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| Hilary Franz | |
|---|---|
| Name | Hilary Franz |
| Office | Commissioner of Public Lands of Washington |
| Term start | January 11, 2017 |
| Party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Ohio State University, Duke University |
Hilary Franz is an American public official and politician who has served as the Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands since 2017. She is known for work on natural resources, forestry, fisheries, wildfire mitigation, and renewable energy policy, engaging with state agencies, federal partners, and tribal governments across the Pacific Northwest, the Department of the Interior, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Franz was born and raised in the Midwest and completed undergraduate studies at Ohio State University where she studied environmental science and policy alongside curricular links to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Geological Survey, Smithsonian Institution, and regional programs. She later earned a master's degree in environmental management from Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment, studying topics intersecting with U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, The Nature Conservancy, and international conservation organizations. During her education she engaged with research networks including American Geophysical Union, Society of Environmental Journalists, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and regional collaborative projects with Washington State University and University of Washington researchers.
Franz began her career in natural resources policy and consulting, working with regional entities such as Puget Sound Partnership, Snohomish County, and nonprofit organizations like Conservation Northwest and Forterra (nonprofit). She provided consulting and program management services that interfaced with Boeing's environmental programs, municipal planning offices in Seattle, watershed councils linked to King County, and cross-jurisdictional task forces involving Bonneville Power Administration and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Her private sector experience included collaborative projects with foundations such as Bullitt Foundation, Gates Foundation, and philanthropic initiatives connected to Microsoft and corporate sustainability teams.
Franz entered elective politics after serving in advisory and executive roles in regional environmental initiatives, winning a statewide race for Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands as a member of the Democratic Party (United States). Her political campaign interacted with statewide actors including the Washington State Legislature, the Office of the Governor of Washington, and county commissioners across King County, Pierce County, and Snohomish County. She worked with national elected officials from the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives on federal-state coordination for lands and natural resources, and participated in coalitions with leadership from National Governors Association and regional compacts such as the Pacific Coast Collaborative.
As Commissioner, Franz oversees the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, administering state trust lands, forest management, aquatic reserves, and harvest programs that involve partnerships with tribal nations including the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Puyallup Tribe of Indians, and Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. She manages revenue-generating activities and conservation programs that coordinate with federal entities like the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Her office interacts with regional regulatory agencies including the Washington State Department of Ecology and institutions such as University of Washington School of Law on legal and policy frameworks for natural resource stewardship.
Franz prioritized wildfire prevention, reforestation, and climate resilience, launching programs that partner with U.S. Forest Service, National Interagency Fire Center, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and regional fire districts. Her initiatives addressed aquatic restoration projects with funding mechanisms tied to the Bonneville Power Administration mitigation programs and salmon recovery plans coordinated with Puget Sound Partnership and the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. She promoted renewable energy siting and offshore wind engagement with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and regional transmission planning involving Bonneville Power Administration and North American Electric Reliability Corporation. Franz advanced habitat conservation through collaborations with The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Trust for Public Land, and tribal co-management agreements.
Franz's tenure included legal challenges and disputes over timber sales, land-use determinations, and policy implementation that connected to litigants including tribal governments, environmental groups such as Earthjustice and Center for Biological Diversity, and industry stakeholders represented by associations like the American Forest & Paper Association. Lawsuits and administrative appeals involved courts including the Washington State Supreme Court and federal district courts, with issues referencing state statutes, regulatory decisions from the Washington State Department of Ecology, and federal statutes administered by the Department of the Interior. Budgetary oversight and audit inquiries engaged the Washington State Auditor and drew commentary from statewide elected officials in Olympia, Washington.
Franz resides in western Washington and participates in civic and conservation networks including boards and advisory committees associated with Puget Sound Partnership, Conservation Northwest, Forterra (nonprofit), and regional climate coalitions tied to the Pacific Coast Collaborative. She has worked with philanthropic partners such as the Bullitt Foundation and educational institutions including Duke University and Ohio State University as an alumna. Franz engages with intergovernmental forums involving the National Association of State Foresters, the Western Governors' Association, and other multi-state bodies addressing wildfire, forestry, and aquatic restoration.
Category:People from Washington (state) Category:Washington (state) politicians Category:Duke University alumni Category:Ohio State University alumni