Above: Newly sworn-in City of Olympia councilmember Renata Rollins, left, and her partner, Walker Lynn, were all smiles after a ceremony Thursday afternoon for Thurston County's November election winners. Rollins is a social worker and community advocate with experience working on homelessness and downtown safety issues.
By Janine Gates
Little Hollywood
https://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com
It was all hugs, handshakes and smiles at a swearing-in ceremony Thursday afternoon for Thurston County's November election winners.
The event, held at the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, was open to the public.
The event, held at the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, was open to the public.
Thurston
County Auditor Mary Hall administered the oaths of office for Thurston County treasurer,
port commissioners, city and town councilmembers, school board directors, fire
commissioners and more.
According to
the final tally, the number of registered voters in Thurston County was 176,312
and the total ballots counted were 60,478 for a voter turnout of just 34.3 percent.
The newly elected officials, many of whom had never run for public office before, worked hard for their positions, and now have a whole host of pressing issues to address.
Above: Phoenix Wendt speaks with Lacey city councilmembers Cynthia Pratt and Carolyn Cox. Pratt ran unopposed for reelection and Cox won her election against Ken Balsley with 54.87 percent of the vote.
Houseless issue advocate Phoenix Wendt eagerly worked the room, speaking with new Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater city councilmembers. Wendt, a resident of The Jungle of Hope, Olympia's largest homeless encampment, said she will be looking to the cities of Tumwater and Lacey for help in finding solutions for the region's houseless residents.
For the City of Olympia, new councilmembers Lisa Parshley and Renata Rollins, along with Councilmembers Clark Gilman and Jim Cooper who each won their races, will likely change city conversations and priorities. All their wins were by significant margins.
Renata Rollins won her election for Position 6
against incumbent Jeannine Roe with 53.8 percent of the vote.
Rollins, a social worker and community advocate with experience working on homelessness and downtown safety issues, says her priorities will be to protect and expand affordable housing, take climate change seriously, stand up for equality and stand up to hate groups.
Rollins, a social worker and community advocate with experience working on homelessness and downtown safety issues, says her priorities will be to protect and expand affordable housing, take climate change seriously, stand up for equality and stand up to hate groups.
Lisa Parshley won her election for Position
5 against candidate Allen Miller with 62.28 percent of the vote. The seat was open because Councilmember Julie Hankins chose not to run for reelection.
Parshley is a veterinarian specializing in oncology. She says the environment, homelessness, and living wage issues are tied together and are her priorities.
Parshley is a veterinarian specializing in oncology. She says the environment, homelessness, and living wage issues are tied together and are her priorities.
As for the Port
of Olympia, the budget, cargo contracts and related decisions are expected to remain the
same with the reelection of Port of Olympia Commissioner Bill McGregor.
Port of
Olympia Commissioner Bill McGregor narrowly won reelection to his District 2
seat with 50.74 percent of the vote against candidate Bill Fishburn, for a
final difference of 802 votes.
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