Yelm City Councilor Brian Hess announces reelection bid

With his term on Yelm City Council set to conclude later this year, Councilor Brian Hess announced to the public on Saturday, May 3, that he will seek reelection for his Position No. 5 seat.

Throughout his nearly four years on council, Hess said he’s enjoyed learning from community members, city staff and some of his seatmates as he navigated through the journey of serving as a Yelm city councilor.

“I’m not trying to make us like Olympia. I’m not trying to make us into another city. I’m just trying to look at what the world is changing to, of retail space at the bottom and living space up on top,” he said. “It’s a growing thing, and I don’t see us going any higher than four or five stories in the future. When I say future, I’m talking about 20 years out. I don’t see us going more than four or five stories up, and I also don’t see us becoming a concrete jungle downtown.”

Hess said, if reelected, he’ll continue to prioritize and advocate for critical infrastructure and public safety. He noted that as the city looks to the future, he’ll work to ensure no one in Yelm is left behind.

“Our work is far from over,” Hess said. “As Yelm grows, so does our responsibility to plan wisely, act boldly and care deeply. That’s why I’ll continue to advocate for critical infrastructure, from building more sidewalks and expanding our parks to completing the long awaited southern loop. I remain committed to public transportation improvements, including expanded Intercity Transit service, a future transit center and extended routes to better connect residents in Lake Lawrence, Clearwood and surrounding areas.”

The current councilor added his campaign is about the people and about continuing to build a city where everyone belongs and has a voice. With the support of the community and voters, Hess said he’ll continue to bring experienced, ethical leadership to the council that’s grounded in service, transparency and a long-term vision.

“I’ve called Yelm home since 2004, and it’s been my honor to serve this community, first through 25 years of service in the U.S. Army, and now as your city council representative,” Hess said. “With a degree in computer engineering from the University of Washington and a strong foundation in ethics, I’ve worked to bring thoughtful, transparent and self-oriented leadership to every decision we make for our city.”

Hess also highlighted several of the initiatives he’s worked on “that matter to you,” or the public. He highlighted his efforts in revitalizing the central business district, his support for developing a new city hall, museum and library, and advocating for community events to bring family friendly events to Yelm parks.
According to the councilor, the central business district sits within the city’s “central square” and spans from Yelm Middle School to Les Schwab Tire Center.

“I really like the central business district — not that I don’t like any of the others — but I believe we missed a big opportunity of really improving it, so it’s a slow management process,” he said. “I’m looking forward to doing more work on it and building up our central business district, our city parks, our sidewalks — so kids are able to go to their neighborhood school without being in trouble.”

Within the central business district, Hess said there have been efforts to enhance the walkability throughout the region by improving sidewalks to allow residents to walk to and from local businesses.

“I know some people always fear the expansion of more growth, but if we look at it and manage it properly, we can help out by managing transportation along with the growth,” he said. “Don’t think of just tomorrow. You need to think of five, 10, 20 years out, because the decisions we make now will affect that time frame. So I’m always looking out at the bigger picture. Further out, what is going to happen?”

He also spoke on his commitment to developing a local food security initiative in partnership with community gardeners, drawing inspiration from Food is Free Washington.

“As we look to the future, I want to ensure no one in Yelm is left behind. That’s why I’m committed to developing a local food security initiative in partnership with community gardeners to help ensure Yelm never becomes a food desert. Our less privileged neighbors deserve reliable, local access to healthy food and community-based support, especially in times of need,” Hess said.