Commentary | The Daily Chronicle

Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer, and columnist. Contact him at theBrunells@msn.com.

Commentary: Polish people perplexed by New York embrace of socialism

The Polish people are perplexed by some Americans lack of appreciation for our market-based economic system where consumers, not government bureaucrats, decide what to buy, manufacture and consume. … more

By Don Brunell | 7/16/25

Kris Johnson is president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s chamber of commerce and manufacturers association.

Commentary: Civics Bee highlights the leaders of a bright future in Washington

As Maanha Nasir took the stage at last month’s National Civics Bee state championship, she spoke to judges and audience members with the confidence and thoroughly researched ideas of a … more

By Kris Johnson / Association of Washington Business | 7/16/25

Commentary: Business cash bets the Washington state GOP can finally beat its Trump curse

Maybe no one has felt the political hurt Donald Trump has inflicted on local Republicans more than Chad Magendanz. A decade ago, Magendanz, a Republican, was happily serving the King County … more

Danny Westneat / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 7/16/25

Wayne Fournier is a Thurston County commissioner, former Tenino mayor, firefighter and lifelong community advocate. He believes that small towns are the last frontier of big ideas. He shares stories of civic creativity, leadership and community-building in his regular newspaper column.

Wayne Fournier: That time the mayor threw a chair and Danny Bonaduce called me ‘Councilmember D-bag’ (Yes, really, I can’t make this stuff up)

Local government isn’t often glamorous; sometimes, it’s downright messy. But every leadership lesson has a story, and this one happens to involve that guy from The Partridge Family and a … more

Commentary by Wayne Fournier / For The Chronicle | 7/14/25

Fran Grove mows her own lawn at age 91 in this photo provided by Chronicle columnist Julie McDonald.

Julie McDonald: Nonagenarian’s rich history stretches to PNW pioneers

A year ago, while walking with my friend, we stopped to visit Frances Grove and her daughter, Sherry Bakotich, as they fixed fences around the Grove cow pasture northeast of Toledo. A week … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 7/14/25

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, stands in the wings of the Senate floor at the Washington state Capitol in Olympia on Friday, April 25.

John Braun: Deal in facts when reacting to federal budget actions, not partisan fiction

Gov. Bob Ferguson’s first speech to the Legislature included several declarations that were encouraging to Republicans in the audience. One was that he was not here to defend government, but to … more

Commentary by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia | 7/11/25

Brian Mittge: The bounty of a mediocre garden

I grew up in a gardening family. My dad tilled a vast swatch of rich brown earth that he planted carefully in rows straight as an arrow. My mom put up all sorts of canned goods in big mason … more

Commentary by Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 7/11/25

Rep. Peter Abbarno represents the 20th Legislative District and is the House Republican Caucus Chair.

Peter Abbarno: Washington state’s child care crisis demands real solutions

Washington is in the midst of a child care crisis — and families across Southwest Washington are paying the price. In communities throughout the 20th Legislative District — from Centralia … more

Commentary by state Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia | 7/11/25

The Mariners Moose mascot cheers during a game in Seattle on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023.

Richard Stride: Baseball, hot dogs and American dreams — a Seattle Mariners story

There’s something about the smell of grilled onions and sizzling hot dogs wafting through a ballpark that feels like pure summer. It’s July, the sun hangs stubbornly in the sky long … more

Commentary by Richard Stride / For The Chronicle | 7/9/25

Commentary: Washington state Supreme Court hides the ball on state employee compensation offers

In a shocking 8-1 ruling , the Washington Supreme Court has given its official blessing to a secretive process that allows the offers and counteroffers leading to more than a billion dollars in … more

By Jason Mercier / Mountain States Policy Center | 7/9/25

Julie McDonald: Romance author, W.F. West alum to keynote writers conference, Evening with Authors

“Falling in love makes us feel alive in a way we rarely get to feel,” Jane Porter says. “I couldn’t imagine not writing love stories.” In September, we’ll … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 7/7/25

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, looks through documents during the legislative session at the Washington state Capitol in Olympia on Friday, April 25.

John Braun: No one likes gas tax, but it isn’t the main driver of our high fuel prices

Many people are unhappy about the recent hike in the state fuel tax, especially since the average prices for gas and diesel were already much higher here than in every state except California and … more

Commentary by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia | 7/5/25

Brian Mittge: An example for the future from Centralia’s founder

As Centralia marks its 150th birthday and the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th, I’ve been thinking about the past and what it could mean for us in the future. Living in … more

Commentary by Brian Mittge / For The Chronicle | 7/4/25

Sean Swope is a Lewis County commissioner representing District 1.

Sean Swope: Lewis County will reaffirm that we are not a sanctuary county

In the coming weeks, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice w ill re-release the national list of sanctuary jurisdictions — communities they believe obstruct … more

Commentary by Sean Swope | 7/3/25

Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez smiles during a tour of Napavine High School’s CTE program at the Tiger Sandbox on Tuesday, April 22.

Gluesenkamp Perez: With vote on big bill, Congress makes terrain more uneven for hardworking families

Editor’s note: Following is the full statement of U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, following the U.S. House passage of the budget reconciliation bill best known as the Big … more

7/3/25

Commentary: Changes made — and not made — to the WA Cares in 2025

Let’s start with a change that was not made to the WA Cares fund in 2025. Lawmakers did not pass a law requiring recertification from people who received exemptions from WA Cares because they … more

By Elizabeth New / Washington Police Center | 7/3/25

Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer, and columnist. He retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. You can contact him at theBrunells@msn.com.

Commentary: Grades alone cannot measure knowledge and skill

With high school and college commencements wrapping up, employers now worry about the graduates’ preparedness to enter the work world. This year, 3.9 million students graduated from our … more

By Don Brunell | 7/2/25

Wayne Fournier: Growth, planning and the Thurston County of tomorrow

Every month, more than 300 new residents move to Thurston County. You can see the impact: rooftops rising, traffic thickening and housing costs climbing. When I took office as a Thurston County … more

Commentary by Wayne Fournier | 7/2/25

Earl and Faye Spencer are pictured in September 2023.

Julie McDonald: Earl Spencer’s legacy includes Southwest Washington Fair

I was saddened to read last week about the June 22 death of Earl Spencer, a longtime local resident whose dedication as Southwest Washington Fair manager for more than 14 years helped the fairgrounds … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For The Chronicle | 6/30/25

John Braun: State needs to make vulnerable individuals a priority again

Ideally, legislators would have to respond to most needs only once. Our branch of government makes the appropriate change in law, the executive branch implements it, and away we go. Back in … more

Commentary by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia | 6/27/25