Columbia County, WA elected officials: county commissioners, sheriff, school board and cities
Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Columbia County: 30 seats on 11 elected bodies. 7 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.
Board of County Commissioners
Columbia County Board of Commissioners
Each member is elected by the voters of their district.
Who lives in each of the 2 school districts (Census figures)
School district
People
Median household income
Below the poverty line
Without health insurance
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent
Dayton School District
3,749
$72,424
9.3%
8.1%
46.5%
Starbuck School District
108
$62,000
21.3%
1.9%
0%
Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates for each school district's area, matched to its board by name. They're estimates with a , larger for small districts.
The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 13 local governments in Columbia County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.
Kind of government
Census count (2022)
Listed on this page
County government
1
1
Cities, towns, villages and townships
2
1
School districts (school boards)
2
2
Special districts (elected boards)
8
1
Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).
About these counts
The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments, though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.
Who lives in Columbia County
4,014people
49.6median ageU.S.: 38.9
$71,810 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
9.3%below the U.S.: 12.5%
24.9%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$271,200median home valueU.S.: $332,700
3.9%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
5%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
11.6%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
7.8%U.S.: 8.4%
45.8%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
22.8%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%
Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 8.3% · White 81.2% · Black 0.5% · Asian 1.9% · Other or more than one race 8% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)
Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).
About these figures
The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.
Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.
Jobs in Columbia County
3.2%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 3.6%. Washington: 4.3%.
55people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
1,640people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
1,695in the September 2026, preliminary.
Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.
Every month, last two years
Month
Rate
Unemployed
Employed
Labor force
September 2026 (preliminary)
3.2%
55
1,640
1,695
August 2026
3.9%
69
1,696
1,765
July 2026
3.1%
53
1,665
1,718
June 2026
4.0%
67
1,617
1,684
May 2026
5.2%
88
1,610
1,698
April 2026
5.0%
85
1,600
1,685
March 2026
5.3%
94
1,680
1,774
February 2026
5.4%
100
1,735
1,835
January 2026
5.4%
101
1,756
1,857
December 2025
4.9%
97
1,890
1,987
November 2025
4.8%
91
1,816
1,907
October 2025
not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 2025
3.6%
67
1,808
1,875
August 2025
4.2%
80
1,830
1,910
July 2025
3.6%
70
1,849
1,919
June 2025
3.2%
60
1,808
1,868
May 2025
4.0%
74
1,783
1,857
April 2025
3.8%
71
1,819
1,890
March 2025
4.1%
80
1,865
1,945
February 2025
5.2%
104
1,886
1,990
January 2025
4.5%
88
1,884
1,972
December 2024
4.2%
81
1,842
1,923
November 2024
4.0%
77
1,838
1,915
October 2024
3.6%
69
1,870
1,939
Yearly averages
Year
Rate
Unemployed
Employed
Labor force
2025 (11 months)
4.2%
80
1,840
1,920
2024
4.1%
78
1,835
1,913
2023
3.6%
71
1,887
1,958
2022
3.9%
80
1,972
2,052
2021
4.2%
88
2,025
2,113
2020
6.2%
122
1,849
1,971
2019
4.7%
101
2,055
2,156
2018
5.3%
101
1,814
1,915
2017
5.3%
98
1,768
1,866
2016
6.0%
111
1,745
1,856
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. Washington's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 4.8% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.
Crime reported in Columbia County
15.4 per 100,0002025. Washington: 283.9.
383.9 per 100,0002025. Washington: 1,974.8.
0murders2025, 1 violent crimes in all.
Earlier years
Year
Violent
Rate
Property
Rate
2025
1
15.4
25
383.9
2024
8
119.7
31
463.9
2023
6
90.8
33
499.2
2021
3
46.3
54
832.7
2020
3
46.9
66
1,032.7
2019
9
138.0
77
1,180.4
2018
9
137.7
64
979.5
2017
18
284.4
60
947.9
2016
3
47.4
134
2,115.2
By police agency (1)
Agency
Year
Violent
Property
People served
Columbia County Sheriff's Office
2025
1
25
4,035
Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in Washington · the U.S.
Police staffing
1.98 per 1,000 residents2025, 1 agency serving 4,035 people.
8sworn officers2025, full-time, as of October 31.
1civilian staff2025, full-time.
Agencies counted (1), 2025
Agency
Officers
Civilians
People served
Columbia County Sheriff's Office
8
1
4,035
Earlier years
Year
Officers
Per 1,000
Civilians
Agencies
2025
8
1.98
1
1
2024
10
2.41
1
1
2023
13
3.20
1
1
2022
12
2.89
1
1
2021
8
1.99
0
1
2020
8
2.02
0
1
2019
8
1.98
1
1
2018
10
2.46
0
1
2017
10
2.55
2
1
2016
8
2.04
1
1
Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.
Quick answers
Who is the Columbia County County Assessor?
Tammy Groom Ketterman (Republican) is the County Assessor of Columbia County, Washington. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Columbia County County Auditor?
Will Hutchens is the County Auditor of Columbia County, Washington. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Columbia County County Clerk?
Kriston (Krissy) Chapman (Republican) is the County Clerk of Columbia County, Washington. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Columbia County Prosecuting Attorney?
C. Dale Slack is the Prosecuting Attorney of Columbia County, Washington. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Columbia County Sheriff?
Joe Helm (Republican) is the Sheriff of Columbia County, Washington. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Columbia County County Treasurer?
Carla J Rowe (Republican) is the County Treasurer of Columbia County, Washington. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who are the Columbia County commissioners?
Ryan R. Rundell (District 1); Marty J. Hall (District 2); Jack Miller (District 3).
Who is on the Columbia County School Board?
Ryan Paulson (Director Position 1); Patrick Davidson (Director Position 2); Grant Griffen (Director Position 3); Aneesha Dieu (Director Position 4); Jeff McCowen (Director Position 5 (at large)); Joshua Hershaw (Director Position 1); Diane Lusk (Director Position 2); Karen Rubenser (Director Position 3); Deb Hays (Director Position 4 (at large)); SHELLEY HALL (Director Position 5 (at large)).
What is the population of Columbia County?
About 4,014 people, with a median age of 49.6; the median household income is $71,810 and 9.3% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Columbia County?
3.2% in September 2026 (preliminary): 55 people unemployed in a labor force of 1,695, against 3.6% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Columbia County?
13 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 2 municipal, 2 school district and 8 special district governments.
What cities and towns are in Columbia County?
1: Dayton. Each has its own page with its mayor and council.
Officeholders as of November 6, 2026, from the Washington Secretary of State's certified results of each seat's last general election (2021–2025); officials appointed since then may differ; each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.
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