Commissioner of Public Lands

"*" = incumbent

Name: Jennifer Belcher *

Party: Democrat

Campaign phone: 360-709-9478

E-mail: repeterson@aol.com

World Wide Web URL: http://www.aa.net/~donlogs/jenbel

Birthdate: 1-4-44

Occupation: Commissioner of Public Lands

Education: attended Bethany College; The Kennedy School, Harvard University

Political history: Commissioner of Public Lands, 1993-present; state House, 1982-1992

Family: none

Endorsements:
Washington State Labor Council, Washington Conservation Voters, Washington Education Association, Washington State Women's Political Caucus

Why are you running for this office?
The state's natural resources generate more than $800 million a year in salaries and wages, to support public schools and provide recreation. I've worked to assure their continued health and productivity, the most important endowment for future generations.

What will be your top three priorities if elected?
1. protect commercial timber and agriculture lands
2. secure a more stable timber sales program for the trusts
3. clean up hazardous waste on aquatic lands, require available tidelands

Name: Bruce Mackey

Party: Republican

Campaign phone: 360-352-5333

E-mail: landcom@ix.netcom.com

Birthdate: 12-5-44

Occupation: resource economist, former senior manager, state Department of Natural Resources

Education: B.A., English literature, Lewis and Clark College; M.A. and Ph.D., agricultural and resource economics, Washington State University

Family: spouse: Chris; children: Jason, Rachel, Jessica

Endorsements: U.S. Rep. Jennifer Dunn, R-Bellevue

Why are you running for this office?
This is a job for a professional land manager, not a politician. It cannot be learned in the back rooms of the Legislature. The commissioner manages state lands and resources worth more than $11 billion and must balance the need to conserve with your expectation to enjoy our natural wonders.

What will be your top three priorities if elected?
1. protect fish, wildlife and provide significant increases in school income
2. base land management on science, not political expediency
3. eliminate wasteful spending on fruitless planning and endless processes

Name: Marc Strauch

Party: National Labor Party

Campaign phone: 206-771-6640

E-mail: marcs@ccom.net

World Wide Web URL: http://www.ccom.net/~marcs
Birth date: 9-7-54
Occupation: marketing, communications advisor

Education: B.A, B.S., M.A., City University, New York

Political history: none

Family: spouse: Vivianne

Why are you running for this office?
To look at the post from a different perspective, not just of public lands but land use throughout the state, both public and private. We need to look at land in the context of growth management, especially in the Puget Sound area.

What will be your top three priorities if elected?
1. comprehensive, sustainable land use
2. growth management
3. re-examine timber sales revenues from the point of sustainable, wise uses