Political Quotes

“I am very pleased to rise in support of the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area designation. This is a project that has been completely collaborative throughout the region. I think it is a great example of how to get things done. It was various government officials working with the private sector, all with the same goal, and that is to preserve open spaces in the Puget Sound area. This is a very difficult thing to do. We are growing rapidly, businesses are popping up all over the place, and that is great. But the other thing about the Pacific Northwest that everybody loves is the ability to get outdoors and fish, hunt, hike, and basically enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. This group came together to make sure that we can preserve that, even in the face of such massive growth. It wasn't done by government fiat. It was done by working together with private landowners, tribes, and all of the interested stakeholders to say: ``We have a mutual interest in preserving open spaces for the better enjoyment of all of us in our community,'' and that is how the Mountains to Sound Greenway was born. This is an incredibly successful collaborative effort. I am pleased to have the Federal Government put its stamp on it as a national heritage area. It definitely deserves that. It will help the process moving forward as they continue to make sure that they preserve these open spaces for the enjoyment of all people in the Puget Sound region.…”