I’m a single mom living here in Centralia, and I wanted to share why I’m voting for Ray Chapman-Wilson for Centralia City Council, District 2.
I love this town and I’ve made a life here. I’m raising my kids here, and I care deeply about where it’s heading.
One of my favorite parts of Centralia is our downtown. I walk there often, and you can see how much care and heart the Downtown Centralia Association and the Centralia City Council have put into it.
The lights, the shops and the murals: It all makes Centralia feel welcoming and proud of its history. That’s the kind of spirit I want our leaders to protect and build on.
I went to the recent debate between Ray Chapman-Wilson and Leah Sisemore because I wanted to hear from them directly. Ray came across as calm, respectful and genuinely interested in helping everyone. That’s the kind of steady leadership we need right now.
I can’t say I feel that way about Leah Sisemore. She’s already been on the council before, and she quit when things got difficult. What really bothered me, though, was her support for a local music store that sold white supremacist material.
As a person who has Latin ancestry, that was deeply upsetting. It hurt to see something like that in my own community — and even worse, to see people defending it as “just business.” Hate has no place in Centralia, and anyone running for office should make that clear. When Leah resigned, perhaps over that issue, instead of taking responsibility or standing against it, it told me all I needed to know.
Centralia is a good town with good people. We just need leaders who show up, stay grounded, and care about all of us no matter our background, race, or religion. That’s why I’m supporting Ray Chapman-Wilson. I believe he’ll represent everyone fairly and keep our city moving in a positive direction.
Kayleigh Mills
Centralia
