Washington State Representative Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, with former Washington Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz at an event. After a chance meeting while Franz, a Democrat, was running for land commissioner, the two found common ground in their goal of improving Washington’s response to wildfires. Since then, they feel their partnership is an example of why bipartisan efforts are vital to meet the needs of the state’s residents.
July 12, 2025
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Dent, Franz say bipartisan support led to progress in WA wildfire response
MOSES LAKE – Getting anything done in politics takes solid relationships and the ability to reach across political divides, regardless of how partisan the overall conversation is. Former Washington Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz, a Democrat, and local State Representative Tom Dent, a Republican, and their successes in advancing wildfire management are a prime example of that, they say. “Everything, from what I learned and how quickly we were able to make the changes and get results, is based on relationships,” Franz said in a late June interview. “It’s based on valuing other people’s opinions and their experience and their expertise.”