Olympia opens 'Mayor for the Day' competition for local students

The City of Olympia has announced the return of its “Mayor for the Day” program, inviting local elementary students to share their ideas for improving their community through an essay-writing competition.

The contest is open to fourth, fifth and sixth grade students living within city limits and attending schools in the Olympia School District service area. 

“Our hope is to engage and educate our local youth on the workings of city government in a fun and meaningful way,” Olympia Mayor Dontae Payne said.

Students may enter by submitting an original essay of 250 words or less and responding to the prompt:

“If you were selected to be Mayor for the Day, what would you do to make Olympia a better community for everyone, and how would you do it? Be specific. Share why you should be chosen as Mayor for the Day.”

Teachers may also nominate a student by submitting a statement of 150 words or less highlighting the student’s leadership, curiosity about local government, or positive contributions to their school.

The selected participants will be ceremonially sworn in and will shadow Payne for a day. The student will also receive a certificate of recognition signed by the mayor, be recognized at the city council meeting where their essay or nomination will be read, and be featured in a city news release and photo with the council, with parental or guardian consent.

Submissions will be evaluated based on creativity, originality, relevance to the prompts and potential for positive community impact. Only one entry per student is allowed, and past winners are not eligible.

The contest opened on April 13 and will close on May 8. Entries, along with a completed form, must be submitted via email to cityhall@ci.olympia.wa.us

More information, including full contest rules and entry forms, is available on the City of Olympia website.

The Mayor for the Day program was launched in 2024. Koral Thorpe, a sixth grader from Olympia Regional Learning Academy, was named the city’s first Mayor for the Day after winning the first inaugural essay contest.

The program was on hiatus in 2025.