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It is nice to just be Norm, private citizen.
I am Norm Chapman, former mayor and city councilmember for Centralia District 1. Before I resigned due to family and some health-related issues, I was selected by my peers to serve as the next mayor of Centralia.
Since my resignation, I have been saddened to see the many rumors and speculation suggesting that state Rep. Peter Abbarno and others was what caused me to resign. An elected official’s decision to step away from public service should not be questioned when that decision is made for family reasons, and no other reason has been given.
Then, only a month later, the rumor mill flipped 180 degrees, and in full force looking for the missing pieces around my sudden departure. People are posting their own thoughts, and soon that becomes its own truth.
I began seeing rumors that I was selected to be mayor because Rep. Abbarno threatened state funding would be withheld unless there was a change in council leadership.
That is simply not true.
It is true that I spoke with Rep. Abbarno and many others leading up to the mayoral selection. After months of being hounded, I expressed minor interest in serving as mayor only if it would be beneficial to the city to run. Rep. Abbarno encouraged me to run whenever we crossed paths. At the time, I was not sure I wanted the role.
In our conversations, he shared his opinion that the city had not always done the best job advocating for policy priorities and local projects, and that a more active mayor communicating with the state delegation would be a positive step for Centralia. That is why you saw me in Olympia at committee hearings with Lewis County and City of Centralia staff fighting for funding and policy changes around the Bob Oke Game Farm.
But at no time did Rep. Abbarno ever say that funding was contingent on who served as mayor. He did not promise funding, and he did not threaten to withhold funding. He was encouraging and said that if I became mayor, I should really build a relationship with the state and federal delegation and fight for our policy and funding priorities.
What saddens me most is seeing self-serving narratives and rumors fueled by fear and conspiracy. I met with Brittany Voie, Chad Taylor and others to set the record straight. That kind of politics belongs in the other Washington. It should not belong in this Washington, and it certainly should not belong in Lewis County or Centralia.
Public service should be rooted in honesty, respect and commitment to community. We may not always agree, but we should do better than spreading falsehoods about our neighbors and local leaders. As citizens, we should use every avenue to positively communicate with elected officials at all levels. Instead people are afraid of the dirty politics on one side or the other, and use others for their causes.
I will not be addressing these issues any further. You can believe what you want, but be careful of the source and their motivation.
I deeply regret anyone that I may have offended or let down in my short political career. I will still do my civic duty and vote and reach out to my elected officials to offer my opinions when necessary.
I truly hope future generations have the desire for political service for all the right reasons, and civil discourse can survive in this great community.
Thank you for your time and patience.
Norm Chapman
Centralia
