OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington Commissioner of Public Lands is not the most visible position in state government, but it is among the most powerful. A pool of six candidates are vying to replace current Commissioner Hilary Franz.
As the leader of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Commissioner of Public Lands oversees 5.6 million acres of the Evergreen state. Franz is running for US House after leading the department for seven years.
Patrick DePoe (D), the only Indigenous person in the race, is the current Director of Tribal Relations for DNR and a previous Makah Tribal Council member. He is Franz’s endorsed candidate to assume her office.
Fellow DNR employee Allen Lebovitz (D) is currently the Wildland Fire and Forest Health Liaison for the department. According to his campaign website, he is also a wildland firefighter.
Former US Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler’s (R) campaign website emphasizes forest management as a method of reducing wildfires.
Two current policymakers, one county-level and the other state-level, are also running.
King County Council Chair Dave Upthegrove (D), was previously a state representative and member of the WA House Environment Committee. His current term as council chair will expire in 2026.
State Senator Kevin Van De Wege (D) is a firefighter and Chair of the WA Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources and Parks Committee.
Sue Kuehl Pederson (R), a former power analyst at Seattle City Light and WA Department of Fish and Wildlife employee, is rerunning for the role.
The Public Lands Commissioner is an executive office enshrined in the state constitution along with seven other leadership positions.
