Catherine Hildebrand
DemocraticQ1 America has a growing artificial intelligence (AI) industry, supporting cutting edge innovation and reshaping businesses, but raising concerns about education, ownership, and security. Application of AI technology has increased the demand placed on data centers, controversial for their resource use (such as water and land) and raising utility costs. What are your policy positions in regards to data centers and AI? What sources of evidence informed these policies?
I think we actually need to put a pause on building new AI data centers and slow AI progress until we can do more evidence gathering. I think we need more information about the effects of AI data centers on the environment before we can let them build quickly and cheaply. I think that the potential for AI in future use is great, but I think that right now companies are trying to get their fastest, not necessarily following any kind of evidence for long-term sustainability or success.
KEYWORDS: Slow down. Gather data. Move forward with long-term sustainability and results in mind.
Q2 What are your top funding priorities for environmental projects and research in our state? If you do not have specific priorities, how would you approach setting those priorities to ensure effective environmental stewardship?
I believe in a refurbishing and bolstering the national electrical grid, moving the entire nation to 100% renewable energy sources. I also support the construction of a national high-speed railway for both passengers and freight, removing heavy-duty diesel trucks from from our highways, thus reducing congestion and pollution.
We need to give more authority to the EPA for enforcing our environmental regulations and protections. I want to bring back funding to NOAA. I believe experts, and I would like to bring experts back into policy making decisions and I would like more scientists to have the funding they need to do their jobs to keep the American people informed on best climate action practices.
KEYWORDS: The climate crisis presents an existential threat to us, and we need to combat it with a multifaceted approach.
Q3 What are your opinions on the current state of science literacy, and how could K-12 education standards be adapted to improve the public understanding of and relationship building in science?
I think K-12 education standards need to be completely revised because we are facing an all-around literacy crisis, which means children and emerging adults are unable to think critically with information presented to them because they can’t understand any of it. This reaches far beyond science literacy, but affects every part of their education. I support science communicators and believe their work is important, but I do think we need to strengthen the education system so that our leaders of tomorrow aren’t solely reliant on science communicators, but will be able to read a scientific or academic paper and understand it.
KEYWORDS: Science literacy in America is a joke, honestly, and we need to do major work to fix it.
Q4 The Bear Gulch Fire, one of 2000 recorded fires in 2025, was the biggest on the Olympic Peninsula in 70 years, burning over 20,000 hectares and causing $42 million in damages. What are your policies around fire risk management for the state?
First, I think education is a very important tool, and one that we need to be implementing more. I also believe that we should be funding our Forest Ranger service more, not less, and hiring more rangers to patrol and protect our public lands. I also think we should be partnering with local tribal nations in land management practices, and stewardship. I also think we need to increase funding for FEMA so we can be providing faster responses to disasters.
Q5 Puget Sound and the Washington coast are experiencing rapid changes, such as warming waters, ocean acidification, and ecosystem shifts, that have major impacts on Washington’s wildlife and fisheries. What policies and funding, if any, would you prioritize for fisheries management, scientific monitoring, and to help communities adapt to these shifts?
I think the biggest part of this is some of these independent agencies that are intended to provide recommendations on policy are run by CEOs of fishing companies, and few scientists sit on these councils. I think we need more elected positions on these boards as well as dedicated science staff rather than shareholders of the fishing industry making these kinds of recommendations.
KEYWORDS: More scientists, fewer CEOs