Jacob Dimond / jake@yelmonline.com
Yelm resident Griselda Arias announced her campaign for Yelm City Council’s Position No. 3 seat on Facebook on Wednesday, May 7. The position will be included on the Nov. 4 general election ballot as well as the primary, though both candidates will move on to the general election.
She’ll be included in November’s ballot with incumbent Joshua Crossman, who has held Yelm City Council Position No. 3 since 2021.
Arias wrote online that she’s running for Yelm City Council for two reasons: because she believes in this community and because she believes in the power of service. This isn’t Arias’ first attempt of getting involved with the Yelm City Council, as she previously ran for appointment on March 12, 2024, to fill the then-vacant Position No. 4 seat.
Current Yelm City Councilor Stephanie Kangiser was ultimately appointed on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, after Mayor Joe DePinto cast a vote to break a tie between Kangiser and applicant Robert Isom.
Arias noted she isn’t running just to serve, but also to listen and to understand what matters most to community members. She hopes to collaborate with the local community to “shape a thriving, welcoming future for Yelm.”
“As a veteran, a public health leader, and an engaged neighbor, l’ve dedicated my life to helping others. Since making Yelm my home, I’ve worked hard to give back — whether through local volunteer work, public service, or just being an active part of our community,” Arias wrote. “I’m stepping up now because Yelm is growing and changing, and we need thoughtful leadership to ensure that growth is managed wisely, that local services are protected, and that every voice in our community is heard.”
Arias, born in Yakima Valley, enlisted in the Army National Guard at just 17 years of age and completed a tour of duty in Iraq at 20 years old. She told Yelm city councilors last spring, while interviewing for the then-vacant Position No. 4 seat, that her life experiences shaped her perspective of service, resilience and leadership, and that her journey from the Yakima Valley to the heart of Yelm is a testament to her values of hard work, dedication and service.
“It is these values that I intend to bring to the Yelm City Council so that together we can build a vibrant, inclusive and resilient community that thrives for generations to come,” Arias previously stated during the Yelm City Council meeting on March 12, 2024.
Arias told the Nisqually Valley News on Tuesday, May 13 that she felt inspired to run for council because she consistently heard three concerns from neighbors: growth outpacing infrastructure, limited local health resources, and feeling unheard at City Hall.
Arias said she’d plan smart infrastructure, including plans for roads, water, sewer and broadband before growth is given the green light. She’d also like to see more healthy communities and youth spaces, and would like to see the expansion of local health services, and create safe and enriching places, such as an “upgraded teen center and better park programs” where kids can learn and play close to their homes.
“After attending many council meetings and community forums, I’m stepping up to close those gaps with smart infrastructure, healthier spaces for families, and a city government that truly listens,” Arias said. “Local government is where decisions meet doorsteps—whether it’s a safer crosswalk or broadband in a new subdivision. The appointment process, and the meetings I’ve attended since, showed me how much good can happen when residents’ voices are truly represented. As a first‑generation Mexican‑American, veteran, and public‑health professional, I’ll bring perspectives not now at the table and make sure every corner of Yelm is heard.”
Arias’s prior experiences include serving as an administrator at Sea Mar Community Health Center in Yelm, where she worked directly with Yelm families. She wrote she also managed budgets, led a diverse medical team, and made sure people “received care with dignity and respect.”
“In my current role as a state public‑health manager, I bring agencies together, turn complex data into real‑world solutions, and balance public safety with fiscal responsibility—skills every city needs,” she said. “And as an Iraq War veteran, chair of the Thurston County Veterans Advisory Board, and active Yelm Lions Club volunteer, I’ve spent my life in service—advocating for veterans, volunteering at food drives, and showing up for neighbors. Now I’m ready to serve all of Yelm.”
