No matter what type of job workers are in, strong unions allow workers to speak out for fairness for all working people in their communities and create better standards and a strong middle class across the country. Washington Federation of State Employees, AFSCME Council 28, the AFL-CIO and all unions envision a future in which work and all people who work are valued, respected and rewarded.
Depending on where you live, you may have the following county races on your ballot.
Emily Clouse is running for Thurston County Commission to represent the newly-created District 5. Clouse is the executive director of CARE Olympia, a nonprofit that connects formerly-incarcerated youth with counseling, education, and mutual aid. She is also a union member through her work in human services, and she is a veteran of the U.S. Army, where she worked as a military intelligence analyst.
If elected, Clouse would prioritize funding programs that serve youth and families, protecting the environment, and ensuring working people can all access affordable homes. Her platform contains bold, progressive proposals like powering utilities through renewable public power instead of wealthy fossil fuel corporations, bringing social housing and mandatory affordable housing to the county, and creating a new board with the sheriff's office to include the voices of people impacted by the legal system. While she works to create more housing that working people can afford, she would also fund case managers to work with residents of existing camps and RV settlements to help them transition to permanent homes.
Terry S. Ballard is Clouse’s conservative opponent for Thurston County Commission, District 5. He believes climate change is not a “here and now” issue and has made very divisive statements regarding people struggling with addiction. If elected, he would prioritize removing county offices from Olympia and allowing developers to build on land without mitigating their impact on the habitats of protected species.
Clouse's strong emphasis on racial equity and her dedication to restorative justice makes her an excellent choice to represent Thurston County, District 5.
Emily Clouse is running for Thurston County Commission to represent the newly-created District 5. Clouse is the executive director of CARE Olympia, a nonprofit that connects formerly-incarcerated youth with counseling, education, and mutual aid. She is also a union member through her work in human services, and she is a veteran of the U.S. Army, where she worked as a military intelligence analyst.
If elected, Clouse would prioritize funding programs that serve youth and families, protecting the environment, and ensuring working people can all access affordable homes. Her platform contains bold, progressive proposals like powering utilities through renewable public power instead of wealthy fossil fuel corporations, bringing social housing and mandatory affordable housing to the county, and creating a new board with the sheriff's office to include the voices of people impacted by the legal system. While she works to create more housing that working people can afford, she would also fund case managers to work with residents of existing camps and RV settlements to help them transition to permanent homes.
Terry S. Ballard is Clouse’s conservative opponent for Thurston County Commission, District 5. He believes climate change is not a “here and now” issue and has made very divisive statements regarding people struggling with addiction. If elected, he would prioritize removing county offices from Olympia and allowing developers to build on land without mitigating their impact on the habitats of protected species.
Clouse's strong emphasis on racial equity and her dedication to restorative justice makes her an excellent choice to represent Thurston County, District 5.
Emily Clouse is running for Thurston County Commission to represent the newly-created District 5. Clouse is the executive director of CARE Olympia, a nonprofit that connects formerly-incarcerated youth with counseling, education, and mutual aid. She is also a union member through her work in human services, and she is a veteran of the U.S. Army, where she worked as a military intelligence analyst.
If elected, Clouse would prioritize funding programs that serve youth and families, protecting the environment, and ensuring working people can all access affordable homes. Her platform contains bold, progressive proposals like powering utilities through renewable public power instead of wealthy fossil fuel corporations, bringing social housing and mandatory affordable housing to the county, and creating a new board with the sheriff's office to include the voices of people impacted by the legal system. While she works to create more housing that working people can afford, she would also fund case managers to work with residents of existing camps and RV settlements to help them transition to permanent homes.
Terry S. Ballard is Clouse’s conservative opponent for Thurston County Commission, District 5. He believes climate change is not a “here and now” issue and has made very divisive statements regarding people struggling with addiction. If elected, he would prioritize removing county offices from Olympia and allowing developers to build on land without mitigating their impact on the habitats of protected species.
Clouse's strong emphasis on racial equity and her dedication to restorative justice makes her an excellent choice to represent Thurston County, District 5.
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below races on your ballot.
