. As county council, I would propose policies that require damage from over-tourism be mitigated by funds generated by tourism. This would require marketing to focus on eco-logical tourism, a list of island values that we ask tourists to follow and increased enforcement of all existing policies and laws governing tourism. I believe that if we utilize our tourism resource wisely, it can be a very sustainable and beneficial practice to help protect San Juan County well into the future.
6. Do you think that mental health services are sufficiently funded in our county? If not, how will you improve that situation?
No, I do not. If you look at the San Juan County website, it shows a link to Skagit County Crisis Center. In times of crisis, timing becomes critical. We must provide local services to our residents that can quickly respond in these events. This would require hiring of staff who are specifically trained to respond to these situations.
We do however have an excellent organization in Safe San Juans that assist those who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault. However, their primary funding source for prevention outreach is mainly made up from donations and volunteer fundraising efforts. We must do better! I would propose increased funding to both mental health services and domestic abuse services in the county.
It is my belief that the truest measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.
7. What will you do to help San Juan County address climate change, energy independence, sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, and the preservation of wild lands?
It is my greatest dream to help the islands achieve 100+% of its own power from renewable sources. Fully achieving Energy Independence. Anything over 100% could then be sold to the mainland as an added revenue stream for future county programs. I will look into new ways to transport Islanders in a low carbon model by incentivizing electric vehicles (gas powered vehicles making up the single largest co2 emitter in the State) I would also seek to require all new purchased vehicles for county use be emissions free where applicable.
Preservation of wild lands is critical to the continued success of San Juan County. We must protect our collective heritage for future generations by improving our management of preservation land. We need to investigate new zoning regulations to increase energy production in tandem with best land practices. This will also make preservation and agriculture lands more economically self-sustainable.
8. Do you see our county diversifying so that we are not so dependent on tourism? What other economic sectors would you encourage?
Absolutely. Not only is this the right thing to do, but also holds historical precedence. The San Juan islands were once the fruit basket of Washington State prior to the establishment of the dam systems along the Columbia and Snake rivers. I believe that sustainable agriculture will become a huge part of the San Juan Islands Economy. I also believe that the current ‘exploitative tourism’ model will slowly transform into an ecological tourism model. When people will come to our islands to see how we are able to achieve what we have achieved, not simply for the beautiful views. I also believe that we need to focus on repopulating our county with more year-round residents, who actively participate in making the Islands a better place to live sustainably. We desperately need young farmers to continue that legacy into the future.
9. What is your operational management experience? How will you manage the county?
I have managed various organizations keeping a close eye on the bottom line. Making sure that deliverables are met beyond expectation and under budget. I have 10+ years of managerial experience from various sectors. I would manage the county with that same level of accountability and responsible spending to achieve the goals set forth by the people of this county. However, I believe that we cannot use the natural environment as a subsidy for short term gains. All of my decisions will be based on the will of the people, taken into account with the state of our environment. My goal will be, determining the overall vision of county residents and then to tirelessly and faithfully meet or exceed those goals while maintaining fiscally responsible budgets. Every penny must be maximized to its most efficient use.
10. How will you improve public access to the Council?
I plan on holding weekly informal meetings in public locations to hear from residents across the county. I want to know the exact issues individuals are experiencing and their thoughts on how to improve them. I will also investigate on-line polling opportunities so that residents can easily and quickly express their thoughts to their elected officials. A system like this can improve the response from council to those who have elected them. This will also increase the accountability to the people as these polling results would be a public record that could be compared to how members of council have voted.
11. What are your other priorities as a potential Councilor?
As your representative on the San Juan County Council, I will work tirelessly to restore our local economy, helping to create jobs that get islanders back on their feet in the wake of the global pandemic. As part of that effort, I will work toward innovative solutions to the affordable housing crisis and a fair and balanced approach to vacation rental permitting. I believe these goals can, and must, be achieved in an ecologically sustainable manner that enhances the rural character of these islands.
I commit to providing fair and just governance that faithfully serves the public. I bring with me many years of experience in amplifying the voices of our residents, increasing trust in local government through direct accountability. I believe that together we can build the foundation for a bright future.
County Council, Orcas Island
Cindy Wolf, challenger
How long have you been a Democrat? ____Since 1992_____
List the Democratic and pertinent organizations that you are a member of such as non-profits and community groups. What have you done in these groups to show leadership and to accomplish positive change?
SJCDC Vice Chair & LD40 Democrats –
Co-organized county fair booth with Walt Cooter in 2017
Set up PCOs with maps and call lists in 2018
Organized reconciliation and vision building meeting facilitated by Diane Berreth
Suggested meeting protocols that enhanced opportunities for all present to speak
Served as a delegate to the WSDCC Platform Committee in 2018
Participated in phone banks
Used my PCO vote and party status to encourage women and people of color to run for leadership positions within the Party and different parts of government and to call out racist campaign tactics.
Washington State Federation of Democratic Women – at-large member
National Women’s Political Caucus – member
Orcas Women’s Coalition – Founding Member
Community-based Civics Teacher
Co-lead for Political Action and Civic Engagement team
Chief strategist for the campaign to pass 2017-07, Immigration status protection ordinance
Coordinated the organization of the annual International Women’s Day Celebration
Consulted with Environmental Action Team leaders on negotiations with OPALCO to rescind support for Snake River Dam retention.
1. County Councilor is in name a nonpartisan position. How will you explain why you chose to seek the endorsement of the San Juan County Democrats?
