Ciudad de 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.

Two other candidates are running for Olympia City Council, Position 7.

Wendy Carlson is a lifelong resident of Olympia and continues to live there with her family. Prior to running for office, Carlson worked as a parole officer for the Department of Corrections for 20 years.

Carlson's campaign website highlighted homelessness, public safety, and affordable housing as priorities. While her platform includes some progressive solutions, such as redirecting funds to addiction treatment and supporting housing density, her past comments on addressing homelessness in Olympia were worrisome and don't reflect the city's values. Since her current campaign includes some similar language, we cannot recommend Wendy Carlson as a progressive choice for Olympia City Council, Position 7.

Michael Marstrom is also running to challenge incumbent Clark Gilman for Olympia City Council, Position 4. As of late June, Marstrom does not have a platform or campaign available.

Clark Gilman is our choice for Olympia City Council, Position 4, due to his progressive leadership in 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.

Darleen Simkins and Dana Tan are also running for Olympia City Council, Position 6.

Simkins worked for the Washington State government for 27 years at various agencies. She is campaigning for compassionate policing and affordable housing strategies. She is advocating for progressive solutions such as de-escalation and "mental health support over military tactics and gear." She is also an advocate for housing first tactics to support those experiencing homelessness. Furthermore, she is a supporter of the arts and hopes to advocate for policies that foster a vibrant arts and music scene in Olympia.

As of late June, Dana Tan has not published a detailed campaign website, and her platform is unknown. However, in the Thurston County voters' pamphlet, Tan said she will prioritize a clean downtown, practical and compassionate solutions for the unhoused, and expanding housing options.

Caleb Gieger is running for Olympia City Council, Position 7. Gieger is a graduate of Syracuse Law and formerly worked as a policy analyst for the State of Oregon.

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.

David Wenzel is also running for Olympia City Council, Position 7. As of late June, Wenzel does not have a detailed campaign website available, nor did they submit a statement for the Thurston County voters' pamphlet.