Tag Archives: 12th District

Hawkins pleased that capital budget funds many 12th District projects

Sen. Brad Hawkins is pleased that 10 projects throughout the 12th District, totaling more than $10 million, are funded in the final capital budget proposal agreed upon by House and Senate negotiators.

“I’m thankful that House and Senate Republicans had opportunities to engage directly in this budget process, and I appreciated the discussions with my Senate colleagues and House seatmates about 12th District projects,” said Hawkins.

The entire list of 12th District projects in the final capital budget can be viewed here. They include:

  • Chelan-Douglas Regional Port Authority port trades project: $3,000,000
  • Wenatchee City Pool Repairs: $550,000
  • Wenatchee Valley YMCA: $515,000
  • Chelan-Douglas Food Distribution Center: $1,030,000
  • City of Brewster Canyon Well House: $480,000
  • City of Brewster Sewer Upgrade: $2,800,000
  • Lake Chelan EMS Design: $191,000
  • Peshastin Cross Over Siphon Pipe: $309,000
  • Town of Elmer City Fire Station Improvements: $772,000
  • Brewster School District: $933,000

A supplemental state capital budget typically makes only modest updates to the original two-year budget, but Hawkins says this one is larger due to federal infrastructure bill dollars.

More information about the supplemental capital budget can be found here and here.

The House is expected to vote on the compromise supplemental capital budget tonight, followed by a Senate vote on the spending plan tomorrow. The 2022 legislative session is scheduled to end Thursday.

 

Hawkins issues statement on Redistricting Commission not finalizing legislative, congressional district maps

State Sen. Brad Hawkins of the 12th Legislative District released the following statement following today’s announcement by the state Redistricting Commission that it was not able to reach agreement on final plans for new legislative and congressional district boundaries for the next decade, starting in 2022.

“Today’s news about our Redistricting Commission being unable to come to an agreement on rebalanced state legislative and federal congressional districts is very disappointing as I know the commissioners worked very hard and collected substantial public comment. Washington state has a proud history of bipartisan success with our redistricting process,” said Hawkins.

“The inability of the commission to reach an agreement is a huge setback and it’s discouraging. The later-than-usual Census data was a big factor, but politics is always at play. Hopefully, the commission’s inability to reach agreement is not a sign that the growing political divide in our country is beginning to threaten our redistricting process. The process going forward is uncertain. By law, jurisdiction over redistricting is now transferred to our State Supreme Court. This has never occurred before, so predicting the process beyond today is anybody’s guess. This is a result none of us wanted. I suspect the State Supreme Court feels the same way.”

Hawkins’ fifth annual ‘listening tour’ to be held Sept. 14-15

Sen. Brad Hawkins will hold his fifth annual 12th District “listening tour” Sept. 14-15, offering a “virtual” approach for residents wishing to meet with him.

“As the state senator for the 12th District, it is very helpful for me to hear directly from constituents, which is why I started conducting annual listening tours,” said Hawkins. “Because of the ongoing challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the governor’s recent mask mandate, I’ve decided to use a virtual approach again for this year’s listening tour. I look forward to hearing people’s ideas, thoughts, and concerns. It’s very helpful for me to hear directly from the people I serve.”

During past listening tours, meetings included businesses, local governments, and community groups.

The Sept. 14-15 meetings with Hawkins will take place by Zoom videoconferencing or as traditional conference phone calls. The meetings will be scheduled approximately 20 minutes apart to accommodate as many groups as possible. Meetings each day will begin at 8 a.m. and the last one will end at 5 p.m.

Those who are interested in scheduling an appointment to meet with Hawkins should contact his office at brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov or 360-688-8951. Hawkins’ staff will provide technology details for Zoom or phone meetings with him.

Hawkins said his annual listening tour allows him to hear ideas and concerns that can be turned into successful legislative action.

“During the 2017 listening tour, Leavenworth officials told me an issue about disposing of brush and yard clippings and worked with me to enact a new law in 2018 to address it,” said Hawkins. “A funding request related to the Saddle Rock trail in Wenatchee became reality when it was included in the state capital budget three years ago, and a road paving project to a popular fishing location in Okanogan County was recently funded. Last session, a Methow Valley biochar demonstration project was funded for forest management purposes along with funding for renovations at the City of Wenatchee’s Community Center utilized by Pinnacles Prep School. All of them were ideas discussed with constituents during past listening tours.”

