Lewis County Auditor Larry Grove will not seek another term as Lewis County auditor, leaving the race open to newcomers seeking the office in the November general election.
Grove announced Thursday that he would not seek reelection for what would have been his fourth term as Lewis County auditor. The announcement will bring to an end a long and stable career working for Lewis County.
“I am announcing today that I will not seek reelection to a fourth term as your county auditor,” Grove said in a statement provided to The Chronicle. “I have thoroughly enjoyed serving the citizens of Lewis County for more than 36 years.”
In his long tenure with the county, Grove served more than 10 years leading the county auditor’s office after first being elected in 2014. Grove first began working for the county in 1989 when he was hired by former Lewis County Auditor Gary Zandell to serve as the local government's chief accountant.
In the statement, Grove reflected on the achievements he values most from his time in office, including providing reliable financial advice to many Lewis County commissioners, overseeing reliable elections and hiring reliable staff the county and its residents can depend on.
“My conservative and cautious financial advice to Lewis County commissioners over the years has positioned the county to weather financial storms and recessions,” Grove said. “A position many other counties envy.”
According to his own account, Grove has witnessed massive changes at the county since his first day of work. He recalled seeing staff working with typewriters when he first arrived at the county offices in 1989. As part of his hiring agreement, he requested a personal computer to fulfill his duties as chief accountant. He later helped install the first computer network for the county.
“Not only did I order the equipment, but I was involved in every aspect, including running network cables through drop ceilings,” he said. “Since then, I have been a part of numerous system conversions and upgrades.”
Grove sees himself as an advocate for the importance of technology when looking to improve the efficiency of the county while maintaining limited staffing and making effective use of tax payer dollars.
In his statement, he lamented, briefly, the end of his career with the county, calling it “bittersweet,” and thanked residents for supporting him through three elections to the local office.
Grove also left the residents of Lewis County with a few words on the skills he views as most important to being an effective county auditor and urged voters to consider them when electing a new county auditor come November.
“Looking back at the careers of previous auditors along with my own service, I often reflect on what it takes to do the job well,” Grove stated. “The Lewis County mission statement, ‘To preserve and enhance our quality of life in Lewis County,’ is an important reminder of why we do what we do. I hope my successor has a strong financial background, an eagerness to serve the public and a commitment to being a trustworthy steward of taxpayer dollars.”
The field for who will take on the role of county auditor is far from certain. Registration for the 2026 ballot will open in May. That being said, the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission website shows two candidates have filed with plans to run for the office: former Lewis County Republicans Chair Mitchell Townsend and former Chehalis City Councilor Michael Bannan.
For previous reporting on the residents who are likely to file to run for countywide office this spring, visit https://tinyurl.com/mwatyc8c.
