Throughout my career, I have always believed in the power of good government and the importance of giving back to the community. With a professional background spanning 27 years as a reporter and editor for five daily newspapers, nearly six years in public relations for the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, and a decade as a public information officer for the Washington Department of Health, I bring a wealth of experience in communication, collaboration, and public engagement to my work in public service. Retiring in November 2017 allowed me to dedicate myself fully to these community roles, and I remain steadfast in my commitment to fostering a thriving, inclusive, and sustainable future for the place I am proud to call home.

It's been the honor of my life to serve you for the last eight years, and I once again ask for your vote and support as I seek re-election to the Lacey City Council.

Together, we can continue to build a community that reflects our shared values and aspirations.

With more than 20 years of experience at the intersection of science, sustainability, and public service, I’m committed to making government operations more environmentally responsible—because what we buy, how we build, and how we lead matters.

I'm also deeply involved in our community, volunteering with organizations like Family Education and Support Services, the Family Support Center, and ASHHO. Supporting local causes and helping neighbors thrive is at the heart of everything I do.

In my free time, I love to travel with my mom, exploring new cultures and gathering ideas to bring back to Tumwater. You'll also find me walking my rescue pug, Beatrice, and catching up with neighbors. Serving this city is my passion, and I'm ready to lead as your Mayor to help Tumwater shine even brighter!

Melissa has proudly served on the Tumwater School Board since 2016 and currently leads as Board President. Throughout her tenure, she has focused on expanding student voice, strengthening community partnerships, and ensuring access to high quality programs for every student. She has been a driving force behind building meaningful relationships between the school district, the Nisqually Tribe, and the Tumwater City Council—helping to foster stronger, more inclusive partnerships that benefit all students.

A champion for student and community engagement, Melissa increased student representation on the board from two to six members, ensuring students have a direct voice in shaping their education. She has also worked to expand opportunities for families and community members to participate in school decision-making, making the district more transparent and responsive to those it serves.

I’m Maren Turner—policy leader, community advocate, and proud resident of Lacey. I’ve dedicated my career to fighting for equity, strengthening services for seniors and vulnerable populations, and uniting people to tackle complex challenges. Now, I am running for Lacey City Council because I believe in the power of local government to create lasting, meaningful changes in people’s lives.

As the Office Chief for Washington’s Aging and Long-Term Services Administration, I lead a team of 35 professionals managing essential Medicaid programs that serve our elders and individuals with disabilities. I have the skills to navigate complex systems, secure funding, and deliver results—abilities I will bring to the Council.

I am a first generation Olympian who moved to Olympia in 2005. Since then, my husband and I have been able to truly settle here, building community and connections, and are now raising our own family in the northeast neighborhood.

In my day job I am the Vice President for Advancement at SPSCC. This role has allowed me to be highly engaged with regional partners in our city and county governments,  area non-profit organizations, economic and business development organizations, employers of all sizes, regional Tribal partners, and many wonderful individuals throughout Olympia. 

I was appointed to the Olympia City Council, position 5, in January 2025.  I am running to retain the position so I can continue to serve this City that means so much to me.

Meghan Sullivan’s Tumwater roots run deep. A proud graduate of Tumwater High School, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education from Western Washington University and went on to complete a Master of Public Administration in nonprofit leadership and public policy at The Evergreen State College. Since 2011, Meghan and her family have called Tumwater home—and she quickly stepped up to serve, joining the Carlyon North Neighborhood Association board just months after moving in.

Since 2013, Meghan has been a leader at TOGETHER!, serving in both Executive Director and Deputy Director roles. Under her guidance, the nonprofit has expanded its reach across Thurston County and beyond—tackling critical community challenges and empowering residents. In 2016, former Mayor Pete Kmet invited her to join the Tumwater Planning Commission; Meghan’s thoughtful approach and collaborative spirit earned her four years as Vice Chair and one year as Chair. Today, she continues that commitment as a board member of the Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason & Thurston Counties.

I am running for Tumwater City Council, Position 6 to ensure that everyone in our community has a voice in the decision making process. Our city deserves a proven leader who is prepared to address tough issues, through regional collaboration, to get successful results.

We need to ensure that our children have a safe and inclusive community to grow up in. It is vital that we increase transportation accessibility, protect our environment, support local small businesses and residents as they recover from the COVID-19 economy, and create more affordable housing.

I will use my experience as a community liaison, data analyst, and subject matter expert to create community-centered policies that work for EVERYONE and get to the root causes of our most pressing issues.