As in the past four years, Hawkins has invited legislative staff to join him on this year’s tour, including his office staff, communications staff and issue specialists. “People appreciated us making these resources available to their communities, and it’s good for our staff to hear directly from people about the issues of interest in our region,” said Hawkins. “If we need to research concerns or begin developing ideas, we are ready to do that.”

CAPTION: The first stop on Sen. Hawkins’ 2018 listening tour took him to the City of Leavenworth to meet with the City Council. His Senate Bill 6055 was signed by the governor in 2018 to assist the city in disposing of its brush and yard waste. City officials joined him in Olympia for the bill signing (click here).

Hawkins pleased Methow Valley biochar project funded in Senate budget proposal

Sen. Brad Hawkins is pleased to see support for a North Central Washington biochar project included in the Senate operating budget proposal released today.

Hawkins said the budget appropriation is the product of discussions he has had with C6 Forest to Farm, a federally recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit in the Methow Valley. Hawkins discussed the project with the organization during both his 2019 and 2020 listening tours. Representatives Mike Steele and Keith Goehner of the 12th District are also supporters of this funding request.

Biochar is a charcoal-like product produced through pyrolysis, a process that superheats biomass without burning. A demonstration project is planned to produce biochar from excess forest waste to reduce risk of wildfire to improve soil in agricultural lands and sequester carbon.

The Senate’s proposed 2021-23 operating budget includes $160,000 in funding toward a biochar research and demonstration project and initial efforts toward full-size operation of an industrial-sized facility in the Methow Valley. The budget proviso for the biochar project can be viewed here.

“I’m pleased the Senate budget proposal includes this funding and hope it will be retained in the final budget approved by the Legislature,” said Hawkins. “Our state must continue our active forest health efforts if we are ever to get in front of the growing costs of fighting wildfires. This includes strategic thinning and responsible prescribed fire. Figuring out a good way to repurpose the harvested biomass – without burning it – is definitely something that should be supported.”

Wildfires have had a devastating impact on North Central Washington. Engaging in responsible forest management practices to clear small-diameter trees, woody debris, and logging slash throughout timberlands can help significantly reduce wildfire risk.

The Senate’s operating budget proposal will receive a public hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee tomorrow. The committee is expected to vote on the budget on March 29.

What supporters are saying

“As the Commissioner of Public Lands leading the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, I recognize the critical role this effort plays in helping meet our forest health needs. C6’s desire to turn wildfire fuels in our forests into a product with market value represents the type of innovative approach needed to move forward our forest health, public safety, and rural development goals.”

Hilary Franz, Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands

“I’m excited to support this effort and first learned of C6 from Tom and Gina McCoy in 2019 during a listening tour stop in Twisp. This demonstration project makes sense on many levels and could have big benefits if it proves successful. I’m glad it is gaining support.”

Brad Hawkins, State Senator, 12th District

“I appreciate all of the hard work being done to pursue this very worthwhile investment in our forest health through the use of biochar. I look forward to supporting this budget proviso in the House.”

Mike Steele, State Representative, 12th District

“This is a worthwhile and innovative project using our forest resources. With the potential benefits of biochar to forest health and agriculture it is promising to see this happening right here in the 12th District.”

 Keith Goehner, State Representative, 12th District

The 2021 legislative session is scheduled to end April 25.

More than 2,200 respond to Hawkins’ COVID-19 vaccination survey

An online survey that was emailed to more than 36,000 recipients of 12th District Sen. Brad Hawkins’ e-newsletter revealed that a strong majority of respondents plan to receive a COVID-19 vaccination when it is available to them, but only a slight majority believed that vaccinations should be required for all public school students.

Hawkins sent the short, unscientific survey to constituents on Dec. 16. More than 2,200 people responded to the survey, which ended Dec. 28.

  • When asked if they planned to take a COVID-19 vaccination when it is available to them, 67 percent said “yes” while 33 percent answered “no.”
  • On the question of whether they believe vaccinations should be required for all public school students, 53 percent said “yes” while 47 percent responded “no.”

“Collecting feedback from the people I serve is very important to me, and I’m grateful to the 2,200 plus people who participated in my recent survey,” said Hawkins. “The COVID vaccine distribution appears to be going very well, and I’m excited for all of the medical workers, first responders, and others who are being vaccinated.