Within the island community I am known to be an active Democrat and a leader in the county organization. If I did not seek and, hopefully earn, the endorsement of the organization I am so deeply involved with people might wonder what was wrong. Also, I am proud of my work to promote D/democratic values. It is important to share this part of the picture of who I am as a leader so people know how I am likely to behave as a public servant.
2. What will you do about our affordable housing crisis?
There are some creative ideas bubbling up through the community. I intend to explore a few of them and advocate from within for the county to support the most effective and sustainable solutions. For example, one that I’d like to explore with the Land Bank and the various housing trusts is the possibility of them working together to allow one or more residential units for farm managers and workers when the Land Bank acquires land on which agricultural use will be allowed.
3. How would you address the issue of growth versus sustainability?
I want the county to look at everything it does through the lens of sustainability. We need to govern in a way that builds resilience into our economy and ecosystem. We should be working from a plan for the long term future that guides the spending of every tax dollar.
4. What is your stance on vacation rentals? What will you do to address this problem?
The problem, as I see it, is vacation rental owners who view the islands as an investment opportunity rather than as a year-round community. It makes sense to me to let people who live in the county offer vacation rentals at their address of residence. The San Juan Islands are also a traditional summer-house spot for a number of families, so private individuals should be allowed to rent out one vacation/second home for a limited number of weeks per year. I do think the proliferation of vacation rentals contributes to the shortage of year-round rental housing, driving up real estate prices and pushing working people out of the housing market. I think permits for vacation rentals should be issued only to individuals, expire when the property changes hands and be subject to the same fees, taxes and regulations that govern hotels and motels. They should also be subject to anti-nuisance regulations and penalties, including possible revocation of the permit.
5. How would you manage the tourism in San Juan County?
Like it or not, we live in a tourist-based economy. That said, tourism must exist in harmony with our rural way of life. We cannot offer our guests a positive island experience if there are too many of them at the same time. We don’t want to become Disneyland. We need to make balanced decisions about lodging, transportation and public access that will significantly reduce the environmental impact of tourism on the islands while still allowing people to enjoy time here. Also, I think an ADA accessibility survey of island recreational and business facilities is long overdue.
6. Do you think that mental health services are sufficiently funded in our county? If not, how will you improve that situation?
I think public health funding in general is given short shrift by our current county council. Mental health, in particular, is being addressed primarily by a number of non-profit organizations. In the short term, that infrastructure needs to be treated as an ancillary part of county government and funded appropriately in the county budget. In the long term, I think the approach of our county government to providing health and human services to vulnerable populations needs to be rethought, sustainably funded and treated as a serious obligation of good governance.
7. What will you do to help San Juan County address climate change, energy independence, sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, and the preservation of wild lands?
– Work with the Land Bank as I described in #4, above.
– Support efforts, some of which are underway through the “Transition” groups, to build local diversified, alternative energy infrastructure.
– Take long term environmental impact and climate change resilience into consideration on all county spending decisions. This needs to happen with a full understanding of carbon footprint calculations.
8. Do you see our county diversifying so that we are not so dependent on tourism? What other economic sectors would you encourage?
Tourism will always exist in the San Juans, and it should. This is a breathtakingly beautiful place. But it can’t be the sole basis of our economy. We do have a part of the service economy sector, including small trades, health care and construction, that does not count so heavily on tourists and new vacation homes. The cash to power this mostly comes from transfer payments to retirees living here for all or part of the year. Ideally, we need to encourage a greater percentage of young people to settle here to do this work. That means addressing affordable housing. It may also be that with online learning becoming a norm, educational institutions could be encouraged to keep small campuses on the islands where students could meet for intensive, hands-on learning experiences. Labs and think tanks for developing innovative, ecologically responsible technology for food production and transportation would also be well suited to the islands.
9. What is your operational management experience? How will you manage the county?
I managed a grocery store wine department with sales of over $3,000,000 per year. I was the Northwest District sales manager for a national wine import and distribution company with responsibility for budgeting, sales force education, marketing and generation of revenues in the tens of millions of dollars. I am now the Customer Service and Shipping Manager of a small company with worldwide wholesale and retail online operations.
There is a paid professional manager who actually “runs” the county. The council functions more like a very hands-on board of directors. My approach to county government will be to listen, gather good data, make good plans, facilitate stakeholder communication, build partnerships and make organizational and spending decisions that are environmentally sustainable.
10. How will you improve public access to the Council?
– Make teleconferencing a permanent part of meetings, especially public comment by teleconference.
– Possibly have a sign language interpreter available.
– Keep regular office hours on all the islands. Attend junior tax district and school district meetings.
– Attend as many “community conversation” style events as possible, just to listen.
11. What are your other priorities as a potential Councilor?
1) Public Health. The fact we did not have a proper refrigerator for vaccines during the measles outbreak was unacceptable. The duty to protect public health is literally deadly serious. Infrastructure and staffing need to be funded. Inspections of hospitality industry facilities, beaches and schools needs to happen. Nursing and sanitation expertise need to be available for nuisance outbreaks of communicable diseases like Norovirus, as well as for more serious outbreaks like whooping cough, measles and COVID. Domestic violence prevention, drug and alcohol recovery programs, and safe, nurturing foster care all have a bearing on the health of our communities.
2) Oversight of county staff to ensure fair and evenhanded hiring practices, permitting and enforcement.
