Washington Conservation Voters Endorses Environmental Leaders

Seattle, WA – Washington Conservation Voters has announced numerous legislative endorsements today including those for Senators Craig Pridemore (D-49) and Phil Rockefeller (D-23) as well as Representatives Tom Campbell (R-2), Mary Lou Dickerson (D-36), Hans Dunshee (D-44), John McCoy (D-38), Eric Pettigrew (D-37) and Skip Priest (R-30).

“Over the past two years, our elected officials in Olympia have done right by the environment,” said Kurt Fritts, Executive Director of Washington Conservation Voters. “Our state has been blessed with strong environmental leadership from key individuals, including these champions. We’re happy to support their bids for re-election and look forward to working with them to continue the effort to leave a strong environmental legacy for our children.”

Each of these legislators has established a strong record of standing up for environmental community Priorities and ensuring that our laws safeguard the health of our communities, the beauty of our state and our economic future.

Senator Craig Pridemore (D-49)
Senator Craig Pridemore is a passionate leader for environmental causes, particularly with respect to global warming. In 2007, he fought to establish ambitious goals for reductions in global warming pollution, and then followed that up in 2008 as the prime sponsor of the Climate Action & Green Jobs legislation that began the process to make those goals a reality. Pridemore was named Washington Conservation Voters’ 2006 Legislator of the Year.

Senator Phil Rockefeller (D-23)
Senator Phil Rockefeller is an unwavering advocate for the environment, particularly on the issue of protecting Puget Sound. He has been a force in the Legislature on creating the Puget Sound Partnership in order to restore the health of the sound and preserve it for future generations. Rockefeller was named Washington Conservation Voters’ 2007 Legislator of the Year.

Representative Tom Campbell (R-2)
As a Republican representing the rural 2nd LD, Representative Campbell is breaking new ground in Olympia by demonstrating his strong commitment to environmental protection. He is positioned to have a big impact on environmental policy as Chair of the Select Committee on Environmental Health, and Campbell has consistently used that role in order to help eliminate toxics from our environment.

Representative Mary Lou Dickerson (D-36)
Representative Dickerson has shown tremendous leadership on environmental issues related to children, including a toxic flame retardant ban in 2007 and the toxic toys legislation in 2008, a bill that she prime sponsored. She is also a strong advocate for climate change policy and other important environmental issues.

Representative Hans Dunshee (D-44)
For nearly a decade, Representative Dunshee has consistently been one of the strongest proponents for the environment in Olympia. He was been a leader on the fight against global warming, serving as the prime sponsor of the Climate Action & Green Jobs legislation in 2008. As Capital Budget chair in the House Appropriations Committee, he worked to secure $100 million for Parks & Recreation, a 2007 environmental community Priority.  Dunshee was named Washington Conservation Votesr’ Legislator of the Year in 2003.

Representative John McCoy (D-38)
Representative McCoy has been a leader on environmental issues throughout his tenure in the state Legislature. He has been a consistent vote for the environment, but has also gone well beyond that as a strong advocate behind the scenes in committee. In 2008, he became the Chair of the newly-created Technology, Energy & Communications committee, a real step forward for the environment.

Representative Eric Pettigrew (D-37)
Representative Pettigrew has always been a supporter of environmental protection, but the 2008 legislative session was the first time when he was afforded the opportunity to take a real leadership role on one of the community’s Priorities, serving as the prime sponsor of the Local Farms-Healthy Kids legislation. He was steadfast in his effort to ensure the passage of this Priority, so Washington Conservation Voters is happy to endorse his candidacy.

Representative Skip Priest (R-30)
Representative Priest has consistently been a strong voice for the environment in the Legislature. He is now considered the most influential Republican voice in Olympia on environmental issues, a role that he plays well and one which Washington Conservation Voters is proud to endorse.


Information on other endorsements can be found online at www.wcvoters.org/endorsements.

Washington Conservation Voters is the statewide political voice for the environment. We work to elect strong environmental candidates to state and local offices. Working with our allies in the community, we advocate for strong environmental policies and hold our elected officials accountable both during and after the legislative session. Through our political work, we are strengthening laws that safeguard the health of our communities, the beauty of our state and our economic future. Find out more at www.wcvoters.org

Washington Conservation Voters provides “early endorsement” of previously-endorsed candidates who have continued to demonstrate strong environmental leadership.