The earliest numbers from the Lewis County Auditor’s Office Elections Department show challenger Ally Pickard with a roughly 4 percentage point lead over incumbent Julie Shaffley in the race for the Port of Centralia’s District 2 commissioner seat.
According to preliminary results from the county, 1,783 votes, or 51.62%, of ballots counted so far support Pickard in the local race while 1,650, or 47.77% of ballots, support Shaffley.
A total of 3,454 ballots have been counted so far for the Port of Centralia election. According to the online results, local officials have counted 14,979 ballots cast for local races and ballot measures across the county while 1,204 ballots still need to be counted.
The slim margin for the local port election means the heated race continues to be a nailbiter. The next ballot count for the county is scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday.
In the odd election year, Lewis County saw candidates file for local offices all across the county leading to local political competitions for seats on city councils, school boards, port commissions and other public districts. Even among heated races in and around the Twin Cities, the race for the Port of Centralia Commission’s District 2 seat quickly became a hot topic as locals took stock of a newcomer to local politics, Pickard, who would attempt to unseat Shaffley, the experienced incumbent.
The candidates have grabbed attention with massive campaign signs and two lively debate sessions, not to mention a healthy social media dialogue between supporters of the candidates.
Quickly after the original filing deadline for the race, purple signs with the slogan “Pick Ally Pickard” began popping up around Centralia. Not long after, Shaffley signs appeared nearby. Most recently, the two faced off in back-to-back local political debates with the first hosted on the Centralia College campus by The Chronicle. The platform gave the two candidates their first real opportunity to separate themselves from their opponent and appeal to the locals of Centralia.
During the debates, on social media and in other platforms, Pickard has attempted to frame herself as a political newcomer answering a call from the community for transparency and financial accountability for the port. She drew criticism with a now-defunct social media page publishing political cartoons of Lewis County employees. She has often received support from a coalition of locals who have called for increased transparency from the port and closer scrutiny of the port’s executive director, Kyle Heaton.
In the Nov. 4 general election voter’s guide and on her campaign website, Pickard highlighted her professional experience in financial management, citing prior work with budgeting, grant management and “strategic planning.” Pickard has also hammered on the idea of a financially self-sufficient port that eliminates the need for the district to collect local property taxes.
“Unfortunately, 40 years later the taxpayers are still supporting it with their hard-earned money,” reads Pickard’s voter’s pamphlet statement. “I will work collaboratively to create a timeline for the Port to become self-sufficient and end its dependence on property taxes.”
Shaffley instead rallied support by leaning on her experience as a business owner and tenure in her position as port commissioner. Shaffley has often pointed to recent developments from the port during debates, and in her statement in the general election voter’s guide, as evidence of her experience and expertise in her role.
“Under her leadership, the Port has welcomed major employers such as the Stihl Northwest Distribution Center, Walmart Commerce Center, and the new Cascade Community Healthcare facility,” reads Shaffley’s voter’s guide statement. ”The completion of the I-5 interchange and the arrival of WinCo Foods have improved access, increased commercial activity, and added valuable retail options for the community.”
Shaffley has also highlighted her experience as a business owner and member of the local business community. She has owned and operated Good Health Nutrition Center in Centralia for 35 years. She also sits on the boards of the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce, Centralia Rotary, the Economic Alliance of Lewis County and the Centralia College Business Administration Bachelor's Degree Program.
Shaffley has held her seat on the Port Commission for roughly 10 years after being appointed to the position in 2015 before being confirmed in an election later that year and then winning reelection to the seat in 2019. Port commissioner terms last for six years.
See full election results here: https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20251104/lewis/
