Mike Cooper is one of the most successful environmental champions in the state legislature. He's led efforts to protect shorelines, to improve funding for hiking trails and open space, and to protect our state forests.

Mike has a unique ability to resolve complex conflicts in ways that move environmental protections forward. This year, as chair of the state House Ecology Committee, Mike brought together environmentalists, shipping companies, labor unions and the oil industry to create consensus legislation that will help prevent oil spills and the destruction they might cause to our fragile shorelines and the Puget Sound. These new protections would not be possible without Mike’s skill at forging compromise in terms favorable to the environment yet agreeable to all parties involved.

This ability will serve Mike well as Lands Commissioner where he’ll have to balance protections for our state forests with the need to raise revenue to help pay for school construction, among other things. One way Mike wants to do this is to win independent certification that logging on our state forests is sustainable. If we can win independent certification, it will mean we're managing state forests in a way that protects habitat and clean water. It will also open up new markets around the globe for our state timber products.