Quilcence – Sequim Mayor Ken Hays, Port Townsend Mayor David King, the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association and fish processor Ocean Gold Seafoods are the latest to endorse the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, introduced by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Bothell, and Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Belfair.

The mayors join dozens of local elected officials, businesses and sportsmen groups who signed letters to the bill sponsors supporting the legislation to safeguard wilderness and wild and scenic rivers on the Olympic Peninsula, according to Connie Gallant of Quilcene, chairwoman of the Wild Olympics Campaign.

She said more than 70 new endorsements brings the list of local supporters to nearly 250.

The legislation designated 198 square miles of Olympic National Forest as wilderness – and thus off-limits to logging – and would protect 19 rivers by designating them wild and scenic.

To view an updated list of endorsement, visit www.wildolympics.org/ supporters/endorsements.