Other Candidates
There are several other candidates running for Thurston County Commissioner in District 1. The incumbent, John "Hutch" Hutchings, is a former law enforcement officer running to reduce regulations on business and preserve open space. Recently, Hutchings voted to remove the sheriff's office from a 2 percent budget cut from all county departments, signaling his priorities in a time when other departments like public health will receive a deeper cut.
Democrat David Gaw is running to bring rural voices and needs to the forefront. He supports both the county's rescindment of the courthouse tax proposition and the pursuit of a new courthouse facility. His top priorities are managing the budget and preserving the county's green spaces.
Bud Blake is a former District 3 Thurston County Commissioner who lost his seat to Democrat Tye Menser in 2018. As a commissioner, Blake was a moderately conservative voice and did not pursue progressive reforms in his tenure, including abstaining from voting on regional climate goals. This cycle he is prioritizing economy recovery and public safety, specifically, getting "a sufficient number of deputies."
C Davis, who ran for Rep. Laurie Dolan's seat on an anti-tax libertarian platform in 2018, has no campaign details on his website but says in his voter's guide statement that he wants to send the homeless into "labor-based drug treatment or into the legal system," fund more sheriffs, and de-regulate building permits.
Thurston D 1 - others
There are several other candidates running for Thurston County Commissioner in District 1. The incumbent, John "Hutch" Hutchings, is a former law enforcement officer running to reduce regulations on business and preserve open space.