Contact:
Ramiro Chavez, County Manager, (360) 754-2960 or email at ramiro.chavez@co.thurston.wa.us 

​OLYMPIA – The Thurston County Board of Commissioners (BoCC) will hold a public hearing Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 3:30 p.m. to receive public testimony on the proposed boundary lines for five county commissioner districts. This public hearing follows the certification of Thurston County Proposition Number 1 – where the majority of voters approved expanding the board from Three to Five Commissioners – in the 2022 General Election.

You can learn more about the BoCC expansion and view the proposed district boundaries on the county's BoCC Expansion Information webpage.

What: Public Hearing on Proposed Five Commissioners District Boundary Lines
When: Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022
Time: 3:30 p.m., or soon thereafter
Where: Building 1, Room 280 of the Thurston County Courthouse, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Olympia, WA 98502 or online.  

How to Submit Public Comments

Those wishing to testify should appear in person or virtually at the Wednesday, Dec. 7, public hearing. You can also submit written or emailed comments. Please submit your comments no later than 12 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7.

Email to: katelyn.johnson@co.thurston.wa.us

            Mail to:

               Thurston County Board of County Commissioners

               Attention: Katelyn Johnson, executive assistant to the county manager

               Thurston County Courthouse, Building One

               2000 Lakeridge Drive SW

               Olympia, WA 98502

Background: Following a public hearing on Tuesday, July 19, the BoCC passed Resolution Number 16181 to put a ballot measure forward in the 2022 general election to ask the voters to increase the number of Thurston County Commissioners from three to five.

Pursuant to RCW 36.32.055(1), the board of county commissioners of a non-charter county with a population of three hundred thousand or more, and less than four hundred thousand, may put forward a ballot measure proposition to be submitted at a general election of the county authorizing the board of commissioners to be increased to five members. On June 29, 2022, the Office of Financial Management (OFM) updated Thurston County population estimates to 300,500 based on the 2021 Census data.

The effort to expand the BoCC is in coordination with the Port of Olympia. In the fall of 2021, Thurston County and the Port of Olympia signed a joint resolution to put forward ballot measures to expand both governing bodies.

Disability Accommodations: To request disability accommodations, call the Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator at least three days prior to the meeting at 360-786-5440. Persons with speech or hearing disabilities may contact via Washington Relay:  711 or 800-833-6388.

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