Lewis County Democrats Chair Jen Slemp points to a voting precinct on a map of Lewis County on Friday afternoon in her office in Centralia. Slemp of Napavine was awarded the 2013 Washington State Warren G. Magnuson Award for Chair of the Year.
Lewis County Democrats Chair Jen Slemp talks about winning the 2013 Washington State Warren G. Magnuson Award for Chair of the Year at her office in Centralia on Friday afternoon.
Lewis County Democrats Chair Jen Slemp talks about winning the 2013 Washington State Warren G. Magnuson Award for Chair of the Year at her office in Centralia on Friday afternoon.
Lewis County Democrats Chair Jen Slemp poses for a portrait outside her Centralia office on Friday afternoon. Slemp of Napavine was awarded the 2013 Washington State Warren G. Magnuson Award for Chair of the Year.
Lewis County Democrats Chair Jen Slemp talks about winning the 2013 Washington State Warren G. Magnuson Award for Chair of the Year at her office in Centralia on Friday afternoon.
Lewis County Democrats Chair Jen Slemp talks about winning the 2013 Washington State Warren G. Magnuson Award for Chair of the Year at her office in Centralia on Friday afternoon.
Jen Slemp will step down as chair of the Lewis County Democrats effective Feb. 27.
Slemp has been a member of the organization for eight years and its chair for one year.
A Napavine city councilor, Slemp cited time constraints as the chief factor in her resignation.
“It just doesn’t allow me to put in the time I need to,” she told The Chronicle Monday. “But being chair has been a blessing.”
Slemp in an August interview said that should she win the city council seat, she might not be able to keep up with both roles.
In her letter of resignation, Slemp thanked the Lewis County Democrats’ Board for having faith in her.
“It has been my privilege to serve as the chair of the Lewis County Democrats over the past year,” she said. “I am thankful of having the opportunity to volunteer for the organization for the past eight years.”
Slemp said she does not have any other political activities — higher office, for example — planned for the near future.
“I’ll probably just stick with city council, but never say never,” she said.
Nominations for a new chair, typically a two-year position, will be taken at the Democrats’ meeting on Jan. 23. The election will be held at the Feb. 27 meeting.
Slemp will continue to be involved with the Democrats, just not in a leadership position, she said.
In August, the Lewis County Democrats announced that Slemp had been named the recipient of the 2013 Washington state Warren G. Magnuson Award for Chair of the Year.
The award is presented to a Democrat in Washington who follows in the path of Sen. Warren Grant Magnuson, who led the way for major increases in federal funding for health care and research, according to the Washington state Democrats.
“Among other accomplishments,” Lewis County Democrats Vice Chair Lynne Treat wrote in a news release, “(Slemp) has made it a priority to provide public education on topics of concern for the greater Lewis County area, such as genetically manipulated organisms in our food and the negative effects of climate change on Washington state.”
Slemp previously served as chair of the 20th Legislative District Democrats.
