November 3 Election Will Shape Policy Close to Home

Mason County voters will have plenty to consider in the November 3 General Election, with races for local, county, utility, and state offices, along with measures that will shape our communities in the years ahead.

In the seven-way primary for Mason County Commissioner District 3, Miguel Gutierrez and George Blush advanced with 39.66% and 17.02% of the vote, respectively. The winner will succeed Commissioner Sharon Trask.

The Chamber will host a candidate forum this fall featuring candidates for County Commissioner, Mason PUD 3 Commissioner, and the two State Representative seats serving the 35th Legislative District. Our forums focus on policymaking positions with direct influence over issues ranging from infrastructure and utilities to land use, taxation, and economic development.

The Shelton-Mason County Chamber and the Economic Development Council of Mason County collectively serve as the voice of the business community and we make it a point to be at the heart of important issues like workforce development, quality of life, and civic engagement.

That said, we are not political action committees and do not endorse candidates; we are independent organizations led by the private sector.

Shelton voters will also consider increasing the City’s Transportation Benefit District sales tax. Voters renewed the existing 0.2% tax for another 10 years in 2025; this November, the City is asking voters to increase the rate to 0.3%. The additional revenue is restricted to transportation improvements and would help reduce General Fund dollars currently supporting the Street Fund.

The Chamber supported renewal last year, recognizing reliable transportation infrastructure as fundamental to a strong local economy. This year’s proposition presents a different question: whether to increase that dedicated investment by an additional one-tenth of one percent. The existing TBD and its 0.2% tax will remain in place regardless of the outcome.

After the election, attention turns to the 2027 legislative session. The Chamber will again partner with the North Mason Chamber and MasonEDC for a Legislative Sendoff, bringing Mason County’s state legislators together with the business community to discuss priorities and emerging issues before lawmakers return to Olympia for the 105-day long session.

For more information on the upcoming General Election, all races, and locations of dropboxes throughout the county, go to masonchamber.com/elections or call the Chamber at (360) 426-2021. To learn more about the Chamber’s public policy guidelines and legislative efforts, visit masonchamber.com/advocacy.