ELECTION 2024: Public Lands Commissioner recount finalized

Final results are in for the one loose end from the August primary – the by-hand recount required for state Commissioner of Public Lands race, because the original count had the second- and third-place candidates only 51 votes apart. Final recount results, certified today, didn’t change the top two – the November 5 election will be between Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler, a former U.S. House Rep. from southwestern Washington, and Democrat Dave Upthegrove, a King County Councilmember from Des Moines. The recount changed the margin between Upthegrove and Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson by only two votes, so they finished 49 votes apart. The Commissioner of Public Lands position is open because two-term incumbent Hilary Franz decided to run for Congress in District 6; she finished that primary in third place. General-election ballots will start arriving in mailboxes around October 18, a little over six weeks away.

Derek September 4, 2024 (5:03 pm)

Democrats snoozing on this campaign nearly cost them. Let’s get Upthegrove elected now so we don’t destroy an exponential amount of trees for four years.

Susan September 4, 2024 (7:19 pm)

There were 5 Democrats running for this office and only 2 Republicans. So snoozing probably wasn’t the issue here.
The King September 4, 2024 (7:20 pm)

Your comment is confusing. The state produces 2,700,000,000 board feet annually from the tree harvest. It’s an industry that’s been around for over a century now.
- K September 4, 2024 (8:50 pm)
  
  She seems to just be pointing out that Democrats split the vote. Not sure what that has to do with board feet of lumber.
  - Neighbor September 4, 2024 (10:41 pm)
    
    K, I believe The King is replying to the second sentence in Derek’s comment. Although I’m not sure what an “exponential” amount of trees is.
- Grapevine September 5, 2024 (9:24 am)
  
  Derek is probably referring to the fact that the Department of Natural Resources has been in the practice of essentially clear cutting their forest holdings and particularly their biodiverse mature forests that aren’t yet monoculture tree farms, in spite of their older forest targets they’re supposed to be working towards. (All of this is <12% of the total state wide timber harvests btw, which is mostly supported by private forestland as it is).Looking forward to Upthegrove who plans to actually balance the need for timber and revenue with other important values and ecosystem services rather than the current status quo which mostly benefits corporate interests.
Derp September 4, 2024 (9:42 pm)

Ya, too bad the republicans can’t find candidates

Lauren September 4, 2024 (6:50 pm)

Literally every vote counts

anonyme September 5, 2024 (5:19 am)

Upthegrove gives me hope that a politician will actually take a stand on the environment and climate, unlike Biden/Harris, who say one thing and do another.

platypus September 5, 2024 (12:35 pm)

The IRA is literally the biggest climate focused legislation in history. Harris will lead with more.

Marcus September 5, 2024 (8:51 am)

This is a difficult one as the destructive nature of wildfires changes the entire dialogue of forest protection. Fire breaks are necessary to contain wild fire outbreaks. That means sending equipment into the wilderness to cut paths, harvest the trees in the path and back burn to reduce the fuel. Yet if we do not do this then a dry hot summer with increased winds will just devastate our forests as we have seen. This is my solution, I really hate that solution because it is contrary to the idea of a wilderness. I encourage others to debate and offer their own ideas so I can understand other wild fire management solutions.