With the Tuesday, Nov. 4, general election a little over a month away in Thurston County, two candidates — appointee David Johnstone and candidate Nicole Sims — made their cases to why local voters should elect them to Yelm City Council Position No. 6.
David Johnstone
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.
Johnstone has also served on the planning commission for the City of Yelm and currently sits with 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 resigning.
“I have always considered myself a good judge of character, and I understand how hierarchies and processes work, both from my career and my service on the Planning Commission,” Johnstone said. “But it reminded me that serving on council is not a sprint, it is a marathon. I came in eager to make an immediate impact, and I realized that if that eagerness was seen as a threat, then I needed to approach things more strategically. I learned quickly that real effectiveness comes from patience, persistence and building trust with those who matter. Since then, I have focused on learning the dynamics of our city government, studying municipal code, understanding how we interact with outside committees, and building strong working relationships with my peers. I have made a point of being accessible; I am often the last one to leave City Hall after meetings, and I regularly attend events and volunteer wherever I can. Ultimately, I was appointed, not elected, and I take that distinction seriously. My goal now is to earn the confidence of the voters and have the opportunity to serve Yelm as their choice, through the initiative of the people themselves.”
He added that stepping into the “political arena” has been a giant leap, adding the commitment, meetings, committees and criticism that comes with public office is something that nobody is truly prepared for.
“But I can say without a doubt that I handle it well. I am ready for more. I am motivated, and I will make a difference,” he added. “If there is one lesson I have taken from this experience, it is the importance of approaching council work with both strategy and principle, knowing when to push forward and when to build consensus. Effectiveness isn’t about moving the fastest; it’s about staying focused on why I’m here: to serve the people of Yelm with integrity, persistence, and commitment.”
Johnstone said he was initially inspired to apply for appointment because he believes “in stepping up when there is a need.” As someone who has “always been invested” in Yelm’s future, Johnstone said serving on council has been a way to put his commitment towards the city into action.
“For me, it was not about politics but about responsibility. If I wanted to see our community improve, I needed to do more than sit on the sidelines,” he said. “Since then, my reason for running has grown deeper. The experience has shown me both the challenges and the rewards of public service. I have seen firsthand how much hard work it takes to make even small changes and how important it is to approach the job with integrity and perseverance.”
According to Johnstone, the most pressing issue in Yelm is infrastructure. He said the community has grown rapidly, but roads, utilities and public safety services “have not kept up pace.” He believes Yelm needs to prioritize long-term solutions to address traffic, ensure proper staffing of Yelm Police Department, and expand the city’s parks and recreation resources.
“These are not luxuries; they are necessities if we want Yelm to thrive,” Johnstone said. “Equally important is how we grow. Housing development continues at a fast pace, but I worry about what happens when the revenue tied to new construction slows. We need to start focusing now on expanding our economic base so that jobs, services and tax revenue are not solely dependent on new homes. That means creating space for businesses, supporting existing small businesses, and being intentional about spreading out our commercial resources so they are not all clustered on Yelm Avenue.”
He added that, if elected, he’ll continue to push for decisions to be made open and fairly, and for residents to have a “clear voice” in shaping policy. For Johnstone, the Yelm City Council isn’t about what he wants personally, but rather what the people of Yelm need and expect from their representatives. His advocacy will be centered on three pillars: investing in infrastructure, planning for sustainable economic growth and ensuring decisions reflect the voices of local constituents.
Johnstone also described his leadership style as “practical, collaborative and data-driven,” and that he focuses on real solutions grounded in facts. He believes a good leader attributes success to their team and colleagues, and also takes responsibility for failure themselves.
“My vision is to position Yelm as a successful, thriving community that can stand on its own. Right now, we are at a crossroads. The pace of new housing is outstripping the infrastructure that supports it,” he said. “Much of our current revenue growth comes from fees and taxes collected and tied to new homes, but that pipeline will not last forever. If we do not prepare now for sustainable economic opportunities that bring both jobs and new tax revenue, we risk falling behind and even becoming a city that struggles to fund its own needs. Compared to other cities of similar size, Yelm is behind on a per capita basis in critical areas such as police staffing, commercial services, and park space.”
Johnstone can be contacted via email at info@johnstone4yelm.com. See more at his website at www.Johnstone4Yelm.com.
Nicole Sims
