David Anderson
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 will restrict data centers in Washinton. Between the power and water usage, to the noise. They have shown they are more of a community eye sore than something that will bring jobs and prosperity to an area. One resource I used was uchicago.edu. I have also seen interviews with families living near data centers and the constant hum, the higher electricity bills and contamination of the water supply, or the lack of water pressure. Washington residence deserve better. Data centers do not provide good paying jobs, environmental rewards, or income to communities. In Texas and Utah, data centers have been awarded tax breaks. Billionaires do not need tax breaks.
KEYWORDS: High Risk, pollution, community problems
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?
Top priorities would be to first, re-establish the emissions testing for cars and trucks. We need to remove old smog emitting vehicles off the roads. Second would be to impose harsher punishments for companies polluting our air and water ways. Lastly, I want to fix the broken levy’s and help flood risk areas.
KEYWORDS: testing, pollution, water ways
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?
Science is currently being attacked by this administration. Putting in doubt all the hard work educated professionals have put in. A major issue with the way science is being presented to kids in school is that it is a secondary education tool like PE or Music. It does not have a current place in core curriculum. Development of an earlier curriculum will reach kids at a younger level and not in JR high or High school when other electives become more of a priority.
KEYWORDS: K-12, Core curriculum, younger
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?
Fire management is a citizen issue as much as a political issue. First, we need to have crews in high-risk areas cleaning out debris and dead logs that will ignite easily. Second, we need strict laws for prosecuting those responsible for causing the fires. Third, we need to prevent fireworks and firearms in heavily wooded areas, with heavy fines being imposed. Lastly we need to have fire planes at the ready for fire season to combat flames quickly.
KEYWORDS: Rangers, no fireworks, cleaning crews
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?
The start I would like to see is not punishing companies that are polluting but shutting them down until they comply with new standards. Fining large companies does not incentivize anyone to change, removing the ability to operate will force their hands. Cleaner air and water ways will start to heal what is struggling. Second, forest management. Logging and urban development is forcing changes in nature with catastrophic results. Displacing animals and changing ecological zones alter the way nature functions. Third, we need to ensure the survival of our native fish population. We can do that by cleaning up the rivers and the sound and keeping our salmon ladders fictional. Lastly To help communities, we need to fix the levys to prevent flooding which leads to more pollution in our water ways, and destruction in our cities.
KEYWORDS: salmon ladder, pollution management, levy fix