Tye Menser (D-Olympia)
Photo credit: Tye for Thurston


– Editor’s note:
Tye Menser kept his lead and won the seat for County Commission, District 3 by 861 votes, or .74%.
The vote was certified by the County Auditor on Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 1:27pm.

– The interesting facts in this race are as follows by the Public Disclosure Commission:
* Incumbent Blake out-raised Menser by 24% or $18,383,
* Blake raised $95,538 to Menser’s $77,155.
* Blake had many donations from real estate & mortgage brokers, contractors.
* Yet Blake still lost, and as an incumbent.
* Blake never held an open-to-the-public forum in SE Thurston County, Menser held 2.


* A sample of Blake’s large donations came from groups such as:
WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS PAC, WASTE CONNECTIONS US INC, KAUFMAN HOLDINGS INC, AFFORDABLE HOUSING COUNCIL, BLACK HILLS HOME, UA PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS LOCAL 26 SEGREGATED FUND SERVICES, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COUNCIL, SILVER SPRINGS CATTLE RANCH LLC, ROCHESTER WATER ASSOCIATION, FARM HOME LENDING, NISQUALLY INDIAN TRIBE, LAKESIDE INDUSTRIES INC, LACEY BUSINESS LEAGUE, INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 612, THURSTON COUNTY WOMEN’S REPUBLICAN CLUB.

In addition, Blake had access to Independent Expenditures FOR his campaign (made by third parties without the candidate’s approval or collaboration):
+ WASHINGTON REALTORS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE = $66,495.00
+ THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COUNCIL OF OLYMPIA MASTER BUILDERS = $3,250.00
This means that Blake outspent Menser actually out-spent well over 2 to 1.


* A sample of Menser’s large donor groups included:
THURSTON ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS, CITIZENS FOR INTEGRITY IN GOVERNMENT, WASHINGTON STATE DEMOCRATS, WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE EMPLOYEES (WFSE) LOCAL 443, THURSTON-LEWIS-MASON CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL, THURSTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC WOMEN’S CLUB, TUMWATER FIREFIGHTERS.

Menser has Independent Expenditures AGAINST his campaign (made by third parties without the candidate’s approval or collaboration):
REAL PROGRESSIVES OF THURSTON COUNTY SPONSORED BY A BRIGHTER THURSTON CO. = $8,159.91

“Follow the money” yet in this race, money could not get the incumbent re-elected, as the voters called for change!
Menser had a well-thought vision for the next four years, Blake did not enunciate his well. Menser’s impact was being on-message in his commitment “to help find solutions to important problems facing the county,” he said. ‘We have much work to do as we move forward: balancing the budget, improving water quality, building up mental health treatment services and planning for a 40 percent population increase.”
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Congratulations to Commissioner-elect Menser!


Blogger Klein was a Menser for Commissioner campaign supporter, volunteer, and contributor.