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When David Johnstone was appointed to Yelm City Council’s Position No. 6 during the Tuesday, May 27, council meeting — after Mayor Joe DePinto broke a 3-3 tie in votes by councilors — he was immediately sworn into his position and took his seat with his six new colleagues.
Though he might be new to the Yelm City Council, Johnstone has served on the planning comission for the City of Yelm and plans to back his vision as councilor with his actions. He joins Tracey Wood, Joseph Richardson, Joshua Crossman, Stephanie Kangiser, Brian Hess and Terry Kaminski on the council.
He replaced former Yelm City Councilor Trevor Palmer, who resigned from his position during a study session on Tuesday, April 1. He cited a military deployment as his reason for resignation.
Two weeks after his first ever meeting as a councilor, Johnstone told the Nisqually Valley News that he was inspired to apply for the once vacant council position because he believes in showing up when it counts. The councilor said for years he’s been passionate about giving back and contributing to the long-term success of the local community — not just by offering opinions, but by taking action.
“When the vacancy opened, it felt like the right opportunity to step up and serve in a more official capacity. What truly inspired me was the realization that Yelm is at a pivotal moment. We are growing rapidly, facing real challenges and exciting opportunities,” Johnstone said. “I wanted to be a voice at the table that not only understands those challenges but is also willing to put in the work to find real solutions. My goal isn’t political advancement, it’s progress. I applied because I care about where we’re headed and want to help shape a future that works for everyone who calls Yelm home.”
Johnstone, a Yelm resident for just under a decade, said Yelm holds a special place in his heart because it’s where he and his wife purchased their first and current home, and where they chose to raise their family. That alone makes Yelm an incredibly meaningful community to Johnstone and his family. He’s immersed himself into Yelm traditions such as Prairie Days and the Nisqually Valley BBQ Rally in recent years, and noted that Jazz in the Park stands out to him the most as far as local events go.
He believes he will bring a balanced mix of practical experience, a strong work ethic and a genuine commitment to community to Yelm City Council during his tenure. Though this is Johnstone’s first stint as councilor, he’s already been able to serve the local community as a member of Yelm’s Planning Commission.
“It was a hands-on way to see how policy, zoning, and infrastructure planning come together to shape the long-term success of our community. That experience deepened my understanding of the balance between encouraging responsible growth while still protecting the character and values of the city,” he said. “I have also been actively involved in my local homeowners association, where I’ve served in a leadership role since 2018. While smaller in scale, it has a surprising number of parallels to city government. In both roles, you are responsible for managing the needs and expectations of the people you serve while also upholding policies and maintaining the integrity of the organization.”
Johnstone added that his interest in local government has developed gradually, but it really began to take shape once he became a homeowner and parent in Yelm. As Johnstone’s roots in the community continued to grow, he began paying close attention to the decisions being made around him, how they impact his neighborhood, his family and their daily lives.
He added that a sense of responsibility led him to become involved with his local HOA, where Johnstone said he quickly saw how governance, transparency and communication can either “strengthen or strain a community.”
