Carolina is a dedicated resident of Thurston County where she has resided with her spouse and two children for over a decade. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a Pre-Law minor from Christian Brothers University in 2013, before making a permanent move to the Pacific Northwest to further her education. Carolina is committed to volunteering and advocating for diverse and underserved communities in her new home. She has remained an active member of the Kiwanis organization and is dedicated to promoting community engagement. 

In 2021, Carolina was elected to the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners. In 2022, she was chosen to serve as Chair, and she held the position through 2023.

In January 2026, Carolina was chosen to serve as Chair of the Board of Health. 

Perla comes to the Board of Health with over 10 years of expertise as an emergency medical nurse. In this role she demonstrated outstanding leadership in various community initiatives. Newton believes her lens of identifying with historically marginalized and underrepresented communities will help bring voices to the table that normally do not have one. Perla believes the stronger a community is, the better it can provide public health services.

In January 2026, Perla was chosen to serve as Vice Chair of the Board of Health. 

Emily is a combat veteran, a nonprofit leader, and a proud union member through her work with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). She is a dedicated advocate for youth and families in Thurston County and is the co-founder and Executive Director of CARE, an organization serving formerly incarcerated youth. Emily believes that it's time to move beyond punishment and towards a system that prioritizes restorative justice and reintegration.

In 2023, Emily was elected to the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners, additionally she is a member of the Board of Health, where she actively works to promote the health and well-being of her constituents.

Wayne was born and raised in Tenino, Washington where he happily resides with his family and many lifelong friends. From 2012 – 2015, Wayne served on the Tenino City Council, before being elected to Mayor of City in 2015. Wayne served as Mayor from 2015 – 2023. As Mayor he was responsible for major city improvement projects including investments and improvements into the city’s park, quarry pool and road systems. 

In 2023, Wayne was elected to the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners. In 2023, he was chosen to serve as Vice-Chair, and he continues to hold this position as of 2024. Additionally, he serves on the Thurston County Board of Heath and serves as the County Commissions member of the Economic Development Council, where he actively works to promote the economic well-being of his district and constituents.

Clark Gilman joined the Thurston County Board of Health in January 2025 as the City of Olympia Representative. Clark Gilman was appointed by the City Council to fill vacant Position #4 in January 2016. In November 2017, Gilman was then elected to serve a four-year term. He was re-elected in November 2021 to another full term. He currently serves as Mayor Pro Tem.

Gilman is a servant leader. He believes one of the most important responsibilities of City Council is to support the good ideas and good work of City employees. Another responsibility is listening carefully to the City’s advisory boards and commissions and supporting their work. It is extremely important to him to make space for more community voices to be heard at City Hall. His service is driven by pride in the City of Olympia and the fervent belief that we should always ask for more for the many.  

Heidi Knadel is a licensed mental health clinician and interested in learning more about the indicators and causes of behavioral health challenges in our communities. Heidi has a wealth of experience in mental health crisis support and high intesity care. With a goal to improve the health and safety of youth and families in Thurston County through cross sector collaboration, Heidi makes a great additional to the expanded Board of Health. 

Mayor Dave Watterson has a background in firefighting and has been serving as the mayor of Tenino, Washington, since November 2023. Dave joined the Thurston County Board of Health in January 2026. 

Ray Peters was born and raised in Washington State. He holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Whitworth University. After graduation Ray was a College Associate Professor and basketball coach for 19 years. Ray was inducted into the Saint Martin’s University Athletic Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a coach. He returned to Squaxin Island Tribe to serve as the Deputy Executive Director then promoted to the Executive Director for ten years. He currently serves as the Intergovernmental Affairs/Council Liaison for the tribe for the past 8 years. Ray serves on many boards and committees for the Squaxin Island Tribe, including the Thurston County Board of Health. 

Kim Coombs is the Health Director of the Chehalis Tribal Wellness Center. She serves on the Thurston County Board of Health as the representative for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, bringing a tribal public health perspective and a commitment to community wellness, equity, and collaboration.