City of Olympia

Small business owner and community leader Bill Fishburn is running for Port of Olympia to improve ethics and transparency on the commission. Fishburn aims to support local farms and businesses while providing much-needed jobs for veterans.

Fishburn is challenging incumbent Bill McGregor, whose track record on key issues skews conservative. For his fresh perspective on revitalizing the Port of Olympia, Bill Fishburn is the clear choice in this race.

Incumbent E.J. Zita is running for re-election to the Port of Olympia Commissioner District 3 seat. A faculty member at the Evergreen State College, Zita is a progressive who has worked hard to ensure that local taxes and economic investments at the port serve the whole community and enhance the environment. Throughout her tenure, Zita has prioritized providing sustainable economic opportunities for all, and holding the port to higher accountability standard that safeguard the interests of farms, residential areas, and schools.

E.J. Zita is running against challenger Gigi McClure, who is not running a progressive campaign - McClure is in favor of the port continuing to ship fracking sands. For her proven track record on delivering quality results, we recommend Zita in this race.

Incumbent Clark Gilman has worked for the Carpenter's Union in several capacities. He has also worked as a clean energy advocate for Climate Solutions, a labor educator at The Evergreen State College Labor Education and Research Center, and as a paraeducator at South Sound High School. In his time on the council, Gilman has advocated for many progressive policies, including supporting a day warming center for the homeless, mitigating tree removal for the new roundabout at Boulevard Road, starting an initiative to combat racism in the police department, and supporting changes to regressive tax codes that will help the vulnerable.

Also running for Position 4 is Max Brown. At 24, Brown was the youngest Planning Commission chair in Olympia history. Currently a management analyst, he is focused on combating climate change locally, promoting sustainability, and supporting a prosperous, local business-focused downtown. We give the edge to Gilman in this race for his proven progressive track record.

Lisa Parshley is running for Olympia City Council Position 5. Parshley is a local veterinary oncologist. Her campaign priorities include supporting small businesses, mitigating climate change locally, and promoting healthy and inclusive communities.

Parshley is running against perennial candidate Allen Miller, who leans conservative on some issues. Parshley is the better choice in this race.

Elected to the Olympia City Council in 2011 and reelected in 2013, Jim Cooper is the CEO of the United Way of the Pacific Northwest. He holds several local leadership roles, including Chair of the City Council Finance Committee, Chair of the Olympic Regional Clean Air Agency Board, and President of the Olympia Metropolitan Parks District.

Cooper helped create an air quality monitoring program at the Olympia Regional Clean Air Agency. He also had a hand in the creation of the Thurston Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force. If re-elected, Cooper will continue to focus on seeking racial, gender, and economic justice for residents of Olympia, including bringing in more living wage jobs, establishing the Olympia Human Rights Commission, preserving the environment, and fighting climate change locally.

He is running against Libertarian Daniel Marsh, whose platform includes increasing public safety and promoting free trade in Olympia. Cooper is the best choice in this race.

Scott Clifthorne is a consultant and the current president of a local parent-teacher organization at his son's elementary school. He volunteers as a coach for youth soccer and high school debate, and has served on the Olympia Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Clifthorne's campaign is focused on community engagement and equity strategies - providing outreach to all areas of the community for input on education issues, supporting evidence-based equity strategies like hiring more teachers of color to help students of color succeed, and supporting public alternative programs as a roadblock to the privatization of education.

He is running against incumbent Mark Campeau. Campeau is the current board president and has focused his previous campaigns on reducing class size and supporting students who need help to achieve grade-level goals. Clifthorne is the most progressive candidate in this race.