Thurston County, WA elected officials: county commissioners, sheriff, school board and cities

Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Thurston County: 77 seats on 20 elected bodies. 8 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.

Board of County Commissioners

Thurston County Board of Commissioners

Each member is elected by the voters of their district.

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
County Commissioner, District 1Carolina Mejia Democratic source
County Commissioner, District 2Rachel Dreon Democratic source
County Commissioner, District 3Tye Menser Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County Commissioner, District 4Wayne Fournier Democratic source
County Commissioner, District 5Emily Clouse Democratic source

County officers

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
County AssessorSteven J. Drew Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County AuditorMary Hall Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County ClerkLinda Enlow Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County CoronerGary Warnock Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Prosecuting AttorneyJon Tunheim Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
SheriffDerek Sanders Independent sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County TreasurerJeff Gadman Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

School Board

Griffin School District No. 324 Board of Directors

OfficeWho holds it now
Director Position 1Tesa Frevert source
Director Position 2Emma Rose source
Director Position 3Blair Baker source
Director Position 4Julie Osterberg source
Director Position 5Trish Gregory source

North Thurston Public Schools School District Board of Directors

OfficeWho holds it now
Director District 1Gretchen Maliska source
Director District 2Tim Bullus source
Director District 3Sarah Tracy source
Director District 4Esperanza A. Badillo-Diiorio source
Director District 5Michelle J. Gipson source

Olympia School District No. 111 Board of Directors

OfficeWho holds it now
Director District 1Maria R. Flores source
Director District 2Jess Tourtellotte-Palumbo source
Director District 3Renee Fullerton source
Director District 4Hilary Seidel source
Director District 5Gilbert Lamont source

Rainier School District No. 307 Board of Directors

OfficeWho holds it now
Director District 1Amanda Siemandel source
Director District 2Jerry F. Sprouffske source
Director District 3Dana Morgan Spivey source
Director District 4Edgar Ooms source
Director District 5Rebecca Stillings source

Rochester School District No. 401 Board of Directors

OfficeWho holds it now
Director District 1Francisco J. Villanueva A source
Director District 2Grant Rodeheaver source
Director District 3Susie Hawes source
Director District 4James Neil Turner source
Director District 5Heather Harris source

Tenino School District No. 402 Board of Directors

OfficeWho holds it now
Director District 2Jennifer Johnson source
Director District 3Adam Barr source
Director District 4Jessica Reeves-Rush source
Director District 5Chato Salisbury source

Tumwater School District No. 33 Board of Directors

OfficeWho holds it now
Director District 1Julie Watts source
Director District 2Casey Taylor source
Director District 3Ty Kuehl source
Director District 4Melissa Determan Beard source
Director District 5Rob Warner source

Yelm Community Schools School District Board of Directors

OfficeWho holds it now
Director District 1Frank King source
Director District 2Casey Shaw source
Director District 3Denise Hendrickson source
Director District 4Ryan Jewell source
Director District 5Bill Hauss source
Who lives in each of the 8 school districts (Census figures)
School districtPeopleMedian household incomeBelow the poverty lineWithout health insuranceRenters paying 30%+ of income on rent
Griffin School District6,253$105,0545%2.5%63%
North Thurston Public Schools114,238$95,36310.8%5.5%57.2%
Olympia School District71,329$95,56310.2%4.6%57.6%
Rainier School District5,158$99,66710.5%4.6%44.9%
Rochester School District15,860$99,66110.7%5.8%53.7%
Tenino School District10,230$98,4699.6%3.9%43.3%
Tumwater School District45,467$98,9056.9%3.6%48.7%
Yelm Community Schools35,367$94,9708%6.8%50.8%

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.

Cities and towns

  • Lacey · 7 seats
  • Olympia · Mayor Dontae Payne · 7 seats
  • Tumwater · Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff · 7 seats

Special districts

Boards elected by the voters who live in each district.

Port of Olympia Commission · 5 seats
OfficeWho holds it now
Commissioner District 1Jasmine Vasavada source
Commissioner District 2Jerry Toompas source
Commissioner District 3Krag Unsoeld source
Commissioner District 4Joel Hansen source
Commissioner District 5Sarah Tonge source

How many local governments Thurston County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 51 local governments in Thurston County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of governmentCensus count (2022)Listed on this page
County government11
Cities, towns, villages and townships73
School districts (school boards)88
Special districts (elected boards)351

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 Thurston County

299,067people
40median ageU.S.: 38.9
$96,563 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
9.5%below the U.S.: 12.5%
38.5%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$480,300median home valueU.S.: $332,700
5.2%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
8.3%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
12.6%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
5%U.S.: 8.4%
55.4%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
29.9%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 10.6% · White 69.5% · Black 3.2% · Asian 6% · Other or more than one race 10.7% (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 Thurston County

3.4%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 3.9%. Washington: 4.3%.
4,866people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
139,194people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
144,060in the September 2026, preliminary.
Unemployment rate, yearly average, Thurston County 0.0%2.2%4.4%6.6%8.8% 20162018202020222024

