2nd Legislative District

First-time candidate Maren Turner is running for Position 4 on the Lacey City Council. A gerontologist, she works as the Chief of Home and Community Programs for the Aging and Long-Term Support Administration within Washington’s Department of Social and Human Services agency.

Turner's campaign priorities focus on building more safe and affordable housing, as well as maintaining an excellent quality of life for Lacey residents.

We recommend Maren Turner for Lacey City Council, Position 4 because of her strong support from our progressive partner organizations.

Ryan Siu is running for Lacey City Council, Position 6. He is a program analyst at the Washington State Office of Public Defense, where he formerly served as a paralegal.

We are confident that Siu is the best choice in this race based on endorsements from our partners and trusted community leaders. While we have not been able to conduct our standard independent research on this race, we encourage you to visit their website, social media, or voters’ pamphlet statement to learn more.

Carolyn Cox was first elected to the council in 2018 and is running for a third term in Position 7. She currently serves on the council's Community Relations & Public Affairs Committee, Land Use and Environment Committee, and Utilities Committee. Cox also continues to represent Lacey in regional governance groups, including a recent election to chair of the Intercity Transit Authority.

Her campaign priorities include expanding affordable housing options, addressing climate change, making Lacey a more welcoming and equitable city, improving public transit, and ensuring Lacey grows gracefully.

We recommend Carolyn Cox for Lacey City Council, Position 7.

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.