I hope that you will trust me with your vote on November 3rd, so that I can make this vision representative of your values and your voice!

I moved to Yelm in 2017 to run the local health center while finishing my master’s at the University of Washington. I didn’t expect to stay but Yelm quickly became home. Today, I live here with my husband and our two dogs, and I’m proud to serve on the Thurston County Veterans Advisory Board and with the Yelm Lions Club.

As a veteran and lifelong public servant, I’ve led programs to prevent illness and injury, managed community health centers, and built partnerships to improve care for underserved populations. With a deep commitment to collaboration and results, I’m ready to bring that same focus and leadership to Yelm City Council.

I have lived in Thurston County for 35 years. My family and I moved to the Tumwater School District eleven years ago, and both my granddaughters are now students in the district. I spent 27 years as a youth librarian working closely with teachers, administration, and families in our local public schools.

Tumwater School Board directors have responsibilities that include: budget, policy development, curriculum approval, planning, and communications. The Tumwater School District faces enormous challenges, as do many public schools across the country. Not the least of these challenges are potential budget shortfalls. I was elected to represent my community for three terms on the Yelm City Council and served nine years on the Budget Committee. That experience gives me the technical know-how to understand these issues and effect practical solutions to achieve positive outcomes for our community​.

It is an honor of a lifetime to be the Mayor of the city I was born and raised, and I’ll continue to pour my heart and soul into doing everything I can to continue to make our city the best it can possibly be!

As a recently appointed school board director I am passionate about ensuring success for all students and my work is not yet done. I am running for election to continue this work and my support of public education.

I hope to support the district in ongoing improvement in student performance as we continue to recover from the pandemic. I hope that we continue to foster an environment where all students and staff feel welcome, safe, supported, and engaged in their education.

Lacey’s parks are where our community comes together—where kids learn to play, neighbors gather, seniors stay active, and families make memories. Proposition 1 ensures we can continue to grow and care for the parks, trails, and programs that make Lacey a place people love to call home.

This measure creates a Metropolitan Park District, providing dedicated, stable funding for Lacey’s parks system. For less than $20 a month for the average homeowner, this investment protects and enhances our quality of life—now and for future generations. The plan is clear: build new parks, add new park features, repair aging playgrounds, build long-awaited projects throughout Lacey such as spray parks, indoor playgrounds, and additional trails and access to natural spaces.

I have lived in Thurston County my whole life, and I care a lot about our community and our Port. I want to create a future and a port that works for everyone. My vision comes from the many years I have spent helping on boards and other groups, like non-profits, the Thurston County Planning Commission, and the Port of Olympia Citizens Advisory Committee.

As your Port Commissioner, I will work hard on three things: creating good jobs that pay well, helping the environment so we can leave a healthy place for future generations, and making sure everyone in Thurston County can benefit from our Port, no matter who they are.

Paul Berendt is a dedicated resident and active community member of Olympia and Thurston County for over 40 years. His career includes notable public works and emergency services advocacy in the Washington State Legislature. From January 1995 to January 2006, he served as the chairman of the Washington State Democratic Party.

Paul is a devoted husband and father to a graduate of the Olympia School District, reflecting his deep ties to the local community.

Justin Stang is a 14-year resident of Olympia who lives on the Westside with his wife, Willow, a public school teacher, and their beloved dog, Mr. Rogers. Over the years, Justin has experienced life in Olympia from many perspectives: as a downtown renter and musician working to make ends meet, a homeowner, a small business owner, and now a rental property owner.

With strong ties to Olympia’s restaurant and small business community, Justin brings a collaborative spirit and a unique ability to connect people across different backgrounds. He believes that addressing Olympia’s biggest challenges will require more people at the table, and he’s ready to help bring them there.

Justin holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from Providence College and is a graduate of the AgForestry Leadership Program, where he received the Karl and Lexie Kupers Leadership Award for innovative, creative, and risk-taking leadership. His deep roots, real-world experience, and collaborative spirit fuel his commitment to making Olympia an even better place to live for everyone.

Robert comes from a proud working-class family that values hard work and determination. His mother and stepfather are teachers, his father and stepmother run small businesses, and his grandparents worked as factory workers, electricians, and caregivers. His family history includes many generations of farmers, craftspeople, and coal miners—people who worked long hours to create a better life for their kids and grandkids. Robert understands that Olympians are some of the hardest-working people, often putting in a lot of effort to succeed. He believes they deserve fairness for all the hard work they do.

