Thurston County voters will choose candidates for at least four contested county offices, weigh a library property-tax increase and decide three statewide ballot measures when they return ballots by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Ballots have already been mailed. Voters who have not received one can call the Thurston County Auditor's Elections Division at 360-786-5408. Results will be posted at ThurstonWAVotes.gov.

Commissioner District 5

The most closely watched local contest pits incumbent Emily Clouse against challenger Nicolas Martinez-Dunning for a four-year seat on the five-member Board of County Commissioners. The position carries an annual salary of $147,936, according to The JOLT.

Martinez-Dunning, a Lacey City Council member and Marine veteran who owns a Lacey gym, led Clouse in the Aug. 4 primary with 39.17% to her 34.76%, according to updated unofficial results reported by The JOLT. A third candidate, Michelle Gipson, was eliminated.

Clouse, a U.S. Army veteran seeking a second term, has campaigned on housing, environmental protection and government transparency, according to The Olympian. In 2024, the county hired a third-party investigator to look into her relationship with her executive aide. Her fellow commissioners censured her, and the county paid the aide $300,000 in settlement, The Olympian reported. The state Supreme Court later dismissed a recall petition against Clouse.

District 5 covers an area south of Lacey extending north between Olympia and Lacey toward Johnson Point. All Thurston County residents may vote on the seat in the general election.

Assessor

JJ Olson and Lynda Nashed Zeman, both Democrats, are competing for county assessor. The office oversees property valuations on more than 120,000 parcels with $66 billion in assessed value, according to The JOLT. The position pays $147,936 a year.

Olson has worked in the Thurston County Assessor's Office for more than a decade and serves as its business applications administrator. Zeman has held an executive administrative role with the Board of County Commissioners and previously served on the Lacey City Council.

Olson led in the primary with 56.19% to Zeman's 40.98%.

Clerk and sheriff

Garrett Cady and Nicole Miller are running for Thurston County clerk. The primary margin was razor-thin: Cady held 49.95% to Miller's 49.50%.

In the sheriff's race, incumbent Derek Sanders led challenger Kevin Burton-Crow with 70.99% in the primary.

Library levy

Proposition No. 1 would raise the Timberland Regional Library (TRL) property-tax levy rate from $0.22 to $0.35 per $1,000 of assessed value. For the average Thurston County homeowner, interim TRL Executive Director Andrea Heisel estimated an increase of about $53 a year, according to The Daily Chronicle.

The request follows a $3.8 million budget deficit that led to staff layoffs and the resignation of former Executive Director Cheryl Heywood earlier this year. "We have saved $3.6 million, estimated. Finally, we have worked on accountability from the top down," Heisel said at a Sept. 15 Tumwater City Council meeting. The Tumwater council unanimously approved a resolution supporting the measure.

State Legislature

In Legislative District 22, which covers much of Thurston County, Democratic Reps. Beth Doglio (Position 1) and Lisa Parshley (Position 2) are running for reelection, The Olympian reported in May. Republican Don Hewett filed for Position 1 and Democrat Jamie Keenan-deVargas filed for Position 2.

How to vote

Voters can return ballots at any of 31 drop boxes across Thurston County or get them postmarked by 8 p.m. Nov. 3. In-person voting centers will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day at the Thurston County Auditor Elections Division, 2915 29th Ave. SW, Tumwater, and the Thurston County Atrium, 3000 Pacific Ave. SE, Olympia.

The county plans to certify results Nov. 24.