Peter J. Goldmark

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Fifth Congressional District of Washington
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Fifth Congressional District of Washington

Peter James Goldmark is a Democrat from a rural part of Okanogan County, Washington, outside of the town of Okanogan. Goldmark was defeated 56.4% to 43.6% in a campaign to unseat 1st term U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris in the 5th Congressional District in Washington.[1] Peter J. Goldmark is the owner of a 7,000-acre farm which during the election was run by his son Jay. (Double J. Ranch, Inc.). He also is the founder and chief scientist of a biotechnology research laboratory, DJR Research, Inc., in Okanogan, Washington. Currently he serves on the Washington State University Board of Regents. His current term ends in 2007. He has published papers in national and international scientific journals on plant molecular genetics and currently runs a wheat breeding program for crop improvement.

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[edit] Early life

His father, John E. Goldmark bought the family ranch in 1946.[2]

[edit] Education

[edit] Career

  • 1971 - 1972 he was a Research Associate at Harvard University Medical School.[3]
  • 1972 - brought his wife back to the Double J Ranch for their honeymoon and never left.[4]
  • 1976 - 1986 served as a member and chair of the Okanogan County Planning Commission
  • 1993 - was appointed the director of the Washington State Dept of Agriculture by Governor Lowry.
  • 1994 - 1996 - served as chair of the Governor's Council on Agriculture and the Environment.
  • 1996 - was appointed to the Board of Regents to the Washington State University.[5].
  • 1996 - 1998 - Vice President of Quality Northwest.
  • 1997 - present serves on the Board of Directors of the Okanogan School District
  • 1999 - 2000 served as President of the Board and chairman of the presidential search committee.[6]
  • 1999 - Co-founded Farming and the Environment, a non-profit to bridge farmers and environmentalists. [7]
  • WSU&UW Policy Consensus Center Advisory Board Member[8]

[edit] 2006 campaign

While incumbent Cathy McMorris was hailed as a rising star and a heavy favorite for re-election, the increasing visibility Goldmark's campaign prompted CQPolitics.com, in late August, to change its rating on the race to Republican Favored from Safe Republican. As they explain, "the rating change means that McMorris is still likely to win re-election, but that Goldmark has demonstrated he will provide her with serious competition." Although partisan polls have showed the race all over the map, recent unbiased polls have shown McMorris beating Goldmark by only 5% with a week to go until the election. This is staggering considering she defeated Don Barbieri, a well financed democrat, by 20% in 2004. The Democratic Congressional Compaign Committee also designed the race as one of their "Red To Blue" races, where close races are targeted for donations and support. Goldmark has demonstarted he is a serious candidate and will provide McMorris with a strong chanllenge on election day.[9]

[edit] Views

[edit] An Ethical Congress

Peter Goldmark takes a very strong stance against lobbyist gifts and meals given to members of congress. He has vowed to refuse all such gifts if he is elected to congress and has challenged his opponent to take the same position. Goldmark says that he will fight to ban such gifts from lobbyists if elected to congress. Goldmark did accept $202,855 in PAC money during the 2006 election cycle. [10]

[edit] Energy Policy

Peter Goldmark is campaigning for more fuels derived from biomass, like biodiesel and raising the mileage requirements for new cars and trucks. He also supports decentralized renewable energy initiatives to promote energy self-reliance in rural areas.

[edit] Veterans Affairs

Peter Goldmark seems to be spearheading his local campaign by examining the Washington State veterans hospital in Walla Walla. Goldmark points out that the hospital has been understaffed and dysfunctional under the current political trend. Goldmark contends that we need to do more for veterans in our state, especially during this time of war.

[edit] Education

As a school board member for 8 years for the Okanogan School District, and a member of the Board of Regents for Washington State University for 10 years, Peter Goldmark has worked closely with Washington Schools. Goldmark has called for a boost to Washington State University by reinvigorating the federal land grant fund. While also creating more technical colleges and job training programs. Goldmark seems critical of the No Child Left Behind initiative, not for what it says, but for the fact that it is continually underfunded, something Peter Goldmark says he would like to change.

[edit] Animal and Wildlife Issues

Goldmark is a board member of the Washington State Biodiversity Council. The Council was created in 2004 by Governor Gary Locke to develop and promote more effective ways of conserving Washington's biodiversity. [11][12]

[edit] Environment

Goldmark ranches with a strong conservation philosophy. He adheres to methods that would conserve the soil while growing crops and managing the whole ranch with a philosophy of care instead of one of exploitation.[13]

In 1999, Goldmark co-founded a nonprofit called Farming and the Environment comprising a coalition of environmentalists and farmers. The group is dedicated to ensuring the ecological and economic health of agricultural lands and rural communities. The hope is to build a bridge between farmers and environmentalists. The group has worked together to meet the needs of a healthy environment and maintain economically viable agricultural opportunities at the same time. [14][15]

Goldmark says that farmers and ranchers fulfill a mandate to provide food for people and at the same time, they seek to be good stewards of the land and have to be very much concerned with the environment. [16]

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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