With the Aug. 6 Thurston County Primary Election quickly approaching, the county has released an official local voters’ pamphlet, which provides detailed statements and information about the candidates in the upcoming election, including those running for the County Commission.
There are several local ballot drop box locations in the Nisqually Valley region, including:
Lackamas Elementary, 16240 Bald Hill Road SE, Yelm
Nisqually Tribal Admin Building, 4820 She Nah Num Drive SE, Olympia
Rainier City Hall, 102 Rochester St. W., Rainier
Yelm Community Schools district office, 110 First St. NE, Yelm
Bucoda, 103 S. Main St.
Tenino School District office, 301 Old Highway 99 N., Tenino
Thurston County Commissioner, District No. 1
Democrat Carolina Mejia has served as Thurston County commissioner since 2021 and is running unopposed.
Thurston County Commissioner, District No. 2:
JW Foster
JW Foster, an Independent, has previously served as the City of Yelm’s mayor, and as chair of the Thurston Regional Planning Council. He said that as a firefighter and paramedic, community service is what he does as he’s helped people from all walks of life through critical situations.
He added that his goal as commissioner is to take his experience, compassion and bipartisan support to the county government and get results for the community.
“As Mayor of Yelm, I helped develop efficient, cost-effective city services. We found ways to lower utility bills, create parks and amenities, and bring transparency to City Hall. We supported our elders, military families, and those less fortunate with common-sense programs that made our community a safe, healthy, happy home for all,” Foster wrote for the voters’ pamphlet. “We need to recruit, hire, train and retain the best employees, in all departments, and make their jobs rewarding, safe and secure. Thurston County has complex needs, and we will face them better, together.”
Rachel Dreon
Democrat Rachel Dreon has served as a precinct committee officer and was appointed by county commissioners to the Thurston County Treatment Sales Tax Advisory Committee, where she served as co-chair.
She wrote that she envisions Thurston County to respect rights, amplify voices and provide people with the freedom to thrive. Being raised in rural Washington by farmers and educators, Dreon said she knows each part of the county has individual challenges and opportunities.
“We must build more affordable housing and protect our prairies, forests, and farmland. I am determined to stabilize our approach to mental health, addiction, and homelessness. We must work with small businesses and unions to ensure our prosperity without compromising our quality of life,” Dreon wrote. “Whether addressing our county’s looming budget deficit or collaborating across jurisdictions, I will bring my proven track record of fiscal responsibility, effective strategy, and transparency. I will enforce our county’s obligations to its residents and champion reforms that give everyday people more power in government.”
Thurston County Commissioner, District No. 4
Wayne Fournier
Wayne Fournier, a Democrat, has served as a Thurston County commissioner since 2023. He previously served as a Tenino city councilor and mayor from 2012 to 2023. His message is to move Thurston County forward, together.
He described it as an honor and privilege to serve the community as county commissioner. Fournier said, from advocating for sustainable growth, to championing issues, to serving underrepresented communities, he’s worked tirelessly to ensure that every voice is heard at the table.
“During my time in office, we’ve made significant strides in addressing our county’s most pressing challenges. From enhancing our Emergency Medical System to advocating for rural broadband access, I’ve been dedicated to driving positive change that benefits us all. And there is still much work to be done,” he wrote. “If re-elected, I will continue to seek practical solutions, foster sustainable growth, and bring people together to find collaborative answers to our shared challenges. Together, we can build a healthier, more vibrant Thurston County for generations to come.”
Rob Laymon
Rob Laymon, who states no party preference, has no previous elected experience and described himself as “just an everyday citizen, not a politician.”
Laymon wrote Thurston County commissioners need to address the actual needs of people and not provide another political spin. He added that his call to serve is based on fixing people’s rights to receive reasonable services from the county government.
“County Commissioners are not your leaders, but your representatives to serve the citizens, taxpayers, and property owners. They are to make sure the services paid for through taxes are used as they are intended,” Laymon wrote. “We will improve social and other county services to combat these and give these unfortunates a hand-up, not a hand-out. I can only take action to fix and change things when elected.”
US Representative District No. 3
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
Incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Democrat, has been a southwest Washington representative in Congress since 2023. She serves on Small Business and Agriculture committees.
In the voters’ pamphlet, Gluesenkamp Perez wrote in her statement that she opposed President Joe Biden because he failed to secure the Southern border, adding that she voted to add thousands of new border patrol agents and co-sponsored the bipartisan “end fentanyl” law.
“I work closely with Republican colleagues, and I’m ranked as one of the most bipartisan members of Congress. I attend Bible study to stay rooted and find common ground with Republicans. And I’m bringing home your tax dollars to replace the I-5 bridge — money that other candidates want you to pay in tolls,” she wrote. “In Congress, I’m protecting our freedoms, including ensuring a woman can see a doctor whenever she wants, for whatever reason, including contraception and IVF. I’m a staunch defender of the Second Amendment. I fight everyday for Southwest Washington.”
Joe Kent
Former 20-year Army Green Beret Joe Kent, Republican, formerly advised President Donald Trump on foreign and military policy. He defeated Jaime Herrera Butler in 2022 to become the Republican nominee in 2022’s Third Congressional District race in Washington but lost to Gluesenkamp Perez.
In the voters’ pamphlet, Kent wrote that he and Gluesenkamp Perez disagree about local and national issues. He said Gluesenkamp Perez voted against Republican legislation to secure the border “in favor of expanding welfare to illegal aliens.”
Kent added that Gluesenkamp Perez also sponsored legislation that gives anyone that crosses the border government benefits and permission to fly anywhere in the country.
“I’ll vote to bring back President Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy to stop fake asylum claims and provide robust border security. Inflation has caused the price of food, gas, and other necessities to skyrocket, driven by the Federal Government’s spending spree that Marie has consistently voted for,” Kent wrote. “I’ll vote to restore fiscal responsibility and get inflation back to pre-Biden levels. Marie [Gluesenkamp] Perez supports taxpayer funding for late-term abortion. The Supreme Court has ruled this is a state issue, and I support keeping it that way.”
John Saulie-Rohman
John Saulie-Rohman, an Independent, wrote on his website that he’s a dedicated father and husband who works tirelessly to provide a better life for his family. He added that these struggles are nothing new.
In the voters’ pamphlet, Saulie-Rohman said he will seek to protect, without compromise, the foundation civil liberties needed for a thriving democracy. He added that he supports investing in public education and allowing educators to teach children ways of independent, critical thinking.
“I support investing in our crumbling infrastructure which has been starved of vital funding through unsustainable tax cuts and loopholes enjoyed by large corporations, while we shoulder the true costs. I recognize and support the vital role of local, small businesses in our communities. I support a woman's right to choose,” Saulie-Rohman wrote. “I will seek diplomatic solutions to conflicts and work to stop the cycle of endless war. This is America first. This is putting people before politics. This is what a government “Of, By, and For The People” was intended to be.”
Leslie Lewallen
Republican Leslie Lewallen, a city liaison for the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce, is a former King County prosecutor. The fifth-generation Washingtonian and attorney said she was forced off of the sidelines because she saw “harmful COVID policies” and the effects they were having on her family and friends.
In 2021, Lewallen successfully ran for Camas City Council and has been “fighting to lower taxes, support our schools, and provide opportunities for small businesses to thrive.”
“I’m running for Congress because today’s economy is hurting Southwest Washingtonians. I’ll fight every day to ensure you don’t have to choose whether to put food on your table or gas in your car,” Lewallen said. “As your Representative, I’ll fight to secure the southern border and stop the drugs and crime that are hurting our communities. I will work to lower energy prices by protecting our dams and putting us back on the path to energy independence. I will address the homelessness crisis by tying funding to results-based programs.”
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