In the midst of a recent trend of Thurston County elected officials requesting pay freezes amid budget challenges, Lewis County Commissioner Sean Swope made a similar request on Tuesday.
In a news release, Swope, a Republican representing District 1, shared a letter he wrote to the Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials.
“I am writing to request a pay freeze for my position as Lewis County Commissioner,” he wrote. “Like many other local governments throughout the state, Lewis County has faced substantial budget concerns. Those challenges have persisted. In August 2025, the Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials (also known as the Salary Commission), approved a 3 percent salary increase for my position effective Jan. 1, 2026. I understand that you may be reconvening to review salaries for 2027 and beyond. If that is the case, I respectfully request that you freeze my salary at its current level. As the cost of living continues to sharply rise, our employees, neighbors and fellow community members are struggling to pay their energy bills. Receiving a pay increase as a Lewis County Commissioner would be highly inappropriate at this time. Thank you for your consideration on this matter.”
The 2025 increase meant the base salary for Commissioners Swope, Lindsey Pollock and Scott Brummer increased from $100,838 per year to $103,863 per year.
Swope’s letter comes after Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders asked the citizens’ commission there to freeze his salary for the second year in a row. In fact, the final lines of his letter are nearly identical to those written by Sanders in his own announcement.
“Thank You Sheriff Sanders for taking the lead on this!” Swope wrote on his personal Facebook page.
