(The central square) – In a race that is still too exciting to predict a second-place winner, Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler has secured her top spot as Washington state’s next public lands commissioner.
As of Tuesday, the former member of Congress has had almost 22 percent of the vote.
While shortly after the August 6 primary it looked as if Republican Suehl Pederson would secure second place and shut Democrats out of the general election entirely, ballots added in recent days have given King County Council Chairman Dave Upthegrove (D) a lead over Pederson.
Upthegrove leads Kuehl Pederson by over 5,700 votes, but there are several precincts where thousands of votes still need to be counted.
There are still 9,500 ballots left to be added in Walla Walla County. There are still 5,800 ballots left to be added in Thurston County.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a done deal,” Herrera Beutler told The Center Square. She said she was confident she would ultimately receive the most votes, but said it could be a day or two before we know for sure who her challenger will be.
“It looks like I can at least breathe a little easier,” said Herrera Beutler.
The candidate said her message would not change until the general election.
“We must manage our public lands responsibly. We must protect habitats and preserve ecosystems, and we must make preventing catastrophic wildfires a top priority,” she said.
“I am tired of burning forests and choking smoke. This is the result of irresponsible management of our forests,” said Herrera Beutler.
Assuming Upthegrove is her opponent, Herrera Beutler said, the contrast between their approaches to the office paints a stark picture.
“I heard him say on the first day that he wanted to open up a large amount of land for destruction and now is not the time to do it,” she said. “Now is not the time to do it because the lands are burning and we need to make sure they are healthy and thriving.”
The Public Lands Commissioner oversees the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, which is responsible for nearly 6 million acres of public lands.
As The Center Square previously reported, current Commissioner Hilary Franz is stepping down after seven years in office to run for Congress.
At a candidate forum in July, Upthegrove said the “world is changing” and Washingtonians are feeling the effects of climate change.
“I am running for land commissioner to improve the management of our public lands to reflect today’s realities,” he said. “My vision includes incorporating environmental justice and tribal sovereignty into all of our work.”
The Center Square reached out to Upthegrove for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
Herrera Beutler says some of the allegations against her plans for office are untrue.
“I will not inappropriately abuse the protection of the old stock and I will not offer the whole land for commercial sale,” she said.
Herrera Beutler said her goal is to lead the agency, trust DNR staff and not allow outside interests to take control.
“Over the last decade or more, there has been increasing pressure from extreme interest groups in Seattle and Olympia that have pushed this entire agency out of the realm of scientific management and into the realm of emotions,” she said.
The vote count is set to continue. August 23 is the deadline by which the Secretary of State must certify the results of the primary election.
