The Thurston County Auditor’s Office will hold a hearing May 28 to determine whether Thurston County commissioner District 5 candidate Nic Dunning put a false residential address on his voter registration.
The address that Dunning registered as his residential address, 5823 Lacey Blvd. SE, is the same address listed for his business, West Coast Fitness.
However, Olympia resident Jim Cooper filed a challenge with the Thurston County Auditor’s Office on May 8 alleging that Dunning actually resides at another property Dunning owns, 9032 22nd Way SE in Lacey.
Both properties appear to be located within District 5.
When asked for comment, Dunning said the challenge “appears politically motivated” given that it was filed the day after he filed his candidacy with the Washington Secretary of State.
“I wish Jim Cooper had reached out to me directly, since he knows how to contact me,” Dunning said in a written statement to the Thurston Chronicle.
Dunning added that he cannot comment on the challenge itself due to the pending hearing, “but I look forward to addressing and clearing everything up on the 28th.”
During the May 28 administrative hearing, Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall will review evidence provided, including testimony, before issuing a written decision.
Hall will not release a decision on the day of the hearing.
The hearing is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. and will be held in the Lacey Room of The Atrium at 3000 Pacific Avenue SE in Olympia.
Dunning is a current Lacey City Council member running on a platform of “common sense” and “people over politics,” offering what he calls an “honest approach” to governance.
He and another challenger, Michelle Gipson, are vying to unseat current District 5 Commissioner Emily Clouse.
Clouse, Dunning and Gipson are expected to face off in Washington’s top-two primary in August.
