City of Tumwater

Leatta Dahloff is running for Mayor of Tumwater after serving two full terms on the city council, as well as a one-year appointment in 2018. She is currently serving as Mayor Pro Tem, having been unanimously chosen by her fellow council members. Dahloff has over 20 years of professional experience as an environmental chemist with the Washington State Departments of Ecology and Enterprise Services. She recently began a new role as Lead SEEP analyst at the Department of Commerce, where she helps state agencies become more environmentally sustainable.

Dahloff's vision for Tumwater includes tackling concerns such as pedestrian safety, accessible transit stops, preventing illegal trash burning, and addressing hate crimes. Dahlhoff is also focused on preserving Tumwater’s rural way of life, protecting green spaces, and supporting agricultural areas essential for farming and livestock.

Dahloff has demonstrated a passionate devotion to her city of Tumwater, both through her volunteer work and her time on the council. Her track record is reflected by the impressive number of endorsements she has earned from the region's elected officials, progressive leaders, and Labor groups. Dahloff is the best choice for Mayor of Tumwater.

Julie Watts is running for Tumwater School Board Director, District 1. Watts is a district parent who felt inspired to run after the current school board introduced an anti-trans student resolution. She felt the resolution made kids less safe in schools and blatantly ignored the state's anti-discriminations laws. Watts is running on a platform to uphold fairness laws and ensure every student feels safe and welcomed as part of the school community.

On May 27th, Watts was among the parents who spoke against the school board's decision to select a handful of speakers at each board meeting, expressing their concern over potential violations of the Public Meetings Act. On the decision, Watts said, "Overall, I think there is not a lot of trust about how the board will implement the policy given the motivation appears to be to stop hearing from youth, parents, teachers, and community members about their decision on the anti-trans student resolution."

Julie Watts will be an inclusive representative who supports the right of all students to feel safe and included. Watts is the clear choice for Tumwater School Board Director in District 1.

Daniel Mies is challenging incumbent Ty Kuehl for Tumwater School Board Director, District 3. Mies is a district parent, having 3 children graduate and 1 starting kindergarten this year. His professional experience includes working for the Department of Social and Health Services as a Support Enforcement Officer. Mies was inspired to run after the current school board banned transgender youth from participating in girls' sports.

While Mies does not have a campaign website, he shared his voter's pamphlet statement on Reddit, detailing his plans if elected. He is pledging to stand up for teachers and against policies that exclude students by their gender identity. In the comments section of his post, he expressed his support for teacher raises and the participation of transgender youth in sports. He is also supportive of zero-cost or subsidized professional development opportunities for faculty.

Daniel Mies is a thoughtful advocate who cares deeply about equitable and inclusive education. He is the best choice for Tumwater School Board Director, District 3.

Dr. Melissa Determan Beard is running for re-election for Tumwater School Board Director, District 4. Dr. Beard has served on the board since 2016 and currently serves as board president. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy as well as a Master's in Policy Analysis and Evaluation.

Throughout her tenure, Dr. Beard has been a consistent voice for students. In 2025, she was the only school board member who voted against an anti-transgender resolution. She increased student participation on the board from two to six members, opening the path for direct engagement. Additionally, she has fostered meaningful relationships with local partners to ensure transparency and engagement between the Tumwater Schools and the community they serve.

Dr. Melissa Determan Beard is a representative leader who seeks to be a voice for all students, regardless of background. She is compassionate, thoughtful, and kind, and has earned your vote to serve another term on the Tumwater School Board.

Mike McGowan is a former youth librarian running for Tumwater School Board Director, District 5. McGowan served on the Yelm City Council from 2006 to 2015 and spent time on the Budget Committee.

McGowan expressed frustration with the board's efforts to ban trans athletes from competing in school sports. While the resolution failed, current candidates continue their tirade against transgender students. Our students deserve a safe learning environment, regardless of their race, gender, or religion, where they are free to be their authentic selves.

McGowan was partly inspired to run due to the current board's lack of transparency, particularly with the budget. He opposed the current board's decision to relocate a meeting, making it largely inaccessible for attendees relying on public transit. He hopes to bring his experience with city budgeting to drive transparency and balance, seeking more public input and engagement in the board's decisions.

While we would like to see more specific policy in his platform, we appreciate McGowan's focus on transparency and protecting vulnerable students. We recommend voting for Mike McGowan for Tumwater School Board Director, District 5.