Global Courant 2023-05-11 17:31:39
Hilary Franz, Washington’s public lands commissioner, announced her campaign for governor on Wednesday.
“Washington is facing pressing problems — from a rapidly changing climate to a statewide housing crisis, and massive income inequality that is driving middle-class families out,” Franz, a Democrat, said in a statement. “I am running for governor to make bold progress to solve these problems, and to do so quickly.”
Franz has spent the past seven years leading the department responsible for millions of acres of public land in Washington. In a campaign video posted to YouTube Wednesday, she touted her success in 2021 in securing $500 million from the Washington state legislature to prevent and fight wildfires.
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Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz launched a campaign for governor on May 10, 2023.
Franz, 52, served on the Bainbridge Island City Council, Puget Sound Transportation Futures Task Force and other panels before becoming a commissioner. She was also the executive director of Futurewise, an environmental advocacy group.
“Growing up, my dad taught me that epic progress comes when you do two things: you work together and you take care of people first,” Franz said in a fundraising email sent out Wednesday. “I’m running for governor because with all that’s at stake right now, anything shy of epic won’t cut it.”
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Franz said she would like to develop a comprehensive climate action plan, address rising housing and rental costs, expand high-paying jobs and reduce costs for working families.
Gov. Jay Inslee announced on May 1 that he would not seek a fourth term. At 72, the Democrat is the longest-serving governor in the US and only the second Washington governor to be elected to three consecutive terms.
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson launched an exploratory campaign for governor a day after Inslee announced he would no longer run.