In his first year in office, Robert helped pass laws to protect renters and tackle the affordable housing crisis. As someone who has been a renter and worked two jobs—one in state government and the other on City Council—he understands how difficult high rents, low wages, and the rising cost of living can be. Robert's main goals will be to strengthen worker protections, increase affordable housing so that people who work in Olympia can afford to live there, and promote climate goals through better transportation and housing development.

Robert has a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Political History from The Evergreen State College. Currently, Robert is a member of several committees, including the Land Use and Environment Committee, the Transportation Policy Board, and the Sea Level Rise Governance Committee. Committed to his community, Robert regularly attends local events and encourages public engagement.

Just like you, I am proud to call Olympia my home.

My core values are trust, cooperation, honesty, respect for all and for the health of our planet.

I respond to people with problems. Whether it's a downtown business owner concerned about public health and safety, people with disabilities who can't access public spaces, or a neighborhood street issue.

When they call, I call back.

We need to examine our taxes and fees to be sure we collect enough to fund essential city services, while ensuring those taxes and fees are equitable.

I've spent more days in a raincoat than a suitcoat.

I am a listener and a builder. I appreciate the diverse voices from every corner of our City. I collaborate with people to identify a problem, make a plan, estimate the costs and get to work. Like you, I am tired of endless, repetitive studies of issues.

I have experience on the Council and want to accomplish even more on your behalf.

I want to be on the Lacey City Council so I can help build a stronger, more resilient community that supports small businesses and protects the most vulnerable in our community. I want to represent my community and be part of increasing transparency to voters. When I listen to the news and feel frustrated by the lack of control I have at the national level, finding a way to become more engaged locally gives me hope and purpose.

I have been a Peace Corps Volunteer, small business owner and a teacher. Through each of these experiences I have had to work with other people, across cultures and even language barriers to create plans and accomplish goals. These skills uniquely situate me to work with other members of the council and the other city or county departments to work on strategic plans and facilitate cooperation between them.

As a biracial person I will be a voice for people of color on the Lacey City Council. I recognize that my experiences are not representative of all of those who live in Lacey but I will be open to listening to differing viewpoints and stories of how marginalized groups have been impacted by policies and practices of the city. Hearing their stories and incorporating them into new policies in order to prevent future harms is important to me. Recognizing and naming previous harms is an important step in moving forward and healing as a society.

My mom was a pre-school teacher and my dad was a federal employee - both graduated from public schools; they entrusted my education to public schools; and now my own kid is attending high school in the Tumwater School District. Public education is in my veins, along with a strong commitment to public service.

Public education helped prepare me for a career as a policy professional where I’ve spent over 25 years helping lawmakers understand the real-life impacts of the choices they make. I have a long track record of working hard to solve problems that impact children and families in Washington.

As the Deputy Director for Government Affairs at the Department of Children, Youth and Families, I work every day to analyze the impacts of government budgets and public policies on children and families and communicate with elected officials so they can make the right decisions for Washington families.

Tumwater Schools deserve leaders that believe in public schools, value teachers, understand budgets and financial stewardship, and will fight for policies to help every student succeed. I ask for your support and hope you will join me in this fight.

Hello, I’m Renee, and I’m honored to be seeking the role of Olympia School Board Director for District 3. I am an experienced leader and public servant with relationships that span Washington’s educational and workforce systems. I bring creative thinking, a demonstrated track record in policy development, a commitment to transparency, and a comfort with complexity—all of which I will bring to the work of supporting every student in our district.

My name is Gilbert Lamont, and I’m proud to be a father of two young children beginning their journey in the Olympia School District. I’m also a husband to a dedicated career educator, a military veteran, and a data analyst with a deep commitment to public service.

As our family becomes part of the OSD community, I’m inspired to contribute by supporting our incredible teachers, administrators, families, and neighbors in creating the best possible educational experience for every student.

I believe that when we keep students at the heart of our conversations and decisions, we build a stronger, more inclusive, and more effective school system; one that lifts up every child and reflects the values of our community.

I'm running for Cemetery Commissioner because I believe every community deserves dignity, fairness, and respect in how we honor loved ones and support families. I want to bring compassion, transparency, and equity to this role while ensuring employees and constituents are treated with care and equal opportunity. I hope to bring honesty and respect to my position by making monthly board meetings more accessible to the public and ensuring meeting minutes are available online for all who have an interest in the cemetery. I will also work to make responsible financial decisions within the cemetery with a focus on responsible and respectful care of cemetery land. It is also important to me to restore respectful communication between the cemetery and families and community partners.