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<h2>Patrick is uniquely qualified to lead this next chapter of bringing our forests back to health, boosting jobs in rural Washington, and reducing the threat of wildfires.</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/8427fb1c-6680-420d-b9a8-c14f6714d0a3/c6628075-7e13-40ef-bfcf-f6c41af1f7c4/c6628075-7e13-40ef-bfcf-f6c41af1f7c4.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C6000%2C4000&amp;w=1500" alt="" title="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="45" variant="base">Building a Climate Coalition: Patrick will drive consensus to ensure the most basic and proven strategies are implemented quickly and that we do everything in our power to combat climate change.Creating New Opportunities: In communities like Patrick’s, people who depend on jobs in logging, trucking and fishing have been told to find a new path. Patrick understands the balance of not only caring for the land, but how to properly manage resources to create a stronger, more sustainable economy. As someone who’s made their living off the land and water, Patrick will work to maintain and develop new opportunities in rural communities.Fighting, Preventing, and Preparing for Wildfires:&nbsp;As wildfires are more frequent, and increasingly more dangerous, the emergency responders on the front lines fighting these fires deserve all the support we can provide. DNR improves forest health, reduces wildfire risks, and supports local fire districts, and Patrick will do everything in his power to prevent a wildfire from spreading and becoming&nbsp; deadly. He will ensure our first responders have the most up-to-date equipment and investigate/research to determine whether forming a task force, similar to CAL FIRE, makes sense for Washington to better manage resource allocation and fire prevention strategies to adapt to our ever changing environment. Patrick is the only candidate who can hit the ground running: he’s endorsed by firefighters IAFF Local 31, has worked in emergency response, fighting wildfires and he understands the intersection between creating good-paying union jobs in rural communities and achieving climate sustainability goals. Planting More Trees: Trees are our most important renewable resource and an essential asset in fighting climate change. By increasing coverage of tree canopies in urban and suburban communities, we help lower temperatures, saving families money on cooling costs and lowering the energy production needed to deal with our new climate reality. Planting trees in places where there haven’t been any in the past (aforestation) leads to more trees, capturing more carbon. It also provides vital revenue to the DNR to deal with the effects of wildfires and other climate impacts. Patrick would work with the Legislature to empower DNR to enhance sequestration revenue streams.&nbsp;Increasing Diversity: From the Weneha-Tucannon Wilderness to the shores of Neah Bay, to Colville National Forest to Cape Disappointment, the diversity of our land sustains our economy and provides recreational opportunities. But we need to do more to understand and work with communities and constituencies who are too often ignored. Patrick will help ensure those impacted the most by environmental injustices have a seat at the table.

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<h2>The Seattle Times editorial board recommends: Patrick DePoe for public lands commissioner</h2>"He’s capable of forging tough conversations between industry interests and conservationists; in urban communities and those more remote like his Olympic Peninsula home; and between the state’s distinctive tribal nations, federal agencies and members of Congress."

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<h3>Likely Democratic and Independent voters on the go need to see and read:</h3>Patrick DePoe is the most qualified to be commissioner of public lands. It’s why the Seattle Times endorsed him, calling him the “best candidate to tackle” the “urgent and complex environmental challenges” facing our state. Patrick currently works at our state's Department of Natural Resources, is a commercial fisherman, a land manager, and a tribal leader. He’s worked in emergency response, cleaning up oil spills, fighting wildfires, and leading preventative work to improve our lands and waters. He’s seen firsthand how public policy impacts our environment and our livelihoods. That’s why Hilary Franz–the outgoing Commissioner of Public Lands–has endorsed Patrick for the job.&nbsp;Democrat Patrick DePoe understands the importance of caring for and living off the land: for him, sustainability is a way of life. Patrick is Native American, grew up on the Makah Reservation in Neah Bay, and would not only be the first Native American elected statewide in the Pacific Northwest, but one of the first in American history. We have a lot to learn from rural communities like his who depend on natural resources for survival. It’s why Patrick will have a balanced approach to forest management and will make sure stakeholders from rural and underrepresented communities have a seat at the table. As commissioner, he’ll protect all that is great about our state, its lands and the people they sustain.&nbsp;Patrick DePoe is the leader we need now to tackle the climate crisis and fight wildfires. As temperatures warm and wildfires rage, we don’t have time for on-the-job training. As commissioner, Patrick will scale programs that are working, while also identifying opportunities to innovate:, finding ways to plant new trees and capture carbon on burned lands. Patrick is the only candidate who can hit the ground running: he’s worked in emergency response, fighting wildfires and he understands the intersection between creating good-paying union jobs in rural communities and achieving climate sustainability goals.&nbsp;CONTRAST OPTION ONE:&nbsp;Sadly, Patrick’s opponent Dave Upthegrove supports a reckless proposal to cut $200 million in local school funding generated by our public lands.&nbsp; Patrick will protect that funding and has earned the endorsement of Washington’s Education Association representing teachers. As schools across the state face major funding shortfalls, this would be devastating to already shrinking school budgets across the state and lay waste to rural schools in particular.CONTRAST OPTION TWO:&nbsp;Dave Upthegrove is a career politician from Seattle who’s been running for office for more than two decades. He has no on-the-ground experience to qualify him to manage our state’s public lands. Patrick’s diverse experiences: working at our state's Department of Natural Resources, as a commercial fisherman, a land manager, and a tribal leader–mean he’ll be ready to lead this office on day one.

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"He’s capable of forging tough conversations between industry interests and conservationists; in urban communities and those more remote like his Olympic Peninsula home; and between the state’s distinctive tribal nations, federal agencies and members of Congress." <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/the-seattle-times-editorial-board-recommends-patrick-depoe-for-public-lands-commissioner/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary)">READ THE FULL ENDORSEMENT HERE</a>

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<h3>Meet Patrick DePoe</h3>Grounded in his upbringing on the Makah reservation in Neah Bay, Patrick DePoe is committed to investing in local communities while ensuring responsible management of the lands that support them.

