Features

Olympia Interim Police Chief Retires
10
Sep
By Mindy Chambers
0 Comments
City of Olympia, Contributors, Features, Mindy Chambers

Olympia Interim Police Chief Retires

Less than 24 hours after he updated the community on another open, armed conflict that raged through downtown Olympia and ended in a shooting before police took any action to de-escalate it, the city of Olympia announced interim Police Chief Aaron Jelcick is retiring effective September 30.  And apparently as reassurance to a community rattled by more than a year of sporadic, largely unchecked violence near the state Capitol Campus and downtown, Jelcick said police are engaged in planning for another possible confrontation on September 18, when members of a group involved in Saturday’s rampage – the Portland-based Proud Boys…
Read More
Ballots and Drive-Through Voter Assistance Available for August 3 Primary Election
02
Aug
By Guest Contributor
0 Comments
2021 Elections, Columns, Features

Ballots and Drive-Through Voter Assistance Available for August 3 Primary Election

News Release   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, July 29, 2021  CONTACT:     Mary Hall  TCAuditor@co.thurston.wa.us  360.786.5408     711 Washington Relay  Ballots and Drive-Through Voter Assistance Available for August 3 Primary Election 14.83% of Thurston County ballots have been returned in the Aug 3, 2021 Primary Election   OLYMPIA – The Thurston County Auditor’s Office reminds voters the deadline to return ballots for the Primary Election is Tuesday, August 3.  If you’ve not received a ballot or you’ve misplaced your ballot, you can request a replacement.   ·       Email elections@co.thurston.wa.us  ·       Call the Auditor’s Elections Division at 360.786.5408   ·       Download a ballot at VoteWA.gov  ·       Visit the Voting Center at 2400 Evergreen Park Dr. SW, Olympia, WA 98502   Return envelopes must be postmarked by Tuesday, August 3, or deposited into one of 29 ballot drop boxes no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day. Drop box locations are listed at ThurstonVotes.org, in the voters’ pamphlet, and in the ballot packet. Voters who mail…
Read More
License plate shortage will require Auditor Licensing Services and Subagents to issue paper plates
02
Aug
By Guest Contributor
0 Comments
Features

License plate shortage will require Auditor Licensing Services and Subagents to issue paper plates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Wednesday, July 28, 2021  CONTACT:  Mary Hall, Thurston County Auditor TCAuditor@co.thurston.wa.us 360.786.5224711 Washington Relay  License plate shortage will require Auditor Licensing Services and Subagents to issue paper plates OLYMPIA – Due to a statewide license plate shortage, the Thurston County Auditor's Office and eight licensing subagents will issue passenger vehicle licensing customers temporary paper permits.  The paper permits will be good for 60 days and can be displayed the same way temporary plates are displayed when purchasing a car from a dealer. Licensing customers will also be issued tabs that they can attach to their metal plates once they are available.   The shortage is only impacting passenger vehicle licensing customers. Truck, trailer and motorcycles licensing customers are not impacted.  Licensing subagents are private businesses overseen by the County Auditor's…
Read More
2021 Olympia City Council Position 7 Candidates
22
Jul
By Mindy Chambers
0 Comments
2021 Elections, City of Olympia, Columns, Contributors, Features, Mindy Chambers

2021 Olympia City Council Position 7 Candidates

Heard around Olympia: “I don’t know anything about these people.” What people? These people: The 14 who are running for five seats on the Olympia City Council. Of the five races, four have primary races involving three candidates. In each of the four, two will advance based on the August 3 primary election results. That’s a lot of candidates, and it is unusual for five seats to be up for grabs in a single year. The races are non-partisan and despite the fact that council candidates run for a position, all are elected “at-large,” meaning city residents may vote in…
Read More
2021 Olympia City Council Position 2 Candidates
22
Jul
By Mindy Chambers
0 Comments
2021 Elections, City of Olympia, Columns, Contributors, Features, Mindy Chambers

