Julia Payne
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?
After reviewing the ongoing complaints and impact issues from other states that have allowed the construction of data centers I support proper moratoriums to delay construction until their impact can be properly studied and regulations to protect the environment and community have been enacted. Eastern Washington is an incredible environmental resource, and this needs to be protected. Our community is essential, and needs to be given the chance to know the ongoing impact that a data center will have on their quality of life. I support delaying any discussion of building data centers in my district until further information is available.
KEYWORDS: Delay, protect, impact
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 do not have specific priorities on environmental stewardship at this time. I do acknowledge that our region is strongly rooted in agriculture and environmental tourism and these things need to be protected and properly managed. My approach to questions about things I don’t have prior knowledge of is to reach out to the organizations in my district that focus on these things and to allow the experts to educate me and direct my understanding of what is needed. Organizations that I trust on these issues include Futurwise, 350 Spokane, and the Spokane Riverkeeper.
KEYWORDS: Stweardship, agriculture, experts
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?
As a mom and foster mom, making sure that the kids in my care receive a complete education is a priority. At this time our schools have to beg for money for needed improvements and our teachers are not compensated for their time or expertise. Our ability to educate our future generations in the essential disciplines like science, math and technology suffer from the struggle. I will focus on asking the education professionals what it is that they need from me to help mitigate these shortfalls. I will push for more funding for education if I am elected to the legislature.
KEYWORDS: Improvements, professionals, shortfalls
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?
Eastern Washington is seeing higher and longer risk times for wildfire every year. This ongoing issue is tied to global climate change as well as forest management. While acknowledging and respecting that private property should be the purview of the owner; I feel that ongoing enforcement of proper land management is essential to offsetting the factors for high fire risk that we can’t control. Making sure that there is proper funding, training and equipment provided to our fire departments is also essential. Prevention should be the goal, but we need to be properly equipped to handle fires when they do happen. I also support recent legislation that set development guidelines when building in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI).
KEYWORDS: Risk, prevention, guidelines
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?
Climate change is an issue that is caused by and felt by the whole world. As a state we can do our part by reducing our carbon footprint; but we can’t make the changes all on our own. I will support reasonable and realistic solutions towards the goal of encouraging use of renewable energy so that the cost of that can become more reasonable and minimize the financial burden. I will also support appropriate policies that assist our farmers and distributors to offset the cost of changing processes to become more environmentally friendly. I support local, sustainable, and thoughtful solutions that will help to protect our climate.
KEYWORDS: Realistic, renewable, sustainable