Victoria Hunt
Candidate for Legislative District 5
What motivates you to run for State Senate in Washington’s 5th Legislative District, and what unique perspectives or priorities would you bring to the role?
It is my honor to serve our community in the State Senate. I bring evidence-based decision-making from my scientific career and PhD in ecology, a proven collaborative style from my terms serving on the Issaquah City Council, and a track record of policy wins in the legislature. At a time when science is increasingly under attack at the federal level, I’m ready to defend it. As a mom of young children in public schools, and as your longtime neighbor, I also bring the everyday perspective of working families from across our district.
As our region continues to grow, how would you balance development with the long-term conservation of natural areas and trail corridors?
Taking care of our trails and natural areas is critically important, which is why I’m proud to be endorsed by Washington Conservation Action and the Sierra Club for my dedication to conservation. We’re also a welcoming and growing region, and yet many members of our community are struggling with high costs, especially the high costs of housing. We need smart development, including transit-oriented development, that eases those pressures on housing costs while protecting the open spaces that contribute so much to our quality of life.
What steps would you take to ensure equitable access to trails, parks, and open spaces for all members of the community
Following in the footsteps of the late Senator Bill Ramos, who mentored me and who was a great environmental champion for Washington, I believe equitable access to trails, parks, and open spaces is essential. I would advocate for urban forestry programs and use the best available science to care for our forests and open spaces statewide. By investing in green spaces close to where people live, we can ensure that every community benefits from the health, recreation, and connection to nature that open spaces provide.
How do you see outdoor recreation and public lands shaping the identity, livability, and quality of life in our region over the next decade?
Our outdoor recreation opportunities, from hiking to swimming and more, make this region a wonderful place to live. However, we also know that we must protect our public lands to continue to enjoy this benefit. For example, our region is impacted by worsening impacts of wildfires; I am committed to ensuring that we safeguard our health, safety, and economy now and for future generations by preventing wildfires through forestry best practices and through partnering with our first responders.
How would you approach partnerships with volunteer organizations like the Issaquah Alps Trails Club to support stewardship and land conservation?
Support from the community is crucial to protect our state’s natural beauty and the preservation of our natural areas. I was a strong advocate in the House for protecting our green spaces and environment in the state budget. Before that, I was an advocate for protecting our green spaces while I served on Issaquah City Council, for example in successfully pushing for the acquisition of 46 acres of forest on Cougar Mountain, formerly known as the Bergsma property and now known as Harvey Manning Park. I believe that partnership with the community and with organizations like Issaquah Alps Trails Club is critical to continuing this conservation work.
What do you view as the role of volunteer-driven projects on public lands, such as trail building, invasive species removal, signage, or habitat restoration? How do you think the city or state should support such efforts?
Volunteer-driven projects are the backbone of stewardship in our public lands. These efforts not only expand the capacity of cities and the state to maintain and improve our trails and natural areas, but they also strengthen community bonds and foster a shared sense of responsibility for the land we love. Trail maintenance, invasive species removal, signage, and habitat restoration are all critical to ensuring safe access, healthy ecosystems, and long-term resilience of our natural spaces. I believe the role of the city and state should be to provide stable funding, technical expertise, and logistical support to these groups, such as equipment, materials, and training, so volunteers can focus on their work in the field. We should also ensure that volunteer organizations are engaged early in planning and decision-making, recognizing their invaluable experience and on-the-ground knowledge. In my time on the Issaquah City Council, I saw firsthand how partnerships between local government and volunteer groups magnify the impact of both. In the Senate, I will champion state policies that expand these partnerships and provide meaningful, ongoing support.
What role do you believe the state should play in supporting urban forest management efforts in cities like Issaquah?
One of the first bills I ever testified on in Olympia was a bill by Senator Bill Ramos (at the time, Representative Ramos) around ensuring that cities have resources available to support urban forestry programs. I believe in continuation of these efforts, to support all of the important benefits our urban forests provide for our communities. Additionally, the Issaquah City Council adopted our Climate Action Plan when I was council president in 2021, and the plan lays out our path towards decarbonizing across the community; taking care of our forests, particularly our urban forests, is an important part of our plans. The State must support such efforts by our cities and communities across Washington to take meaningful action to mitigate the harmful impacts of climate change on our communities.
Given the increasing risk of wildfires in Western WA, what actions do you think the State of Washington should take to improve forest management to mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfires?
As a first-term legislator and a climate scientist, I was proud to sign on to an important bill regarding wildfire response that was signed by the Governor this past session. The bill updated our wildfire response system to allow state crews to be deployed sooner and it allows us as a state to aid local fire forces and contain wildfires quicker. Understanding the threats of climate change and the importance of having responses in place made this bill an important legislative accomplishment and I intend to do more of this work next session. I believe that it is my job to listen to first responders directly to understand how best to support the critical work they do. Also, I want to work on removing barriers for homeowners to reduce wildfire risks on their properties. All of these things are examples of how I as State Senator can support the crucial work of wildfire prevention and forest management.
The Issaquah Alps Trails Club is a non-partisan organization and does not endorse candidates for political office at any level.