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years
MonthRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
September 2026 (preliminary)3.4%4,866139,194144,060
August 20264.3%6,278138,885145,163
July 20263.5%4,962137,063142,025
June 20264.1%5,858137,999143,857
May 20264.5%6,559139,921146,480
April 20264.7%6,882138,569145,451
March 20264.7%6,885139,077145,962
February 20265.0%7,255138,178145,433
January 20264.9%7,047137,976145,023
December 20255.0%7,354139,934147,288
November 20254.7%6,948140,737147,685
October 2025not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 20253.9%5,618139,718145,336
August 20254.6%6,519136,747143,266
July 20254.4%6,275136,290142,565
June 20253.6%5,155137,213142,368
May 20254.1%5,964137,759143,723
April 20253.9%5,634138,419144,053
March 20254.4%6,377137,473143,850
February 20255.2%7,462136,955144,417
January 20254.6%6,679136,970143,649
December 20244.5%6,419137,514143,933
November 20244.3%6,242137,882144,124
October 20244.0%5,792137,747143,539
Yearly averages
YearRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
2025 (11 months)4.4%6,362138,020144,382
20244.4%6,355136,993143,348
20234.0%5,751136,402142,153
20224.1%5,809134,599140,408
20215.1%7,074132,181139,255
20208.4%11,736128,774140,510
20195.2%7,239132,152139,391
20185.1%6,784126,534133,318
20175.2%6,682123,061129,743
20165.8%7,368118,995126,363

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 Thurston County

224.7 per 100,0002020. Washington: 293.7.
1,935.2 per 100,0002020. Washington: 2,732.4.
3murders2020, 666 violent crimes in all.

2020 is the latest year with complete reporting here: at least one of the county's police agencies didn't send the FBI a full year of figures since, so later totals would be undercounts.

Earlier years
YearViolentRatePropertyRate
2020666224.75,7361,935.2
2019714244.45,9102,023.0
2017757268.57,1252,526.7
2016673243.87,9892,894.1
By police agency (6)
AgencyYearViolentPropertyPeople served
Thurston County Sheriff's Office2025252780146,249
Lacey Police Department20251281,13059,124
Olympia Police Department20252661,44556,438
Tumwater Police Department20257941528,265
Yelm Police Department20253117411,984
Tenino Police Department202010221,886

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

1.01 per 1,000 residents2025, 6 agencies serving 304,037 people.
307sworn officers2025, full-time, as of October 31.
205civilian staff2025, full-time.
Agencies counted (6), 2025
AgencyOfficersCiviliansPeople served
Thurston County Sheriff's Office113141146,249
Olympia Police Department713056,438
Lacey Police Department642059,124
Tumwater Police Department371128,265
Yelm Police Department18211,984
Tenino Police Department411,977
Earlier years
YearOfficersPer 1,000CiviliansAgencies
20253071.012056
20242930.961996
20232770.921986
20222680.892096
20212630.892166
20202620.892026
20192670.921996
20182640.921916
20172440.871956
20162420.881766

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 Thurston County County Assessor?
Steven J. Drew (Democratic) is the County Assessor of Thurston County, Washington. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Thurston County County Auditor?
Mary Hall (Democratic) is the County Auditor of Thurston County, Washington. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Thurston County County Clerk?
Linda Enlow (Democratic) is the County Clerk of Thurston County, Washington. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Thurston County County Coroner?
Gary Warnock (Democratic) is the County Coroner of Thurston County, Washington. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney?
Jon Tunheim (Democratic) is the Prosecuting Attorney of Thurston County, Washington. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Thurston County Sheriff?
Derek Sanders (Independent) is the Sheriff of Thurston County, Washington. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Thurston County County Treasurer?
Jeff Gadman (Democratic) is the County Treasurer of Thurston County, Washington. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who are the Thurston County commissioners?
Carolina Mejia (District 1); Rachel Dreon (District 2); Tye Menser (District 3); Wayne Fournier (District 4); Emily Clouse (District 5).
Who is on the Thurston County School Board?
Tesa Frevert (Director Position 1); Emma Rose (Director Position 2); Blair Baker (Director Position 3); Julie Osterberg (Director Position 4); Trish Gregory (Director Position 5); Gretchen Maliska (Director District 1); Tim Bullus (Director District 2); Sarah Tracy (Director District 3); Esperanza A. Badillo-Diiorio (Director District 4); Michelle J. Gipson (Director District 5); Maria R. Flores (Director District 1); Jess Tourtellotte-Palumbo (Director District 2); Renee Fullerton (Director District 3); Hilary Seidel (Director District 4); Gilbert Lamont (Director District 5); Amanda Siemandel (Director District 1); Jerry F. Sprouffske (Director District 2); Dana Morgan Spivey (Director District 3); Edgar Ooms (Director District 4); Rebecca Stillings (Director District 5); Francisco J. Villanueva A (Director District 1); Grant Rodeheaver (Director District 2); Susie Hawes (Director District 3); James Neil Turner (Director District 4); Heather Harris (Director District 5); Jennifer Johnson (Director District 2); Adam Barr (Director District 3); Jessica Reeves-Rush (Director District 4); Chato Salisbury (Director District 5); Julie Watts (Director District 1); Casey Taylor (Director District 2); Ty Kuehl (Director District 3); Melissa Determan Beard (Director District 4); Rob Warner (Director District 5); Frank King (Director District 1); Casey Shaw (Director District 2); Denise Hendrickson (Director District 3); Ryan Jewell (Director District 4); Bill Hauss (Director District 5).
What is the population of Thurston County?
About 299,067 people, with a median age of 40; the median household income is $96,563 and 9.5% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Thurston County?
3.4% in September 2026 (preliminary): 4,866 people unemployed in a labor force of 144,060, against 3.9% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Thurston County?
51 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 7 municipal, 8 school district and 35 special district governments.
What cities and towns are in Thurston County?
3: Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater. 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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