2021 Olympia City Council Position 2 Candidates

Heard around Olympia: “I don’t know anything about these people.” What people? These people: The 14 who are running for five seats on the Olympia City Council. Of the five races, four have primary races involving three candidates. In each of the four, two will advance based on the August 3 primary election results. That’s a lot of candidates, and it is unusual for five seats to be up for grabs in a single year. The races are non-partisan and despite the fact that council candidates run for a position, all are elected “at-large,” meaning city residents may vote in…
Read More
2021 Olympia City Council Position 6 Candidates
20
Jul
By Mindy Chambers
0 Comments
2021 Elections, City of Olympia, Columns, Contributors, Features, Mindy Chambers

2021 Olympia City Council Position 6 Candidates

Heard around Olympia: “I don’t know anything about these people.” What people? These people: The 14 who are running for five seats on the Olympia City Council. Of the five races, four have primary races involving three candidates. In each of the four, two will advance based on the August 3 primary election results. That’s a lot of candidates, and it is unusual for five seats to be up for grabs in a single year. The races are non-partisan and despite the fact that council candidates run for a position, all are elected “at-large,” meaning city residents may vote in…
Read More
Olympia City Council Position 5 Candidates
19
Jul
By Mindy Chambers
0 Comments
2021 Elections, City of Olympia, Columns, Contributors, Features, Mindy Chambers

Olympia City Council Position 5 Candidates

Heard around Olympia: “I don’t know anything about these people.” What people? These people: The 14 who are running for five seats on the Olympia City Council. Of the five races, four have primary races involving three candidates. In each of the four, two will advance based on the August 3 primary election results. That’s a lot of candidates, and it is unusual for five seats to be up for grabs in a single year. The races are non-partisan and despite the fact that council candidates run for a position, all are elected “at-large,” meaning city residents may vote in…
Read More
Olympia City Council Position 4 Candidates
19
Jul
By Mindy Chambers
0 Comments
2021 Elections, City of Olympia, Columns, Contributors, Features, Mindy Chambers

Olympia City Council Position 4 Candidates

Heard around Olympia: “I don’t know anything about these people.” What people? These people: The 14 who are running for five seats on the Olympia City Council. Of the five races, four have primary races involving three candidates. In each of the four, two will advance based on the August 3 primary election results. That’s a lot of candidates, and it is unusual for five seats to be up for grabs in a single year. The races are non-partisan and despite the fact that council candidates run for a position, all are elected “at-large,” meaning city residents may vote in…
Read More
2021 Port of Olympia Commissioner District 3 Candidate Profiles
16
Jul
By Mindy Chambers
0 Comments
2021 Elections, Columns, Contributors, Features, Mindy Chambers

2021 Port of Olympia Commissioner District 3 Candidate Profiles

Editor's Note: Commissioner District 3 is the largest of the three commissioner districts, but that's due to the fact that Capitol Forest takes up about half of it. It's on the west end of Thurston County and includes the cities of Tumwater and Bucoda, a sliver of Tenino, the western half of Olympia, and a bit of the Chehalis Indian Reservation in the southwest corner. The Port of Olympia, a sprawling public enterprise that’s been besieged by controversy and is millions of dollars in debt, will have two new commissioners in 2022. The decision by Commissioner E.J. Zita (Port District…
Read More
2021 Port of Olympia Commissioner District 2 Candidates
15
Jul
By Mindy Chambers
0 Comments
2021 Elections, Columns, Contributors, Features, Mindy Chambers

2021 Port of Olympia Commissioner District 2 Candidates

Editor's Note: District 2 is the easternmost commissioner district in Thurston County. Its eastern border follows the meandering Nisqually River. District 2 includes much of Lacey including the Jubilee and Hawk's Prairie areas and includes parts of the Nisqually Indian Reservation and Joint Base Lewis McChord and the cities of Rainier and Yelm. The Port of Olympia, a sprawling public enterprise that’s been besieged by controversy and is millions of dollars in debt, will have two new commissioners in 2022. The decision by Commissioner E.J. Zita (Port District 3) to not seek re-election had been expected. Commissioner Bill McGregor’s (Port…
Read More