Targets the most anti-environment state-level candidates in the country
Vancouver, WA October 9th 2017 — As a key part of its electoral work this year, Washington Conservation Voters announced today that Kris Greene, candidate for the Port of Vancouver Commission, is being named to the “2017/2018 Dirty Dozen in the States.” Modeled after the League of Conservation Voters’ trademark federal “Dirty Dozen,” the state version highlights twelve of the most anti-environment state-level candidates who state LCVs are working to defeat around the country.
“To put it simply, Tesoro is trying to buy this election in order to build their oil terminal,” said Shannon Murphy, President Washington Conservation Voters. “Kris Green is running a bought and paid for campaign and we’re working to make sure Vancouver voters know he’s willing to put an out of state oil company’s profits over the community’s health and safety.”
As a member of the Dirty Dozen in the States, Greene is among the most dangerous candidates in the country. Reasons Kris Greene has earned this dubious distinction:
- Accepting $230,000 in direct donations from Big Oil (86% of his total donations)
- His support for the largest oil-by-rail terminal in North America coming to Vancouver, which would incentivize oil and gas drilling nationwide and threaten the health and safety of Vancouver residents and dozens of rail-line communities across the state
- The extreme conflict of interest that his largest campaign contributor is the company he would be tasked to oversee if elected Port Commissioner
- Refuses to hold the Port Commission accountable for secret backroom meetings that the State Supreme Court suggests were in violation of public meetings law
Last year, WCV placed Steve McLaughlin, candidate for Washington’s Public Lands Commissioner on the Dirty Dozen in the States list for his ties to the anti-public lands movement and donations from industries he’d be tasked with regulating. He lost to WCV endorsed candidate and current Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz.
Twenty-nine state Conservation Voter partners are working to determine this election cycle’s “Dirty Dozen in the States.” The candidates named are some of the most anti-environment politicians running in competitive state-level races for governor, state senate and house or municipal seats this cycle.
The “Dirty Dozen in the States” is modeled after LCV’s “Dirty Dozen,” which has targeted candidates for federal office (with occasional exceptions)— regardless of party affiliation — who consistently side against the environment, and are running in races in which LCV has a serious chance to affect the outcome. LCV has named candidates to the Dirty Dozen for more than twenty years. Last cycle, state LCVs defeated nine of the twelve “Dirty Dozen in the States” candidates.
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Washington Conservation Voters is the statewide political voice for the environment. We work to elect environmentally-responsible 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 strengthen laws that safeguard the health of our communities, preserve the beauty of our state, and protect our economic future. To learn more, visit wcvoters.org.
Press Contact:
Nick Abraham
Communications & Accountability Manager, Washington Conservation Voters
nick@wcvoters.org
425-761-9368