“I definitely look forward to getting vaccinated myself,” added Hawkins. “However, when it comes to developing state policy, I support individual choices. I do not believe the government should require employees to be vaccinated or force parents to vaccinate their children. The COVID vaccines are currently not approved for children yet anyway, but the policy discussions in Olympia about the COVID vaccines and other vaccines will no doubt continue into the upcoming legislative session. Between now and then, I’ll be reviewing the 86 pages of comments people provided me in response to my survey. I asked for their feedback and received a lot of it, so I’m grateful. Vaccine policy has been and will continue to be a big issue in Olympia and throughout the country.”

The 2021 legislative session begins Jan. 11 and is scheduled to last 105 days.

2017 listening tour meeting.

Hawkins to hold second annual ‘listening tour’ in mid-September

Sen. Brad Hawkins has announced the times and locations for his 12th District “listening tour” in mid-September. Similar to his listening tour last fall, Hawkins will visit all four counties in the legislative district with his legislative staff. His tour this year will include some of the same stops as last year, such as Leavenworth, Wenatchee, and Chelan along with a mix of new locations, including Cashmere, Coulee City, Soap Lake, Waterville, Bridgeport, and Twisp.

“The listening tour idea was something I attempted last year to be creative and people responded very positively,” Hawkins said. “It’s very helpful for me to hear directly from the people I serve.” He noted some of the ideas brought to him last year resulted in legislative action, including an idea from Leavenworth officials to dispose of brush and yard clippings, a funding request related to the Saddle Rock trail system, and other legislative suggestions.

Meetings will be available by appointment and likely include visits with individuals, employers, local governments, and community groups. He noted the 12th District’s location in north central Washington can make it challenging for people to reach the Capitol in Olympia during a legislative session. “Being accessible and being a good listener are two things I take great pride in,” said Hawkins. “I don’t want people to feel that they need to travel all the way over to Olympia in the middle of winter just to share their thoughts with me on issues.”

Like last year, Hawkins has invited legislative staff to accompany him on the tour, including his office aides and issue specialists. “People appreciated us making these resources available to their communities, and it’s good for the staff to hear directly from people about the issues of interest in our region,” said Hawkins. “If we need to research concerns or begin developing ideas, we are ready to do that.”

Hawkins will meet by appointment at public locations in Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan counties and asks that people e-mail brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov or phone his legislative office in Olympia at 360-786-7622 to schedule an appointment. The community stops are not town hall meetings. Because there may not be time available for day-of, unscheduled visits, people are asked to contact Hawkins’ office in advance for an appointment. The listening tour locations and appointment time blocks are:

Tuesday, Sept. 11

Leavenworth: Leavenworth City Hall (700 Highway 2), 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Cashmere: Attending September 11th Memorial Service 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wenatchee: Confluence Technology Center (285 Technology Center Way), 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 12

Chelan: Chelan City Hall (135 E. Johnson), 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Coulee City: Coulee City Fire Station meeting room (401 W. Main St.), 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Soap Lake: Soap Lake City Hall (239 2nd Ave. SE), 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 13

Waterville: Douglas County Courthouse (213 S. Rainier St.), 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Bridgeport: Bridgeport City Hall (1206 Columbia Ave.), 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Twisp: TwispWorks Executive Board Room (502 S. Glover St.), 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 14

Winthrop: Community Hike up Patterson Mountain, 10 a.m.

Hawkins will conclude his district tour Sept. 14 by leading a community hike on Patterson Mountain near Winthrop, starting at 10 a.m. The Patterson Mountain trail, which is near Sun Mountain Lodge, offers sweeping views of the Methow Valley from Twisp to Mazama. Everyone is invited to participate on the hike and no appointment or RSVP is needed. Those participating in the hike are encouraged to bring sunscreen and water.

(Directions to reach the Patterson Mountain trailhead: If you are traveling west on Highway 20 toward Winthrop, turn left onto Twin Lakes Road and follow it for 3.1 miles. Turn right on Patterson Lake Road and follow it for 4.0 miles. The trailhead parking lot is on the left. A Discover Pass is needed to park in the trailhead lot. Vehicles can be parked on the road shoulder without needing a Discover Pass.)

“We concluded last year’s listening tour with a community hike up Saddle Rock and this year we’ve planned something similar in the Methow Valley,” said Hawkins. “The 12th District is beautiful and known for its outdoor recreation, so it’s fun to experience that together and connect with people in a different way.”