J.J. Olson is running for Thurston County Assessor in the Nov. 3, 2026, Washington general election. Olson, a Democrat, faces Linda Zeman, also a Democrat, for the countywide seat.

Asked why he is seeking the office, Olson said in our candidate questionnaire: "Thurston County is my home. My wife and I are raising our four kids here. I came to this race through the Assessor's Office, not through politics. I'm the only accredited appraiser running."

He added: "This office is at a turning point. More than 150 years of combined experience is about to retire. We're replacing systems that are decades old. And we're doing it with fewer people. In 2008, we had 38 full-time staff. Today we have 31, in a county that keeps growing. This is not the moment to learn on the job."

Candidate information

Party: Democrat

Education: Olson said in our questionnaire: "Soccer brought me to Saint Martin's University. I earned my degree in Finance and Management, captained the men's soccer team, and served as President of Circle K." He added: "I've held my Washington Real Property Assessment Accreditation since 2016 … I'm a member of the International Association of Assessing Officers."

Previous elected or appointed office: Olson said in our questionnaire: "None. This is my first campaign. I serve as a Democratic Precinct Committee Officer. I'm a former Vice President of the Board of Trustees at Olympia Waldorf School, and a past Treasurer of the Tumwater Kiwanis Club."

Endorsements: The Thurston-Lewis-Mason Central Labor Council endorsed Olson, according to BallotReady.

Experience and public service

This is Olson's first campaign. He described his work history in our questionnaire: "I'm the Business Applications Manager at the Thurston County Assessor's Office. I've worked here my whole career, starting in 2015 before I'd even graduated."

He added: "I began in data entry and field appraisal. Then I moved up to Senior Appraiser and Appraisal Analyst. Now I manage the appraisal and tax systems, the office's deadlines, and the move to new technology."

He also said: "For more than four years I've calculated levies for all 40-plus taxing districts in the county. That's over $650 million in property taxes a year, on more than 120,000 parcels worth $66 billion."

On the issues

Accomplishments: Asked what accomplishments show he can handle the job, Olson said in our questionnaire: "In 11 years, I've valued more than 120,000 parcels and measured over 15 million square feet of living area. I've built and defended valuation models for homes and commercial property."

He added: "I've been through multiple Department of Revenue levy audits with zero findings." Olson also said he "was part of the team that earned the Certificate of Excellence in Assessment Administration from the IAAO. Only two counties in Washington hold it."

Outside the office, Olson said he "helped Tumwater Kiwanis give more than $200,000 to the Tumwater School District for student scholarships."

Differences from other candidates: Olson said in our questionnaire: "I didn't come to this race through politics. I came up through the Assessor's Office. I'm the only accredited appraiser in this race."

He added: "Outgoing Assessor Steven Drew backs me. So do the entire management team and most of the staff. They've watched me work for 11 years."

He also cited labor endorsements: "AFSCME Council 2, the union that represents our employees, endorsed only me. So did WFSE Locals 793 and 443 and UFCW 367."

Leadership philosophy: Asked about the best advice he has received, Olson said in our questionnaire: "As a leader, be the lighthouse, not the tugboat … I've tried to lead like that my whole career. I didn't ask for trust in this office. I earned it, one job at a time."

Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.