$300,000 settlement dominates Thurston County District 5 debate ahead of Tuesday primary

A $300,000 taxpayer-funded settlement and whether it should have ended a political career became the central question Thursday when the three candidates for Thurston County Commissioner District 5 faced off in a nearly four-hour virtual debate, three days before ballots are due.

Incumbent Emily Clouse, first elected in 2023, is defending her seat against two fellow Democrats: Michelle Gipson, a North Thurston Public Schools board member, and Nicolas Martinez-Dunning, a Lacey City Council member and Marine Corps veteran who owns West Coast Fitness.

Only two will advance past Tuesday's primary to the November general election.

Ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.

The scandal that shaped the race

Clouse's first term was upended by a county investigation into her relationship with executive aide Allyn Hershey. Hershey sued the county alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, and suppression.

Thurston County settled the lawsuit for $300,000 in January 2025, The Olympian reported.

In a December 2024 statement, the Board of County Commissioners found that the investigation uncovered breaches of trust and ethical violations, and that Clouse's conduct violated county HR policies and her oath of office. The board said the behavior would have resulted in termination for any regular county employee but noted it lacked disciplinary authority over an elected official.

The county removed Clouse from her advisory board assignments on Aug. 13, 2024, then reinstated her after the investigation concluded. A recall petition was later dismissed by the Washington State Supreme Court.

What the candidates said

At the July 30 debate, covered by Yelm Online and hosted by podcast host Tony Taylor on his "On The Record" series, Clouse addressed the scandal directly when asked what she was most proud of from her time in office. She acknowledged making a "very public" mistake in her first year but said she stayed and owned the accountability process.

Martinez-Dunning rejected that framing.

"That is not a mistake, and it should have resulted in the person resigning. So let's not downplay how serious that event was, because that's inappropriate," he said.

Gipson, according to Clouse, entered the race after community members who lost trust in the incumbent asked her directly to run. The two had known each other from the 2023 election cycle and met for coffee before Gipson announced her candidacy.

Gipson said leadership should keep the community, not the leader, at the center of every decision. She told viewers not to mistake her quieter style for passivity, saying it means she is listening.

Martinez-Dunning, a self-described moderate Democrat, opened the evening by calling out his opponents for reading from written notes, calling it "completely inauthentic." He later challenged Clouse to publicly defend positions held by the Democratic Socialists of America, of which she is a member. Clouse said she is proud of the organization's work building coalitions that take care of people.

The two also clashed over homelessness solutions, housing affordability, and whether to run the county "like a business."

What's at stake

Clouse's stated second-term priorities include budget transparency, environmental stewardship, and housing. Gipson is running on housing affordability, public school support, and transparent government. Martinez-Dunning emphasizes "common sense" and "people over politics."

The District 3 commissioner seat is also on the ballot, but incumbent Board President Tye Menser filed unopposed.

How to vote

Ballots are due by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4. Voters returning ballots this weekend through election day should use an official drop box rather than the mail. Two voting centers are open for registration, replacement ballots, or accessible voting devices: