Dean Takko (Raymond event)
State Representative
State Representative
Born in Ilwaco, Dean is a lifelong Washingtonian and a graduate of Wahkiakum High School, Lower Columbia College, and Western Washington University. He is a former county assessor for both Wahkiakum and Cowlitz counties, and has lived in the community of Longview since 1978. First appointed to the legislature in 2004, Dean’s legislative priorities include:
· Strengthening and diversifying the economies of rural communities
· Supporting our timber, agriculture, and fishing industries by bringing common-sense to environmental regulations
· Protecting local governments from unfunded state mandates
· Creating a state budget that is sustainable, invests in our future, and protects the most vulnerable in our communities
· Promoting accountability and transparency in government
As someone who has long been active in civic life, Dean believes that government must work to earn the people’s trust. He encourages both young and old to be involved in their communities and to participate in government whether at the local, state, or federal level.
Dean and his wife, Debra, enjoy spending time with their son, daughter-in-law, and two young grandchildren.
· Strengthening and diversifying the economies of rural communities
· Supporting our timber, agriculture, and fishing industries by bringing common-sense to environmental regulations
· Protecting local governments from unfunded state mandates
· Creating a state budget that is sustainable, invests in our future, and protects the most vulnerable in our communities
· Promoting accountability and transparency in government
As someone who has long been active in civic life, Dean believes that government must work to earn the people’s trust. He encourages both young and old to be involved in their communities and to participate in government whether at the local, state, or federal level.
Dean and his wife, Debra, enjoy spending time with their son, daughter-in-law, and two young grandchildren.
Brian Blake (Olympia event)
State Representative
Brian Blake represents the 19th District, including all of Wahkiakum and Pacific counties, and parts of Cowlitz, Grays Harbor and Lewis counties.
Brian was a logger for ten years before he became an environmental specialist for the Department of Corrections. He is a current member of the Coastal Harvest board, a food-bank distribution center, and is on the board of the Lower Columbia Community Action Program. He was also active in the community through his previous involvement in the Citizens for Washington Wildlife. His legislative priorities are family wage jobs, education, and sound agriculture and natural resources policy. Brian was recently named Legislator of the Year by the State Farm Bureau for his many accomplishments, including:
· Legislation to keep local biomass facilities open, preserving hundreds of jobs
· Securing funding for local retraining programs for displaced workers and soldiers returning home.
· Getting $425,000 to add more lights to the Chehalis River Bridge to make it safer and end the long battle over who foots the bill.
Brian’s ancestors settled in Southwest Washington before statehood. He is a hunter, fisherman, and advocate for public access to public lands and has held office since 2002.
Brian was a logger for ten years before he became an environmental specialist for the Department of Corrections. He is a current member of the Coastal Harvest board, a food-bank distribution center, and is on the board of the Lower Columbia Community Action Program. He was also active in the community through his previous involvement in the Citizens for Washington Wildlife. His legislative priorities are family wage jobs, education, and sound agriculture and natural resources policy. Brian was recently named Legislator of the Year by the State Farm Bureau for his many accomplishments, including:
· Legislation to keep local biomass facilities open, preserving hundreds of jobs
· Securing funding for local retraining programs for displaced workers and soldiers returning home.
· Getting $425,000 to add more lights to the Chehalis River Bridge to make it safer and end the long battle over who foots the bill.
Brian’s ancestors settled in Southwest Washington before statehood. He is a hunter, fisherman, and advocate for public access to public lands and has held office since 2002.
Kara Whittaker
Senior Scientist, Washington Forest Law Center
Senior Scientist, Washington Forest Law Center
Senior Scientist & Policy Analyst Kara Whittaker joined the WFLC in January 2008. In 2007, she earned her PhD in Urban Ecology at the University of Washington, College of Forest Resources. In support of legal cases and environmental policy-making, Kara performs spatial and technical analyses on topics ranging from endangered species management to forest certification and geomorphology. The emphasis of her work is identifying sustainable forest practices intended to minimize negative impacts on fish, wildlife, and people. Kara also enjoys raising her two boys and supporting her family’s businesses, Alki Kayak Tours and Mountain to Sound Outfitters.
Dan Cothren
Wahkiakim Country Commisioner
Wahkiakim Country Commisioner
Dan Cothren represents Wahkiakum County as a county commissioner. Dan worked in the timber industry as a timber faller for 38 years, and has served as county commissioner since 2000. He has also served as the timber county chair for the past 14 years. Dan is married with 12 children, 10 of whom were adopted.
Jed Herman
Department of Natural Resources
Jed currently is the Division manager for the DNR’s Conservation, Recreation and Transaction programs. He has been a natural resource professional for 22 years, 4 of which in wildlife biology, 6 as a forester, and the remainder as a manager and policy advisor. His management experience has been in the Forest Practices program helping to develop the Forest & Fish rules, State Lands programs implementing a Habitat and Conservation Plan (HCP), timber sales program, leasing program, Natural Heritage and Natural Areas program, and currently the real estate transaction and recreation programs. Jed has a Bachelor’s of Science in Zoology degree from Washington State University; completed the Executive Seminars Program at Portland State University; and served as a social worker in Scotland for a year.