Time has flown since I announced my

	Sandra speaking about the importance of protecting pollinators, one of her many environmental protection initiatives while in office.

retirement last December. For the past 27 years I have served this community, first as an Olympia City Council member, then as a member of the House of Representatives, and most recently, as a Thurston County Commissioner.

My time in office has been challenging, eye-opening, and immensely rewarding. I've worked with the citizens of Thurston County on many issues including child abuse prevention, the humane treatment of animals, rural economic sustainability, and improving water quality.

I'd like to take a moment to reflect on some of my biggest accomplishments. I started my political career in Thurston County as an Olympia City Council member in 1989. A few years later, in 1992, I was elected to the Washington State House of Representatives for the 22nd Legislative District where I served for 12 years. After retiring from the State, I took a break from local government and spent six months working in Cambodia and Pakistan for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. Then, in 2008, I was elected to the Thurston County Board of Commissioners.

At the City of Olympia I worked on Olympia's Main Street program and the development of Heritage Park, whose fountain is now an icon of our community. I was also a charter member on the city's Heritage Commission and Design Review Task Force.

As a member of the House of Representatives, I worked tirelessly to better our state through important initiatives. I passed a bill to overhaul the State's outdated animal cruelty laws; helped secure funding for the Chehalis Western Trail, a treasured amenity in Thurston County; set the groundwork for sustainable building in Washington by establishing the State's first Green Building Task Force in 2003; and helped achieve passage of the State Employees Collective Bargaining Act. I also served as Chair of the House State Government and Local Government committees, served on the Building Code Council, and was co-chair of the joint House and Senate Alternative Contracting Methods Oversight Committee.

As a county commissioner, I've focused my energy on protecting our environment, preserving our history and maintaining a quality of life unique to our region. I'm proud to say that Thurston County has set the course for conservation of our region's natural beauty while allowing for prudent and sustainable growth. 

I hit the ground running in my first term.  I was appointed to the Nisqually River Council, an organization that is working to protect and promote the Nisqually Watershed, which I still serve on. I helped guide the establishment of the  Alliance for a Healthy South Sound, an integrating organization created to bring regional leaders together to find strategies and solutions to improve the health of Puget Sound. I worked hard to open Thurston County's only off-leash dog park, now in its sixth year of operation. I also helped establish the County's Building Reserve Fund, a savings account dedicated to the maintenance of the County's aging buildings.

Although I'm very proud of these accomplishments, the biggest achievement of my first term is that I laid the ground work for the Agritourism Overlay District and the Thurston Bountiful Byway, two efforts aimed at preserving agricultural land and boosting South County's economy. Working together with local farmers and agritourism business owners, we recently established the 60+ mile tourist route through rural Thurston County that has garnered national attention (read more below).

At the beginning of my second term, my fellow Commissioners and I were faced with some difficult financial decisions. It looked like the  County Fair was in jeopardy of losing funding, and I knew I had to act fast to help preserve it. I worked with community members to strategize ways to breathe new life into the time-honored event. The result of this process was the creation of Savor South Sound, an annual craft beer, wine and cider tasting event, now a staple attraction at our Fair. 

I also became chair of the Education and Resilience Action Team (formerly the Thurston Council for Children and Youth). The group is working hard to build awareness about how we can help children who face adversity in our community. I've also served as a liaison between Thurston County and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, meeting with the base commander frequently to discuss the issues that impact our veterans and military personnel.

These are just a few of the many ways I represent the Board of County Commissioners in the community. For a full list of the Boards and Commissions I currently serve on, click here.

My family and I are looking forward to this exciting new phase in life.  I plan to spend some time traveling, sleeping and reconnecting with friends. I'm also looking forward to finding new ways to engage in our community, not as an elected official, but as a Thurston County citizen.