Joel Kretz

Joel Andrew Kretz was born on January 7, 1957, in Seattle, Washington. He is a Republican politician who served in the Washington House of Representatives representing the 7th Legislative District for 20 years, from 2004 until his term ended in 2024.

Kretz is a self-made rancher and entrepreneur. He grew up on Mercer Island and later moved to Eastern Washington to live and work off the land. He currently resides in Wauconda, in Okanogan County, where he owns Promised Land Ranch and raises horses, cattle, and timber. He is known for his distinctive handlebar mustache and his work on rural issues.

Education

Kretz attended Green River Community College and Olympic Community College before relocating to Eastern Washington to pursue ranching and land-based work.

Political Experience

Kretz was first elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 2004. He rose to prominence within his party, serving as the House Republican Deputy Leader from late 2008 until April 2023—a position he held for 15 years.

His legislative priorities centered on private-sector job creation and responsible land management. He was a strong advocate for private property rights and rural Washington's unique needs. Notable achievements include his work on wildfire prevention and response, collaborating with Democratic Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz to secure increased state investment in wildfire prevention. He also championed fire-resilient forest management and addressed predator problems affecting Northeast Washington ranchers.

Throughout his tenure, Kretz leveraged his experience as Deputy Minority Leader to participate in budget negotiations and high-level policy discussions across party lines, consistently advocating for smaller, smarter government that removes obstacles to job creation.