City of Olympia

Incumbent Clark Gilman is running for re-election for the Olympia City Council, Position 4. Throughout his tenure on the city council, Gilman has proven himself to be a thoughtful and progressive leader in Olympia.

In 2025, Gilman proposed to provide $30,000 in council goal funds to support immigrants and refugee families in Thurston County. The council approved the proposal unanimously, with fellow council member Dani Madrone saying, "Gilman has been engaging with the immigrant community to learn about the needs they have." He recently challenged the latest 2045 Comprehensive Plan, saying the draft chapter "falls short of aligning with the city's climate goals, particularly in terms of how it evaluates transportation-related projects." He highlighted the influence of interest groups on these issues and proposed including a chapter to prioritize projects that reduce urban sprawl or decrease emissions.

We recommend Clark Gilman for re-election to the Olympia City Council, Position 4.

Kelly Green is running unopposed to retain Position 5 on the Olympia City Council. Green was first appointed to the council in early 2025 to fill the vacancy left when Lisa Parshley was elected to the Legislature. An Oregon native, Green eventually settled in Olympia after serving as an English teacher in the Peace Corps. She is currently the Vice President for Advancement at South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC).

Green first campaigned to address Olympia's budget deficits, affordable housing, and the completion of the city's Comprehensive Plan. In March 2025, Kelly Green spoke in support of a project to make more affordable housing for SPSCC students on campus. She also supported a referral to provide $30,000 to help immigrant and refugee families settle in Olympia.

In her current campaign, Green has prioritized bringing people together, preserving our natural environment, and boosting economic opportunities. We hope to see her continue to address the challenges she put forth in her first campaign, such as addressing the lack of affordable homes.

We recommend Kelly Green for Olympia City Council, Position 5, due to her thoughtful, progressive leadership for the city.

Justin Stang is challenging incumbent Robert Vanderpool for Olympia City Council, Position 6. According to his website, Stang has worked in both the nonprofit and private sectors, focusing on environmental conservation, public health, and equitable economic development.

Stang's campaign priorities include supporting small businesses, enhancing public safety, and promoting long-term financial stability. Stang supports initiatives for small businesses, including scholarships and training funding that targets minority-owned and women-owned businesses. He also wants to expand access to emergency shelters and transitional housing options.

While he proposed some progressive solutions, we would like to see Justin Stang's platform developed a bit further. We recommend instead voting to retain Robert Vanderpool for Olympia City Council, Position 6, as he has a more clearly demonstrated track record, both in office and in the community.

Caleb Gieger is running for Olympia City Council, Position 7. Gieger is a graduate of Syracuse University College of Law and formerly worked as a policy analyst for the State of Oregon. Most recently, Gieger was an assistant attorney general at the Washington State Office of the Attorney General.

In his campaign for city council, Gieger is prioritizing making Olympia a livable, resilient, and just city. He plans to continue the council's work on zoning reform, affordable housing, and tenant protections. He also plans to mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure a balanced budget for economic resilience. Gieger proposed expanding crisis response options for those experiencing mental health and addiction issues.

While we appreciate Caleb Gieger's perspective and proposals, we lean towards voting for Berendt for Olympia City Council, Position 7 due to his decades of Democratic leadership and experience.

Renee Fullerton is running for Olympia School Board, Director District 3. Fullerton works for a state agency focused on creating a successful business climate and livable-wage jobs for all residents. She is also a member of the Governor’s Interagency Council on Health Disparities, which develops recommendations to promote healthy communities across the state.

In her campaign, Fullerton recognizes the lasting impacts of the pandemic on attendance, retention, and test scores. Her campaign prioritizes serving all students through transparency with the district and the effective use of resources. She is an advocate for creative solutions to maintain mental health services for students as the district faces a budget shortfall. In a candidate forum hosted by OSD 4 All, Fullerton was the only candidate who did not advocate for cutting executive salaries, questioning how much money it would actually save.

Renee Fullerton is a steady and progressive voice who is poised to serve the students of the Olympia School District well.

Gilbert Lamont is running for Olympia School Board, Director District 5. Lamont is a data analyst who has worked for Oracle and is a veteran of the U.S. Army. Lamont's wife, Stefanie, is a special education program director with the Capitol Region school district. Their two children recently entered Olympia's public schools.

Lamont is running a compassionate campaign that celebrates diversity and inclusion in the district. He aims to ensure that board decision-making remains student-centered and yields measurable results. He believes in culturally responsive teaching and schools that foster equity and inclusion. His campaign also prioritizes investing in local educators, empowering them with the respect and resources they need to thrive.

Gilbert Lamont is the progressive voice that the Olympia School District needs from District 5.

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 had three children graduate and one 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.

Melissa Determan Beard is running for re-election for Tumwater School Board Director, District 4. 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, 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.

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.