Tumwater City Council selects local business owner Brandon Weedon to fill vacant seat 

The Tumwater City Council selected local business owner and youth sports coach Brandon Weedon to fill the council seat vacated by new Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff, the city announced on Tuesday, Jan. 13. 

As Dahlhoff was still in the middle of her four-year term when she was elected mayor, state code required the city council to appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of Dahlhoff’s term. 

Weedon was chosen from a pool of seven finalists, who were interviewed by the council on Saturday, Jan. 10. 

His resume states that he is the owner and operator of Fatso’s, a bar and restaurant in Olympia. He has also volunteered as a youth sports coach since 2020. 

He is a graduate of Tacoma Community College, which he attended on an athletic scholarship, and an alumnus of Black Hills High School in Tumwater. 

In his application, he was asked how his background prepared him for the city council. 

He stated his experience as a small business owner has given him insight into budgeting, regulatory compliance and long-term planning, as well as how city policies impact local businesses, workers and families. 

“I regularly balance competing priorities, make decisions with limited resources, and work toward practical, sustainable solutions,” he wrote in his application. 

He also cited his involvement in the community as a youth sports coach as a key influence on his leadership approach. 

“Years of coaching youth sports in Tumwater have reinforced the importance of accountability, mentorship, and creating safe, inclusive environments. Coaching has also strengthened my leadership, communication, and conflict-resolution skills, all of which are directly applicable to council work.” 

Asked about his top priorities as a council member, he pointed first to affordable housing and availability. 

“I believe the city should continue exploring a mix of housing options that support diverse income levels, including workforce housing and (multifamily) developments where appropriate,” he wrote. 

He also identified managing growth while preserving community character as a priority, as well as public safety and community well-being. 

Dahlhoff said the council is looking forward to working with Weedon. 

“The (council) was impressed with Brandon’s focus on people, the skills and talents he would bring to this work, and his business and recreation background,” said Dahlhoff in a statement. “Council is energized to work with him and move Tumwater forward together.”    

The city opened applications for the vacant seat on Dec. 7, 2025, with a deadline of Dec. 22, 2025. The other finalists were Vonny Turner, Daniel Mies, Grace Anne Edwards, Dominic Davis, Joy Johnston and Doug McClanahan. 

Weedon will be sworn in during a city council meeting at Tumwater City Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 20. He will serve through the end of Dahlhoff’s original term, which concludes at the end of 2027.