Elections 2023
Thurston Board of County Commissioners
and
Port of Olympia Commissioners
Olympia Indivisible Election Focus
There are two races that we will be focusing on during the upcoming election: Thurston Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) and Port of Olympia Commissioners. County-wide primary voting will take place from July 14 through August 1.
Do I get to vote countywide?
In the Primary Election you get to vote for who is running in your district and the top two move to the November General Election. In the General Election, you get to vote for all candidates running countywide.
The 2020 Census Increased Districts from Three to Five
The 2020 census shows that Thurston County now has a population over 300,000 which allows for an increase in districts from three to five. Voters approved the addition of two new districts (districts 4 and 5) for both the Port and Thurston County. We will be voting for these new Port and Thurston Board of County Commissioners positions, as well as for an open position in Port District 1.
What District Am I In?
Thurston County and Port of Olympia Districts Map
For a Quick Review of Candidates
Jump to BoCC Candidates
Jump to Port Candidates
Election Information
Dates and Deadlines 2023 - Secretary of State
Thurston Election Dates, Voter Registration and Resolution Deadlines
Endorsement Team Presentation (Evaluation of Candidates)
The Endorsement Team presented their candidate evaluations to OI members on June 24. They evaluate candidates in accordance with OI values and candidate viability. Here is a link to the video of that presentation as well as their slide show.
Olympia Indivisible Vote for Endorsements
During the week after the Endorsement Team presentation, OI members will vote on who they would like to see endorsed and supported by OI. Watch for an OpaVote form in your emails.
There are two races that we will be focusing on during the upcoming election: Thurston Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) and Port of Olympia Commissioners. County-wide primary voting will take place from July 14 through August 1.
Do I get to vote countywide?
In the Primary Election you get to vote for who is running in your district and the top two move to the November General Election. In the General Election, you get to vote for all candidates running countywide.
The 2020 Census Increased Districts from Three to Five
The 2020 census shows that Thurston County now has a population over 300,000 which allows for an increase in districts from three to five. Voters approved the addition of two new districts (districts 4 and 5) for both the Port and Thurston County. We will be voting for these new Port and Thurston Board of County Commissioners positions, as well as for an open position in Port District 1.
What District Am I In?
Thurston County and Port of Olympia Districts Map
For a Quick Review of Candidates
Jump to BoCC Candidates
Jump to Port Candidates
Election Information
Dates and Deadlines 2023 - Secretary of State
Thurston Election Dates, Voter Registration and Resolution Deadlines
- Voters Pamphlet (General) mailed October 12-14
- General Election October 20 - November 7
Endorsement Team Presentation (Evaluation of Candidates)
The Endorsement Team presented their candidate evaluations to OI members on June 24. They evaluate candidates in accordance with OI values and candidate viability. Here is a link to the video of that presentation as well as their slide show.
Olympia Indivisible Vote for Endorsements
During the week after the Endorsement Team presentation, OI members will vote on who they would like to see endorsed and supported by OI. Watch for an OpaVote form in your emails.
Thurston County is 727 square miles in area and is home to more than 300,500 residents. More than 140,000 residents live in the more urban north county areas in and around the cities of Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater. The rest live in and around the smaller towns of Bucoda, Tenino, Rainier, and Yelm and in the more rural areas of Thurston County.
The county is the sixth most populated county among Washington State's 39 counties and is among the fastest growing counties in the Pacific Northwest.
There are five Thurston County districts. The two new districts, 4 and 5, need representation.
Olympia Indivisible’s Endorsement team develops and sends questionnaires to all candidates running for the open district positions. Those who return questionnaires will be scheduled for Town Halls.
BoCC Candidates
Thurston County Questionnaire
District 1: Incumbent Caroline Meija (term ends in 2024)
District 2: Incumbent Gary Edwards (term ends in 2024)
District 3: Incumbent Tye Menser (term ends 2026)
District 4*: Running –
District 5*: Running –
___________
*County Commissioner District 4 is set for a 1 year term and district 5 for a term of 3 years so they will appear on the ballot in the future on the regularly scheduled year.
Thurston County Questionnaire
District 1: Incumbent Caroline Meija (term ends in 2024)
District 2: Incumbent Gary Edwards (term ends in 2024)
District 3: Incumbent Tye Menser (term ends 2026)
District 4*: Running –
- OI Endorsed Wayne Fournier (D), questionnaire response, YouTube Video for Wayne
- Vivian K. Eason (I), questionnaire response not returned.
District 5*: Running –
- OI Endorsed Emily Clouse (D), questionnaire response, YouTube Video for Emily
- Terry Stanley Ballard (I), questionnaire response not returned
___________
*County Commissioner District 4 is set for a 1 year term and district 5 for a term of 3 years so they will appear on the ballot in the future on the regularly scheduled year.
Port of Olympia
Municipal Corporation
A Port district in the State of Washington is a municipal corporation, organized under state law and authorized by a majority vote of the residents in the proposed district, and governed by a locally elected board of commissioners. The district can be as large as an entire county or as small as a city or town; its boundaries are defined when it is formed.
The Port of Olympia consists of:
- Swantown Marina and Boatworks – The 7th largest marina in the state and the center of recreational boat activities in the South Sound.
- Seaport – 66-acre terminal with three deep water berths with a total of 1,750 lineal feet, a 140 MT Gottwald mobile harbor crane, an on-dock, open beam warehouse, and on-dock rail service.
- Real Estate – Tumwater properties include the NewMarket Industrial Campus and the Clean Water Center (formerly Tumwater Town Center), The Port Peninsula Properties located in downtown Olympia’s waterfront district, and the The Commerce Business Center, located in Lacey,
- Airport – The Olympia Regional Airport with land available for aviation related development.
There are five Port districts. The two new districts, 4 and 5, need representation. District 1 has an open seat due to Joe Downing’s retirement.
Olympia Indivisible’s Endorsement team develops and sends questionnaires to all candidates running for the open positions.
- Port Candidates
Port of Olympia questionnaire.
District 1: Running,
- Bill McGregor, questionnaire response not returned
- OI Endorsed Jasmine Vasavada, questionnaire response, YouTube Video for Jasmine
District 2: Incumbent Bob Iyall (term ends in 2025)
District 3: Incumbent Amy Evans Harding (term ends 2025)
District 4*: Running –
- Rose Gunderson, questionnaire response not returned
- OI Endorsed Maggie Sanders, questionnaire response, YouTube Video for Maggie
District 5*: Running –
- Troy Kirby, questionnaire response, YouTube Video for Troy
- OI Endorsed Sarah Tonge, questionnaire response, YouTube Video for Sarah
*Port Commissioner District 4 and 5 are set for either a four or two year term. The Port candidate with the most votes in the General Election will have the four year term and the one with the least amount of votes will have the two year term.
