Measure to Expand Board of Commissioners Will Be on November Ballot

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Voters in November will have the opportunity to decide whether they want to increase the number of Thurston County commissioners from three to five.

The Thurston County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) unanimously passed a resolution in July to place the ballot measure on the general election ballot, stated a news release.

“If the ballot proposition receives majority voter approval, voters will vote incumbents into the two newly created positions during the general election in 2023,” stated the release.

If the measure is approved by voters, position four will initially serve a one-year term and position five will include a three-year term to allow for a staggered election cycle.

After the initial terms, the new commissioner positions will serve four-year terms.

The effort to expand the BOCC is in coordination with the Port of Olympia. The two entities signed a joint resolution in fall of 2021 to put forward ballot measures to expand both governing bodies.



“Following the joint resolution with the Port of Olympia approved in the fall of 2021, this is the next step in the process,” stated Thurston County Manager Ramiro Chavez in the release. “This has been a collaborative effort with the Port of Olympia, and it is expected they will take similar action to place a ballot measure during the general election to expand their board from three to five.”

The chair of the BOCC, the chair of the Port of Olympia and the Thurston County auditor will work together in meetings open to the public to create the two new commissioner districts.

The county will be divided into five commissioner districts so that each one comprises as close to one-fifth of the population as possible.

The BOCC will adopt a resolution to create the districts no later than Monday, March 13, stated the release.

The public hearing and vote can be viewed on the Thurston County YouTube channel.