With less than two months remaining until the Tuesday, Nov. 4 general election, two candidates in the running for Yelm City Council Position No. 3 — incumbent Joshua Crossman and candidate Griselda Arias — each stated their case for why the local community should vote to elect them.
Voters’ pamphlets for the upcoming election will be mailed during the week of Oct. 6, and ballots will become available on Wednesday, Oct. 15. The final day for online voter registration, or to update your current registration, must be received by an election official on Monday, Oct. 27. In-person voter registration can be completed until 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Joshua Crossman
Crossman, who has been an elected official in Yelm since 2021, has lived in the Yelm area for nearly 50 years and envisions a city that his children can one day thrive in. According to the councilor, he loves Yelm and is driven to see the city flourish.
“If people like low taxes and less government, then I’m the man for that, because that’s what I really believe in. That’s my primary goal — less regulation, which equals less taxes — because we’re already overburdened on taxes in the state of Washington. That’s one of my key objectives to work toward, is keeping our taxes as low as we can and the least amount of regulation possible,” Crossman said. “I want to help businesses be prosperous as they can when it comes to city government. There’s a few things the government can help with in that aspect to try to keep that flow going.”
Crossman, who has owned and operated PTL Flooring in the Yelm community since 2004, described being on city council as a complete team effort. Though members of Yelm City Council possess different leadership qualities, Crossman recognizes it takes “whole city leadership” to accomplish anything at the local government level.
“It takes a whole city leadership. There’s no one councilman who can take credit for anything. There’s not one lone person in any aspect of the government who can take credit for the things that have been done over the last few years, or ever. I’m just happy to be part of the cog in the machine to keep things moving,” Crossman said. “We’ve got this (development) in Yelm that’s coming along great, and they’re being reasonable.”
The councilor added that he makes his decision based on data presented to him, rather than making decisions based on feelings. Crossman claimed a lot of people would rather make decisions based on feelings rather than looking at data — but believes the only way to make an informed decision is by studying information presented to you.
“I look at the data to help guide those decisions. There’s people who have been working on these plans, development plans and growth plans, for decades, and they’re experts in it,” Crossman said. “We have to trust them. They know what they’re doing and the modeling is correct.”
One example of a decades-long project in the area, according to Crossman, would be the Yelm Bypass project. He recalled that particular project being discussed while he was a high schooler at YHS 30-years ago.
“No one in government right now can take credit for the bypass actually starting to be completed in the next couple of years, because this process started 30 years ago. We just helped push it forward. A lot of these projects are decades in the making, and a lot of people don’t realize that,” Crossman said. “One of the things I like that we’ve done within our span is the trail getting paved. The Prairie Line Trail, seeing that come to fruition with being built and paved so people can enjoy that. The sidewalks that we have added so people have more walkability around town. There’s a few more projects I’m excited for, that I’ve been working on.
“Getting the sidewalks so people can walk, basically, from Fort Stevens to Yelm Middle School. I want all the kids that walk from those neighborhoods doing it safely,” he added. “That should be completed in the next several years, and that’s something I’ve been pushing for so people can walk around town rather than driving and fighting traffic.”
Even then, Crossman noted, it’s still a collaborative process between Yelm Community Schools, the City of Yelm’s planning department and others.
“It’s a collaborative effort between a lot of different entities to make anything happen in government around the city. I can never take claim for one project by myself. I can just say ‘hey, I helped along the way, and I helped get these projects get moving along,” Crossman said. “I think government should be a job that nobody wants. It should be a very boring, dull job that few people want. It’s become this social media, publicity stunt almost. It shouldn’t be that way. I think government should be small, not intrusive, and work on things that only government can do such as infrastructure, making roads and sidewalks, and improving traffic flow.”
The councilor believes the government should “be a very background” entity and not in the forefront. According to Crossman, there’s not one leader above the rest because it takes so many people and teams coming together and collaborating to “make something happen.”
Griselda Arias
The incumbent, Griselda Arias, told the Nisqually Valley News on Sunday, Sept. 7, that she decided to run for Yelm City Council because “service has always been at the core” of who she is. Stating that she’s the daughter of Mexican immigrants and a veteran of the Iraq War, Arias believes both of those experiences have shaped her to step up to serve the Yelm community.
“My parents worked long days as farmworkers, and I learned early on what it meant to take responsibility and to give back. Later, in the military and in public health, I carried those same values of hard work, integrity and service,” Arias said. “Now, Yelm is my home — it’s where my husband and I are building our lives — and I want to make sure that as our city grows, every family feels heard and supported. Running for city council is my way of giving back to the community that has given me so much.”
According to Arias, she comes into the Yelm City Council race “with a perspective that’s a little different than most.” As a veteran, and someone who has managed public health programs throughout Washington, and as an involved neighbor in the Yelm community — Arias knows that details matter.
“I know that details matter — how budgets are spent, how decisions are communicated, and how everyday families experience city hall. Of course, we need to plan for growth and keep up with infrastructure, but just as important is how we lead: with transparency, with accountability, and by listening to people who often feel left out of the process,” Arias said. “I want to bring that kind of leadership to the council, one that makes thoughtful decisions and keeps our community connected and informed.”
Arias is an involved member in the Yelm community, and is an active member of the Yelm Lions Club where she assists with events like Movies in the Park. Additionally, Arias serves on the Thurston County Veterans Advisory Board, where she works to connect veterans with much needed resources. The candidate also helps serve hot meals at the Yelm Prairie Christian Church every Thursday.
“I don’t just serve through organizations — I show up at local events, I listen to neighbors, and I pitch in wherever I can,” she said. “For me, being part of this community isn’t just about where I live, it’s about how I contribute.”
According to Arias, Yelm deserves leaders “who are ready to do the work.” If elected, she said she’ll continue to do what she’s always done: show up, listen and work hard to ensure the local community thrives.
“Since making Yelm my home, I’ve stepped in wherever I could, whether it’s through the Lions Club, serving on the Veterans Advisory Board, helping serve a hot meal every Thursday at Yelm Prairie Christian Church, or just showing up at community events to listen and be part of the conversation. That’s what I bring to the table: a record of service as a veteran, as a public health professional, and now here in Yelm as a neighbor who cares deeply about this city,” she said.
“If elected, I’d make a difference for Yelm by continuing to serve in the ways I already have, but with a bigger platform to do more. Whether it’s supporting veterans, helping bring people together at community events or making sure families can count on a hot meal — I believe leadership is about rolling up your sleeves and being present. On the council, I’ll use that same approach: practical, steady and rooted in service to make sure our city’s decisions reflect the needs and values of the people who live here. Running for city council isn’t about politics for me it’s about service, the same way I’ve always served Yelm.”
The candidate described her leadership style as one rooted in accountability and problem solving. She cited her experience in the United States Army, where Arias learned that leadership means taking responsibility, following through and making sure the mission is complete.
“In my career managing public health programs for Washington state. I’ve led diverse teams, overseen budgets and brought different agencies together to work toward a common goal,” Arias said. “I don’t shy away from hard decisions, but I also believe the best solutions come from listening and collaboration. That’s the approach I’d bring to the city council: disciplined, accountable and always focused on results for the community.”
Additionally, when asked where she sees Yelm in 10 years, Arias said she envisions a city and community that invests in its people — where youth have opportunities, and where veterans and seniors feel supported. She also envisions a Yelm that values its local businesses, parks and gathering spaces.
“Because those are what make us more than just a place on the map,” Arias said. “Of course, the city will face challenges, but if we keep decisions grounded in transparency, accountability, and listening to our residents, we can build a future where people are proud to call Yelm home.”
