Penny Jo Haney
The former clerk of the city of Napavine has announced her candidacy for Centralia City Council Position One, which is currently held by councilor Ron Greenwood.
Penny Jo “PJ” Haney has lived or worked in Centralia since 1984. She has a wide professional background in engineering, non-profits and municipalities, she said in a press release Friday.
“I am not new to the political arena and spent five years in Olympia working hand-in-hand with state representatives and senators either testifying on issues of importance to folks that I represented or writing issue briefs,” Haney said.
Haney said she has thought about running for the Centralia City Council for several years, but was unable to because of her career and other time commitments. Now that she has the time to devote to the position, she said she looks forward to serving on the council.
“My goal is to represent the citizens in District No. 1 and to lend another perspective to the city council,” she said. “I don’t profess to know all there is to know, but anyone that knows me knows that I will do my research to make a good informed decision, plus I will follow through.”
Haney said she will not bring a personal agenda to the council and will instead make decisions that are beneficial to the success, growth and future of Centralia and its citizens.
“The youth of Centralia are our base and future for economic development, we need to prepare our city for them,” she said.
Haney and her husband, Roland, have four children, two of whom graduated from Centralia. Their grandchildren are currently attending Centralia schools.
“I look forward to the support in the upcoming months from the citizens of District No. 1,” she said.
Haney follows several other individuals who have announced they will be running for the Centralia City Council. In the November election, council positions 1, 2, 3, and 4 are up for grabs. District 1 Councilor Ron Greenwood now has two individuals who plan to run for his seat. Local business owner Cameron McGee earlier announced his bid.
Councilor John Elmore, District 2, has announced he plans to seek reelection.
As for the District 3 position currently held by Max Vogt, local business consultant Colin Hamilton announced in April that he will be running for the seat.
Long-time Centralia resident Susan Luond also announced her intentions to run for the District 4 seat currently held by Mayor Bonnie Canaday, who has said she will not be seeking re-election.
Filing week begins on Monday and runs through Friday. Countywide, there are 137 open offices for the November election, which also include positions on the city councils in Chehalis, Morton, Mossyrock, Napavine, Toledo, Vader and Pe Ell. For a full list, go online to wei.sos.wa.gov/county/lewis/en/CandidateInfo/Pages/Offices-Open-for-Election.aspx.
The primary election will be on Aug. 1, followed by the Nov. 7 general election.
