The climate crisis is on the ballot. While Initiative 2117 is a definite “no” (I appreciate the Climate Commitment Act state funding for solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations), climate policy is also at the core of the election for our commissioner of public lands.
Dave Upthegrove supports keeping the CCA, whereas Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler’s voting record on climate issues is troubling. While representing the 3rd Congressional District, she voted to weaken federal clean air standards and protections for streams and wetlands. She supported pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord. She does not seem to understand the critical role mature forests play in climate protection and salmon health. She does know how to parrot the timber industry’s talking points — on full display during a debate.
Upthegrove has a strong, realistic plan to protect rural school trust funds while placing a moratorium on logging our few remaining legacy and old-growth forests. Upthegrove doesn’t accept funds from pro-clearcutting timber industry. On Nov. 5, make your vote count for the climate and forests, vote Upthegrove. Be a #ClimateVoter. We won’t go back to JHB.