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Campaign Inquiries: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:info@depoeforwashington.com">info@depoeforwashington.com</a>Mailing Address: DePoe for Washington 401 2nd Ave S #303 Seattle, WA 98104 ☎ (206) 801-0250

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Patrick currently serves on the executive team at the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. He’s worked as a commercial fisherman, a land manager, and spent six years as an elected member of the Makah Tribal Council, where he led Tribal coordination with state and federal agencies on climate resilience and habitat restoration. Patrick earned his degree from the University of Washington, where he began nearly two decades of working and volunteering in emergency response: skippering a 110-foot boat to clean up oil spills, and leading preventative work to make our forests more resilient to wildfires and the effects of climate change.&nbsp;In his role on Makah Tribal Council, most recently as Vice Chairman, Patrick co-chaired the Natural Resources Subcommittee of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal-Interior Budget Council, represented the Makah Tribe on the Pacific Fishery Management Council, served as Treasurer for the Northwest Indian Fish Commission, served on the Low-carbon Energy Siting Study Advisory Board, co-chaired Washington State’s Environmental Justice Council, and chaired the Natural Resources Subcommittee or the National Congress of American Indians.<h3>If elected, Patrick would be the first Native American elected to statewide office in Washington, the Pacific Northwest and one of the first in American history.</h3>

Patrick would be first Native to be elected statewide in the PNW.

"I’m Patrick DePoe. I’m running to be the Commissioner of Public Lands to protect all that is great about our state, its lands and the people they sustain. I’ve seen first-hand how public policy impacts our environment and our livelihoods. As Washington moves towards a better future, we need to bring new energy and creativity into using, and sustaining, what nature provides us."

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"Patrick’s Tribal community depends on natural resources for their culture and their livelihoods which shapes his approach to conservation, natural resources and rural economic development. His life experience, deep knowledge of land management and thoughtful leadership make him uniquely qualified to lead this department.I'm proud to endorse Patrick because he's the most qualified person and will make an outstanding Commissioner of Public Lands."

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Makah Tribal member Patrick Finedays DePoe has announced that he is running as a Democrat for Washington state’s Commissioner of Public Lands.If elected, DePoe would become the first Native American to hold a statewide position in the Pacific Northwest.

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Makah Tribal member Patrick DePoe announces bid for WA public lands commissioner

<a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.depoeforwashington.com/">...DePoe</a>, meanwhile, would be the first Native American lands commissioner. The state’s tribes have a deep interest in the state’s lands because of their treaty rights to fish, hunt, and gather on waters and lands managed by the Department of Natural Resources.

A crowd in the Lands Commissioner race

...Meanwhile, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.depoeforwashington.com/">Patrick DePoe</a>, a member of the Makah Tribe and director of tribal relations for the Department of Natural Resources, kicked off his campaign last week. The Neah Bay Democrat enters with the endorsement of Hilary Franz, the current commissioner and his boss, who is running for governor.“I’ve spent my life living off the land. I’ve spent my life caring for the land. This is where my heart is at,” DePoe said. “I’m the only candidate that doesn’t need on-the-job training.”

More Democrats lining up to be Washington’s next public lands commissioner

DePoe would be first Native American elected to statewide office in the Pacific NorthwestTO SCHEDULE INTERVIEWS, PLEASE CONTACT: DelanaJones, (206) <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:801-0250￼info@depoeforwashington.com">801-0250 info@depoeforwashington.com</a> Neah Bay, WA, September 13, 2023 – Last week, Patrick Finedays DePoe, a Democrat and proud member of the Makah Tribe, announced that he’s running to serve as Washington State’s next Commissioner of Public Lands. Today, he released the following statement as State Senator Rebecca Saldaña enters the race. “In rural communities like mine, we simply have a different relationship with natural resources, and that shapes our perspective. In Neah Bay, on the Makah reservation, sustainability is more than a slogan, it’s a way of life–and it’s informed my work as a commercial fisherman and tribal leader, in land management, emergency response, and now at the Department of Natural Resources.” Patrick's past and current work has earned him the endorsement of Hilary Franz, the current Commissioner of Public Lands as well as Tribes across the state including Hoh, Nisqually, Suquamish, and Tulalip. Hilary believes Patrick is the best person to succeed her, stating:“Patrick’s Tribal community depends on natural resources for their culture and their livelihoods which shapes his approach to conservation, natural resources, and rural economic development. His life experience, deep knowledge of land management, and thoughtful leadership make him uniquely qualified to lead this department. I'm proud to endorse Patrick because he's the most qualified person and will make an outstanding Commissioner of Public Lands, and I’m excited about the historic nature of his candidacy, as he would be the first ever Native American elected statewide in the Pacific Northwest.” <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTHXpIaQSDQ&amp;&amp;emci=84225330-5e52-ee11-9937-00224832e811&amp;emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&amp;ceid=">Patrick’s announcement video </a>outlines how his roots are interwoven with Washington's diverse landscapes and the honored tradition of environmental stewardship. Learn more about his plans to restore our forests, boost jobs in rural communities, and reduce the threat of wildfires at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://atwww.DePoeforWashington.com">www.DePoeforWashington.com</a>.

Neah Bay, WA, September 13, 2023 – Last week, Patrick Finedays DePoe, a Democrat and proud member of the Makah Tribe, announced that he’s running to serve as Washington State’s next Commissioner of Public Lands. Today, he released the following statement as State Senator Rebecca Saldaña enters the race.

Patrick DePoe ready to put experience and vision to work as WA Commissioner of Public Lands

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