City of Tumwater

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Statewide Ballot Measures

Advisory Vote #36

  • VOTE MAINTAINED

    Vote Maintained to strengthen mental health crisis support

  • This spring, lawmakers passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1477 to expand the state’s crisis response system to include a new hotline dealing exclusively with mental health emergencies.

    Sponsored by Democratic legislators, the law will divert some calls away from 911 so that Washingtonians can get more specialized crisis responses. In addition, law enforcement officers no longer need to take on responsibilities associated with social workers. This will be funded by a tax of 30 cents a month on most phone services in October 2021 until a bump to 75 cents a month starting in July 2024. All revenue generated by the tax will go to crisis line-related expenses, including expanding hotline personnel during the community mental health crisis associated with the pandemic.

    Vote “Maintained” on State Advisory Vote 36.

    This spring, lawmakers passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1477 to expand the state’s crisis response system to include a new hotline dealing exclusively with mental health emergencies.

    Sponsored by Democratic legislators, the law will divert some calls away from 911 so that Washingtonians can get more specialized crisis responses. In addition, law enforcement officers no longer need to take on responsibilities associated with social workers. This will be funded by a tax of 30 cents a month on most phone services in October 2021 until a bump to 75 cents a month starting in July 2024. All revenue generated by the tax will go to crisis line-related expenses, including expanding hotline personnel during the community mental health crisis associated with the pandemic.

    Vote “Maintained” on State Advisory Vote 36.

    • Endorsed By: The Stranger

Advisory Vote #37

  • VOTE MAINTAINED

    Vote Maintained to balance our tax code

  • Washingtonians deserve an economy that works for us all. An essential part of that is a balanced tax code where everyone pays their share. Yet, Washington boasts the most upside-down system in the nation, where the state’s lowest-income earners pay 17% of their income in taxes while the wealthiest few pay just 3% of their income.

    This legislative session, Democratic lawmakers wrote and passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5096, which created a 7% capital gains tax on the sale of assets like stocks valued above $250,000. The tax is estimated to raise about $415 million primarily for child care and early learning - both services that became clearly essential to Washingtonians during the coronavirus pandemic.

    We know that good public schools, beautiful parks, and strong social services make Washington a great place to live. This long-overdue capital gains tax will go towards making sure that all Washingtonians pay their share in taxes and have the opportunity to thrive.

    Vote "Maintained" on State Advisory Vote 37.

    Washingtonians deserve an economy that works for us all. An essential part of that is a balanced tax code where everyone pays their share. Yet, Washington boasts the most upside-down system in the nation, where the state’s lowest-income earners pay 17% of their income in taxes while the wealthiest few pay just 3% of their income.

    This legislative session, Democratic lawmakers wrote and passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5096, which created a 7% capital gains tax on the sale of assets like stocks valued above $250,000. The tax is estimated to raise about $415 million primarily for child care and early learning - both services that became clearly essential to Washingtonians during the coronavirus pandemic.

    We know that good public schools, beautiful parks, and strong social services make Washington a great place to live. This long-overdue capital gains tax will go towards making sure that all Washingtonians pay their share in taxes and have the opportunity to thrive.

    Vote "Maintained" on State Advisory Vote 37.

    • Endorsed By: The Stranger

Advisory Vote #38

  • VOTE MAINTAINED

    Vote Maintained to close a tax loophole for insurance companies

  • In the most recent legislative session, lawmakers passed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5315, which creates a 2% tax on certain insurance premiums. In effect, the law would close a tax loophole for corporations with their own insurance policies, known as captive insurers, so that all insurance companies pay premiums taxes. It is estimated to generate around $53 million over the next decade.

    SB 5315 had bipartisan sponsorship and was passed nearly unanimously with only one vote of opposition between both houses. The legislation was requested by Democratic Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, who wants to make sure that all insurance companies pay their share of taxes.

    Ensuring big corporations pay their share is an important step toward balancing our state's tax code. Vote “Maintained” on State Advisory Vote 38.

    In the most recent legislative session, lawmakers passed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5315, which creates a 2% tax on certain insurance premiums. In effect, the law would close a tax loophole for corporations with their own insurance policies, known as captive insurers, so that all insurance companies pay premiums taxes. It is estimated to generate around $53 million over the next decade.

    SB 5315 had bipartisan sponsorship and was passed nearly unanimously with only one vote of opposition between both houses. The legislation was requested by Democratic Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, who wants to make sure that all insurance companies pay their share of taxes.

    Ensuring big corporations pay their share is an important step toward balancing our state's tax code. Vote “Maintained” on State Advisory Vote 38.

    • Endorsed By: The Stranger

Tumwater Mayor

Tumwater Mayor

  • Debbie Sullivan photo

    Debbie Sullivan

    Website Facebook Endorsements

  • Tumwater City Council member Debbie Sullivan is running for mayor. Sullivan first joined the council in 2013. Before that, she spent a decade on the city’s planning commission, where she was chair for seven years, and worked as a project manager in the private sector. Sullivan currently chairs the General Government Committee and the Tumwater LEOFF 1 Disability Board, and volunteers with Community Youth Services.

    Since joining the council, Sullivan has been heavily focused on economic growth, including job growth programs and the redevelopment of the brewery property. If elected mayor, Sullivan's priorities will be climate action, equity and social justice work, local business support, and infrastructure and public transit improvements. Her candidacy has support from many progressive and Democratic elected leaders in the area.

