Prepare for the primary

With the primary election less than four weeks away, we want to remind you about an important position on the ballot: the state Commissioner of Public Lands.

The paper's editorial board does not make it a practice to endorse candidates running in political races.

But we encourage you to learn more about this position and what you want to see in a candidate.

One of the three candidates, Clint Didier, of Connell, visited Moses Lake this week to speak to the Grant County Republican Women's group.

Another candidate is Stephen A. Sharon, of Seattle, and of course, incumbent Peter Goldmark, of Okanogan.

The top two vote-getters advance to the general election in November.

The position is an important one.

The state Commissioner of Public Lands chairs the state Board of Natural Resources that sets policy for state trust lands, manages the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and administers a $625 million budget, according to agency's website.

About 3 million acres of publicly owned forests, agricultural and grazing lands and commercial properties are part of the state trust lands.

Through public land auctions, money is raised to build public schools, colleges and universities, just to name a few.

For fiscal year 2007, DNR-managed lands brought in more than $209 million for public construction projects. For the most part, trust fund beneficiaries receive 70 percent of the revenue from the state lands.  

On Aug. 14, the state opens all sealed bids as part of an auction for nearly 3,400 acres of trust land called the Sandpiper Tree Farm in Benton County, according to an Associated Press article.

The land is DNR's largest piece of irrigated land, which the selected bidder can farm and pay rent on a lease that goes through 2036.

Some Moses Lake waterfront property owners were introduced to the DNR four years ago, when it was headed by past state Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Sutherland.

It's when the agency tried to implement a usage fee for those with a jet ski lift.

Residents learned about the fee when discovering a paper tag on their docks informing them of this new payment.

But residents responded, the issue became public and the fee was not implemented.

We think it's vital voters educate themselves about the public offices that can affect their lives and incomes, especially during times of government cutbacks when agencies are working with tighter budgets than. Many voters are also working with fewer dollars in the wake of the recession.

Learn more about the elected position of state Commissioner of Public Lands and all three candidates for this public office.  

It's worth your time to do so. Ballots will appear in the mail in the upcoming weeks.

But before you cast your vote, visit the Secretary of State's website at www.sos.wa.gov/elections/ to read an online voter's guide.

-  Editorial Board