Candidates for the 2025 Lewis County general election will face the public and their opponents for the first time in the cycle during a debate organized and hosted by The Chronicle at the Centralia College TransAlta Commons Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
Doors open at 5 p.m. The event is free to attend. TransAlta Commons is located at 615 W Pear St. in Centralia.
The moderators will be Lewis County Republican Party Chair Greg Rohr and Lewis County Democratic Party Chair Zac Eckstein.
The following candidates have confirmed their participation as of Monday morning:
• Julie Shaffley — Port of Centralia District 2 (incumbent)
• Ally Pickard — Port of Centralia District 2
• Lisa Striedinger — Centralia City Council District 1
• Leah Sisemore — Centralia City Council District 2
• Kevin Curtis — Centralia City Council District 3
• Kate McDougall — Chehalis City Council Position 1 At-Large (incumbent)
• Elijah White — Chehalis City Council Position 1 At-Large
• Jack-Allen Snodgrass — Chehalis City Council Position 2 At-Large
• Kevin Carns — Chehalis City Council Position 2 At-Large (incumbent)
• Jessie Carver — Chehalis City Council Position 3 At-Large
• Bob Spahr — Chehalis City Council Position 3 At-Large (incumbent)
• Brandon Svenson — Winlock Mayor (incumbent)
• Brian Watson — Napavine City Council Position 1 (incumbent)
If community members are unable to attend Wednesday’s event, the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce is also hosting a debate on Thursday at 11 a.m. on the second floor of O’Blarney’s at the Gibson House, located at 221 N Tower Ave. in Centralia.
The Chronicle held its first debates of recent years in 2024, inviting candidates for the state Legislature, Board of Lewis County Commissioners, Congress and state attorney general to an event at Centralia College. Hundreds attended.
On Saturday, the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association honored The Chronicle with the Public Service Award in recognition for its work in bringing the debates to the public.
