Following the 8 p.m. release of the first batch of 2025 Thurston County general election data, initial results project Joe DePinto, current Yelm mayor, to retain his position and Yelm Community Schools’ levy measure failing for a fourth consecutive attempt.
City of Yelm
Mayor
Incumbent Joe DePinto led over JW Foster as results began to pour in after 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, in the 2025 Thurston County general election. DePinto received 451 votes, or 53.63% of the count, while Foster received 388 votes — good for 46.14%.
City Council, Position No. 3
In the tightest race within the Nisqually Valley Region, challenger Griselda Arias led incumbent Joshua Crossman in their efforts for Yelm City Council Position No. 3. Arias totaled 394 votes, or 49.81% of the count, while Crossman received 392 votes — good for 49.56%.
City Council, Position No. 5
Current Yelm City Councilor Brian Hess led challenger Kayla Russell in the race for Yelm City Council Position No. 5 as results began to pour in after 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Hess totaled 464 votes, or 59.49% of the count, while Russell received 309 votes — good for 39.62%.
City Council, Position No. 6
The once-appointed incumbent, David Johnstone, led challenger Nicole Sims by just 11 tallies in the race for Yelm City Council Position No. 6. Johnstone totaled 393 votes, or 50.26% of the total count, while Sims received 382 votes — good for 48.85%.
Unopposed Yelm City Council candidates
Current city councilors Stephanie Kangiser and Terry Kaminski each ran unopposed in their respective races for City of Yelm positions. Kangiser, running for Yelm City Council Position No. 4, received 667 votes. Kaminski, running for Yelm City Council Position No. 7, received 651 total votes.
Yelm Community Schools
Levy
For the fourth consecutive time, a Yelm Community Schools levy measure has been failed by voters within the district. A total of 2,411 people, or 55.12%, voted against the tax while 1,963 YCS residents voted to approve the measure.
In Thurston County, a total of 1,644 residents, or 47.11%, voted in favor of passing the YCS levy attempt, while 1,846 total voters, or 52.89%, opposed the measure. In the neighboring Pierce County, a total of 319 voters, or 36.09% of eligible Pierce County voters, attempted to pass the levy, while 565 YCS residents, or 63.91% of eligible Pierce County voters, struck down the tax.
School Board Director, District No. 1
In the race for YCS Board Director of District No. 1, the once-appointed incumbent Frank King led challenger Ray Duncan as initial results rolled in. Across Thurston and Pierce counties, King received a total of 2,380 votes, or 60.22%, while Duncan received 1,525 total votes, or 38.59%.
In Thurston County, King received a total of 1,906 votes, or 60.15%, while Duncan received 1,228 total votes — good for 38.75%. In Pierce County, King received 474 votes, or 60.54%, while Duncan received 37.93%.
School Board Director, District No. 4
Challenger Ryan Jewell led incumbent Debbie Edwards as initial results began to pour in for the YCS Board Director of District No. 4 race. In total, Jewell received 2,282 votes, or 56.07%, while Edwards tallied 1,743 votes, or 42.83%.
In Thurston County, Jewell received 1,794 total votes, or 55.06%, while Edwards received 1,429 votes, or 43.86%. In Pierce County, Jewell received 488 votes, or 60.1%, while Edwards received 314 votes — good enough for 38.67%.
Yelm Cemetery District
Cemetery Commissioner, Position No. 2
In the race to become the Yelm Cemetery District’s Cemetery Commission Position No. 2 representative, Jesse Kellems, the once appointed incumbent, led over challengers Angela Taylor and Lisa Declerque.
Kellems received a total of 1,446 votes, or 53.96%, while Taylor received 715 votes, or 26.88%, and Declercque received 492 votes — good enough for 18.36%.
Unopposed
Tracie Choate and Kim Harmon each ran unopposed in their respective races in the Yelm Cemetery District. Choate, Position No. 1 incumbent, received 2,239 total votes, while Harmon, Position No. 3 candidate, received 2,098 votes.
City of Roy
Mayor
In the race to become Roy’s mayor, challenger Ryan Muller led incumbent Kimber Ivy as initial results began to arrive. Muller received 55 total votes, or 59.78%, while Ivy received 37 votes, or 40.22%.
City Council, Position No. 3
Current Roy City Councilor Jim Rotondo led challenger Vanessa Lucey in the race for Position No. 3. Rotondo received 48 total votes, or 53.93%, while Lucey received 40 votes.
City Council, Position No. 5
Current Roy City Councilor William Starks led challenger Brent “BJay” Blaustein in the race for Position No. 5. Starks received 54 total votes, or 64.94%, while Blaustein received 33 votes — good for 37.08%.
Unopposed
Edmund Dunn, Position No. 1, and Alexandria Hall, Position No. 4, each ran unopposed in their respective campaigns for Roy City Council. Dunn received 68 total votes to just five write-ins, while Hall received 50 total votes to 27 write-ins.
City of Rainier
Mayor
Bob Shaw, current Mayor of Rainier, ran unopposed in his race and received 137 total votes. Joining Shaw in unopposed races in Rainier were Amy Baker, who sought election to the Position No. 1 seat on the Rainier City Council, and Dennis C. McVey, who sought election to the Position No. 5 seat on the Rainier City Council. Baker received 144 total votes, and McVey collected 140.
City Council, Position No. 3
Incumbent Tom Arnbrister led challenger Bill Koutrouba in the race for Position No. 3 on the Rainier City Council as initial results poured in. Arnbrister received 89 total votes, or 64.49%, while Koutrouba received 44 votes — good enough for 31.88%.
Rainier School District
Current Rainier School District board members, Edgar Ooms and Rebecca Stillings, ran unopposed in their respective races for RSD. Ooms, who sought election to represent District No. 4, received 423 total votes, while Stillings, seeking to represent District No. 5, received 466 total votes.
City of Tenino
Three candidates ran unopposed in their respective races for Tenino City Council, including Linda Gotovac, Position No. 1, Adam Carney, Position No. 3, and Tianne Curtiss, Position No. 4. Gotovac received 134 total votes, while Carney received 147 votes and Curtiss received 141.
Tenino School District
Chato Salisbury was the lone candidate seeking election to the Tenino School Board. He sought to represent District No. 5 through election, and received 947 total votes.
