Thursday, October 1, 2026
A citizen initiative that aimed to establish labor standards for work scheduling, a minimum wage and other regulations was headed toward defeat in the Nov. 4 General Election.
Proposition 1, also known as the Workers’ Bill of Rights initiative, received 3,821 “yes” votes (44.03 percent), compared with 4,857 “no” votes (55.97 percent) from City of Olympia voters, according to unofficial results released by the Thurston County Auditor’s Office Elections Division on Tuesday evening. It was not clear how many outstanding ballots remained to be counted for the contest.
The polarizing initiative split voters and politicians alike with the Olympia City Council taking a narrow stance against the proposal leading up to the general election.
Opponents referred to Proposition 1 as cumbersome and difficult to enforce, while proponents touted the initiative as a way to ensure fair wages and predictable schedules for workers.
“I think people understood the unintended consequences,” said former Olympia City Councilman Pat Cole, who authored an editorial against the initiative that appeared in The JOLT last month.
In other contests, Olympia City Council members Clark Gilman and Robert Vanderpool were up in bids to keep their seats.
And Paul Berendt was ahead of Caleb Gieger for the Position No. 7 seat. City Councilwoman Kelly Green faced no formal opposition.
In Lacey, Maren Turner was ahead of Charles Beck for the Position No. 4 seat on the Lacey City Council, while Ryan Siu was out front in the Position No. 6 contest. Incumbent Carolyn Cox was ahead in the Position No. 7 race. Mayor Andy Ryder faced no formal competition in his reelection bid.
Tumwater City Council member Leatta Dahlhoff was ahead of Lance Brender in the mayoral race, while incumbent City Council member Eileen Swarthout had no formal opposition in the Position No. 4 contest.
First-time candidate Meghan Sullivan was ahead in the Position No. 5 race, while incumbent Peter Agabi had no formal opposition in the Position No. 6 contest.
For more coverage of the Nov. 4 General Election, read the Wednesday, Nov. 5, edition of The Daily JOLT.
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MargaretDorothy
Thank goodness.
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 Report this
36098501
The damage has been done. While Proposition 1 lost, the support by members of the Council and a healthy percentage of Olympia voters supported this initial attempt.
Businesses that are currently deciding where to locate will pull Olympia off their radar. and those with the ability to move outside Olympia City limits might. Businesses aren't trapped here or required to do business here.
We have seen how this plays out in a large way already as the City watched its sales tax base move due to inaction by the City leaving a multi-million dollar budget hole. Rotters Toyota picked up and moved its car dealership to Tumwater.
Vanderpool and Gilman supported this Proposition and won, so it is likely that this will continue to be a City Council focus and emphasis going forward.
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 Report this