Republican Gubernatorial candidate Bill Bryant,
Yelm Mayor Ron Harding looking on.
February 12, 2016, Olympia

– “Birds of a feather flock together?” Yelm’s Mayor acknowledged by Thurston Republicans
Yelm Mayor Ron Harding was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Thurston County Republicans First Vice-Chair Whitney Littlefield. Littlefield is the daughter of Harding-appointee and the former Yelm Councilor Jen Littlefield, who was defeated in 2015’s election by Tad Stillwell. The Thurston County Republicans Lincoln Dinner occurred on the 207th anniversary of the birth of this nation’s 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, February 12th.
“Birds of a feather flock together?” Harding was the Deputy County Auditor appointee by the then-interim Republican Auditor.
Read more from Nisqually Valley News affiliate in Centralia, The Chronicle, on the Lewis County Lincoln Day Dinner.


Editor’s Note:
Interesting that Mayor Harding, age 49, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Thurston County Republicans, as these types of award are usually presented to those retiring after a full career or someone leaving their position. Though current County Commission candidate and former Republican Sheriff Gary Edwards resides in the Yelm area and Legislator JT Wilcox calls Yelm his home while residing in rural Roy, Ron Harding was not publicly known for any work with the Republican Party, yet he was on their dais receiving their award! Interesting.

Harding also is not near or at retirement, so is one to ascertain he is leaving public service on or before the 2017 election for his mayoral seat?

Also interesting was the presenter, Thurston County Republicans First Vice-Chair Whitney Littlefield, daughter of Harding’s interim Council Appointee Jen Littlefield, who certifiably lost re-election to Yelm’s council Position 4 to Tad Stillwell.

Even though the Yelm newspaper did not raise this issue, this Blogger then questioned Littlefield’s daughter Whitney answering questions on her then-Yelm Council candidate mother’s behalf at the Yelm Chamber candidates Forum last Fall. I wrote then:
“Additionally, while Councilor Littlefield could not attend the candidates forum being a school teacher, she sent her daughter to answer for her. While Ms. Littlfield was an excellent respondent and stand-in for her mother and I told her so, this was inappropriate to have her on the dais, especially that she injected her own views into some of her responses. What would have been best is for the moderator to have read Jen Littlefield’s own pre-printed responses. Having a stand-in was a fauz pas.”
Read more


Hmmmmm!
Is Mayor Ron Harding wrapping-up his political career?
THAT is the question one comes away with from this award!