    Pamela J. Hanson was first motivated to run for office in 2019 when she launched a campaign for a Tumwater City Council seat to oppose government spending and services. Now, she is challenging Sullivan for mayor with a platform of descrambling a local cable channel and providing notifications for Tumwater city meetings.

    While not a progressive, Debbie Sullivan is the best choice in this race to be Tumwater’s next mayor because of her Democratic support and her leadership experience.

    Debbie Sullivan

    Tumwater City Council member Debbie Sullivan is running for mayor. Sullivan first joined the council in 2013. Before that, she spent a decade on the city’s planning commission, where she was chair for seven years, and worked as a project manager in the private sector.

    Debbie Sullivan

    Tumwater City Council member Debbie Sullivan is running for mayor. Sullivan first joined the council in 2013. Before that, she spent a decade on the city’s planning commission, where she was chair for seven years, and worked as a project manager in the private sector.

    • Endorsed By: Housing Action Fund

Tumwater City Council

Tumwater City Council, Position #2

  • Angela Jefferson photo

    Angela Jefferson

    Website Facebook Endorsements

  • Incumbent Angela Jefferson is running unopposed for Tumwater City Council, Position 2. Jefferson was appointed to the seat in March when Councilmember Tom Oliva vacated the spot. Outside of the council, Jefferson is a personal trainer, licensed massage therapist, and army veteran. She previously served on the Tumwater Planning Commission, the Tumwater Historical Preservation Commission, and the Lacey Parks and Recreation Commission.

    Jefferson is running on a platform that focuses on climate action, reducing homelessness, expanding affordable housing, and supporting local businesses while strategically encouraging new business. If elected, she wants to enact policy to protect the local ecosystem, work with regional partners to create permanent, secure housing for those who need it, and to work directly with small business owners to strengthen the Tumwater business community. In this race, she earned the endorsement of the county Democrats as well as a number of local progressive elected leaders and organizations.

    Jefferson would continue bringing community-focused leadership to the Tumwater City Council. She deserves your vote to retain Position 2 on the Tumwater City Council.

    Angela Jefferson

    Incumbent Angela Jefferson is running unopposed for Tumwater City Council, Position 2. Jefferson was appointed to the seat in March when Councilmember Tom Oliva vacated the spot. Outside of the council, Jefferson is a personal trainer, licensed massage therapist, and army veteran.

    Angela Jefferson

    Incumbent Angela Jefferson is running unopposed for Tumwater City Council, Position 2. Jefferson was appointed to the seat in March when Councilmember Tom Oliva vacated the spot. Outside of the council, Jefferson is a personal trainer, licensed massage therapist, and army veteran.

Tumwater City Council, Position #5

  • Michael Althauser photo

    Michael Althauser

    Website Facebook Endorsements

  • Attorney and incumbent council member Michael Althauser is running unopposed to retain Tumwater City Council, Position 5. Althauser first joined the city council in 2018. Outside of council, he works as a staff attorney at a legal aid and progressive advocacy organization and serves on the board of Washington Bus, which mobilizes voters and develops youth leaders. Althauser is also active with the local Democrats and has served on the Tumwater Planning Commission.

    In office, Althauser has prioritized action on environmental sustainability, affordable housing and reducing homelessness, small business support, and transportation infrastructure investments. He is passionate about investing in the public safety net particularly for working families, addressing housing affordability and security, redeveloping the brewery district, and strengthening local environmental protections. He has earned progressive and Democratic support in this race.

    Michael Althauser deserves your vote to retain Position 5 on the Tumwater City Council.

    Michael Althauser

    Attorney and incumbent council member Michael Althauser is running unopposed to retain Tumwater City Council, Position 5. Althauser first joined the city council in 2018.

    Michael Althauser

    Attorney and incumbent council member Michael Althauser is running unopposed to retain Tumwater City Council, Position 5. Althauser first joined the city council in 2018.

    • Endorsed By: Sierra Club

Tumwater City Council, Position #6

  • Peter Agabi photo

    Peter Agabi

    Website Facebook Endorsements

  • Peter Agabi is running for Position 6 on the Tumwater City Council. Agabi works in health enforcement management systems and consulted with the state Department of Health’s Certificate of Need program for 15 years.

    If elected, Agabi will focus on creating more affordable housing options, preventing homelessness, mitigating climate change, and making Tumwater safer and more inclusive. He also wants to revitalize the historic district and invest in the small business community. Additionally, Agabi aims to build on the progress made by the Thurston Climate Action Team and the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan to build a sustainable future for Tumwater. To get this work done, Agabi wants to partner with local tribes and engage Tumwater residents to have their voices heard.

    Agabi is running against Alex Rossiter, the manager of a mountainboarding shop. He was appointed to and now serves on the Tumwater Historic Preservation Commission as the vice chair. This is Rossiter’s first race and he is prioritizing building a skatepark, designating the entire brewery district as historic, exploring the benefits of regionalization, and supporting small businesses.

    Peter Agabi is the best choice in this race because of his progressive values and his commitment to collaborate with all stakeholders. He deserves your vote for Tumwater City Council, Position 6.

    Peter Agabi

    Peter Agabi is running for Position 6 on the Tumwater City Council. Agabi works in health enforcement management systems and consulted with the state Department of Health’s Certificate of Need program for 15 years.

    Peter Agabi

    Peter Agabi is running for Position 6 on the Tumwater City Council. Agabi works in health enforcement management systems and consulted with the state Department of Health’s Certificate of Need program for 15 years.