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Washington Commissioner of Public Lands
| Washington Commissioner of Public Lands | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| 2011-2013 FY Budget: | $259,406,000 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Washington State Constitution, Article 3, Section 2 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
 | |
| Name: | Peter Goldmark |
| Officeholder Party: | Democratic |
| Assumed office: | January 2009 |
| Compensation: | $121,618 |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 6, 2012 |
| Last election: | November 8, 2016 |
| Other Washington Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education• • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner• Natural Resources Commissioner• Labor Commissioner• Public Service Commissioner | |
Contents |
The Commissioner oversees the Department of Natural Resources, which is responsible for environmental protection in the state.
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Peter Goldmark (D). He has served in this position since 2009.
Authority
Article 3 of the state constitution establishes the state's executive offices.
Article III, Section 2:
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Executive Department. The executive department shall consist of a governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, and a commissioner of public lands, who shall be severally chosen by the qualified electors of the state at the same time and place of voting as for the members of the legislature. |
Qualifications
Article 3, Section 25 of the state constitution establishes the qualifications of the office:
| Qualifications, Compensation, Offices Which May Be Abolished. No person, except a citizen of the United States and a qualified elector of this state, shall be eligible to hold any state office... |
- a citizen of the United States
- a qualified elector in Washington
Elections
In Washington, the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, and commissioner of public lands are elected every four years. Elections are held in November and winners assume office the following January, serving until their successors are elected and qualified.
Washington elects their state executives in presidential years (2012, 2016, and 2020).
2012
Incumbent Peter Goldmark won re-election on November 6, 2012.
- 2012 General Election Results for Washington Commissioner of Public Lands
| Washington Commissioner of Public Lands General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Peter Goldmark Incumbent |
58.7% | 1,692,083 | |
| Republican | Clint Didier | 41.3% | 1,188,411 | |
| Total Votes | 2,880,494 | |||
| Election Results via Washington Secretary of State. | ||||
Duties
The Commissioner of Public Lands manages the Department of Natural Resources and serves as chair of the state Board of Natural Resources, which sets policy for state trust lands. Additionally the department manages aquatic lands, monitors cleanup and restoration efforts from mining operations, and is the largest fire department in the state.[1]
State budget
The budget for the Department of Natural Resources in Fiscal Year 2011-2013 was $259,406,000.[2]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
In 2012, the Washington Commissioner of Public Lands was paid an estimated $121,618 according to the Council of State Governments.
Article III, Section 23 of the state constitution initially set the annual salary of the commissioner at $2,000 but allowed for the state legislature to increase it.
Contact information
Washington Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 47000
1111 Washington Street SE
Olympia, WA 98504-7000
Phone: (360) 902-1000
See also
External links
References
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