King County Elections - Mary Verner - Commissioner of Public Lands Candidacy Statement lyrics

Elected Experience: As Mayor of Spokane, established river clean-up and renewable energy business collaborative. Elected City Council and Precinct Committee Officer. Other Professional Experience: Enforcement officer for Virgin Islands Natural Resources. Leader of Native American Natural Resources organizations restoring salmon, managing forests for habitats and jobs. Executive of environmental restoration and renewable energy businesses. Education: Bachelor's Davidson College, Master's Yale Forestry & Environmental Studies, Juris Doctor Gonzaga University Community Service: Mary has devoted her life to public service and volunteering on boards and committees, community and church activities, emergency response and rescue, and teen outdoor learning. Statement: I ask for your vote to be Commissioner of Public Lands because I have the pa**ion, background and experience to protect Washington's forests, farms, ranches, aquatic lands and open spaces. As a hands-on natural resources leader, I've facilitated salmon restoration, enforced responsible clean-up by polluters, and grown forestry jobs in resource-dependent regions. As an emergency response official, I am actively working with local communities to improve the way we prevent and respond more effectively to wildfires. The Commissioner is responsible for millions of dollars of timber and lease income, public funds, and landowner fees. A hardworking taxpayer myself, I understand how important it is to be very careful with the public's trust. Our state faces major economic and environmental challenges, with sweeping implications of climate change. As a collaborative leader, I value input from employees and stakeholders to inform smart decisions based on science and facts. My previous experience leading large complex organizations demonstrated that I break down barriers to achieve good outcomes. I've reduced costs while maintaining jobs, and conserved resources while conserving revenue. I am a pragmatic and proven leader who will wisely manage public lands for all of us.