Jasmine Vasavada is running in District 1 for the Port of Olympia seat being vacated by the retiring Commissioner Joe Downing. Vasavada is the director of policy and government affairs for the Washington State Department of Commerce where she strives to help Washington communities and economies thrive. She has worked in public service for years and, before that, she used her law degree for public interest advocacy and legislation.
Vasavada is running on a broadly progressive platform to generate community economic prosperity, protect Thurston’s ecosystem, and build a culture of diversity and belonging at the port. She wants to invest in broadband for rural farms and ranches, innovate support for small businesses, create living wage jobs, clean up Budd Bay, restore the Deschutes Estuary, and collaborate with the community, including seeking partnerships with tribal governments. In this race, Vasavada has been endorsed by progressive elected leaders at the state and local level and by community organizations including political, labor, and advocacy groups.
Vasavada is facing Bill McGregor, a former commissioner who served on Olympia’s elected port commission for 15 years. Before that, he spent his decades-long career working at a number of different Washington ports in high-level operations positions, including at the Port of Olympia. McGregor is also active on a number of community boards. If elected to serve again, he wants to improve economic investment in the community, prioritize environmental stewardship, and lead by engaging the community. Unfortunately, in 2021, McGregor vocally opposed public health guidelines that were put in place to keep us all safe during the pandemic.
We recommend Vasavada for Port of Olympia, District 1 because of her strong platform and impressive endorsements from progressive advocates.
Jasmine Vasavada is running in District 1 for the Port of Olympia seat being vacated by the retiring Commissioner Joe Downing. Vasavada is the director of policy and government affairs for the Washington State Department of Commerce where she strives to help Washington communities and economies thrive. She has worked in public service for years and, before that, she used her law degree for public interest advocacy and legislation.
Vasavada is running on a broadly progressive platform to generate community economic prosperity, protect Thurston’s ecosystem, and build a culture of diversity and belonging at the port. She wants to invest in broadband for rural farms and ranches, innovate support for small businesses, create living wage jobs, clean up Budd Bay, restore the Deschutes Estuary, and collaborate with the community, including seeking partnerships with tribal governments. In this race, Vasavada has been endorsed by progressive elected leaders at the state and local level and by community organizations including political, labor, and advocacy groups.
Vasavada is facing Bill McGregor, a former commissioner who served on Olympia’s elected port commission for 15 years. Before that, he spent his decades-long career working at a number of different Washington ports in high-level operations positions, including at the Port of Olympia. McGregor is also active on a number of community boards. If elected to serve again, he wants to improve economic investment in the community, prioritize environmental stewardship, and lead by engaging the community. Unfortunately, in 2021, McGregor vocally opposed public health guidelines that were put in place to keep us all safe during the pandemic.
We recommend Vasavada for Port of Olympia, District 1 because of her strong platform and impressive endorsements from progressive advocates.
Jasmine Vasavada is running in District 1 for the Port of Olympia seat being vacated by the retiring Commissioner Joe Downing. Vasavada is the director of policy and government affairs for the Washington State Department of Commerce where she strives to help Washington communities and economies thrive. She has worked in public service for years and, before that, she used her law degree for public interest advocacy and legislation.
Vasavada is running on a broadly progressive platform to generate community economic prosperity, protect Thurston’s ecosystem, and build a culture of diversity and belonging at the port. She wants to invest in broadband for rural farms and ranches, innovate support for small businesses, create living wage jobs, clean up Budd Bay, restore the Deschutes Estuary, and collaborate with the community, including seeking partnerships with tribal governments. In this race, Vasavada has been endorsed by progressive elected leaders at the state and local level and by community organizations including political, labor, and advocacy groups.
Vasavada is facing Bill McGregor, a former commissioner who served on Olympia’s elected port commission for 15 years. Before that, he spent his decades-long career working at a number of different Washington ports in high-level operations positions, including at the Port of Olympia. McGregor is also active on a number of community boards. If elected to serve again, he wants to improve economic investment in the community, prioritize environmental stewardship, and lead by engaging the community. Unfortunately, in 2021, McGregor vocally opposed public health guidelines that were put in place to keep us all safe during the pandemic.
We recommend Vasavada for Port of Olympia, District 1 because of her strong platform and impressive endorsements from progressive advocates.
