Just before leaving the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, I sent a request to Peter Goldmark for an interview. I never received any response to this request but this morning came across a Q&A with Goldmark. Answers like this might explain why he wouldn’t want to be interviewed:
Q. One last question: How do you describe all the things your agency does?
A. We’re the state’s largest land manager and regulator of timber harvest practices - those are our major duties – land and water manager. Well, we manage land and aquatic resources. We don’t really manage water, because water volume and quality is managed by another agency. It’s an enormous responsibility.
Yes, water management is an enormous responsibility. So is being forthcoming and honest during an interview.
Q. When I talked to Department of Agriculture head Dan Newhouse recently, he said that department is on the verge of cutting entire programs. Is the Department of Natural Resources in a similar place?
A. Not quite, no, because we’re very committed to the lands that we have the responsibility to manage.
Carol Serdar and Gabriel Legorreta Paulin would feel differently about the Landslide Hazard Zonation program.
Mr. Goldmark, this is a public invitation for interview. It’s an opportunity to set the record straight about anything I have failed to document accurately. It’s an opportunity for you to explain the walls you wanted to put up, letter you sent to Governor Gregoire about the King Air, job cuts, transparency, open government, and harassment of employees trying to save the state money. The interview can be conducted via email so you have every opportunity to review and frame your responses carefully.
Peggy Murphy has my contact information or you can click the Call Me link at the top of the page.
