Local political candidates highlight importance of youth outreach within Thurston County

Several local political candidates were attendees of Orion Watch’s Back to School Bash event on Sunday, Aug. 23, at the Thurston County Fairgrounds and shared the common idea that all youths in Thurston County deserve a good childhood, adequate resources and a fair shot at life.

Derek Sanders, the current Thurston County sheriff who is seeking re-election in November, was set to be a judge of the exotic and custom car show — which was also part of the action that day at the Thurston County Fairgrounds.

Sanders, running as an independent, told the Nisqually Valley News prior to judging the car show that, right now, there’s an issue where youth have idle time, and that idle hands can create some trouble.

“I think anything we can do to promote after school programs and foster a sense of belonging for kids so they don’t fall into these traps is what ultimately allows us to limit that problem before it gets out of hand,” Sanders said. “Once we start getting youth involved in the criminal justice system, it can be really hard to bring them back out.”

Kevin Burton-Crow, who is running against Sanders as a Democrat in the race for Thurston County sheriff this November, said it was a great opportunity to support Orion Watch’s Back to School Bash and to promote the idea of keeping kids in the classrooms and off the streets.

“I’m stoked to be out here today with the kids at the fairgrounds, getting ready to go back to school,” Burton-Crow said. “That’s really where we need to be. The idea that the kids can come up and interact with a law enforcement officer or people that represent the different avenues of government and lose that fear. We’re approachable. We’re people. We’re here to help them be successful. That’s really what the message has to be out there.”

Emily Clouse, the current Thurston County Commissioner of District 5 who seeks re-election in November’s general election, felt honored to be in “the beautiful District 5” on Sunday, Aug. 23, at the Thurston County Fairgrounds to celebrate and support youth as school approaches. She will run for re-election this November as a Democrat.

She said celebrating our youth in Thurston County and assisting with youth re-entry after incarceration has been one of her biggest passions for quite some time. In 2018, she started her non-profit organization Collaborative Association for Reintegration and Education (CARE) Olympia, which supports youth, young adults and families impacted by the justice system in Thurston County.

“This work has been something I’ve been passionate about for a really long time,” Clouse said.” I love taking any opportunity I can to help support youth in our community. We don’t get to do a lot of youth-specific work on the campaign trail, so I’m really excited to be here today and see what comes out of this really great event.”

Garrett Cady, an independent candidate seeking election for the position of Thurston County Clerk in November, said being out in the community at the Thurston County Fairground during Orion Watch’s Back to School Bash was great.

“It starts before you get to court. We do everything we can to provide as many services and connections as we can,” Cady said. “This event really gets to show how the community comes together. It does more, in a way, than even the government could provide. If anything, that’s what I like to see. I think that this movement is really progressing. It’s building. It’s doing more and more every time we get together.”

Maria Littlesun, running for Washington House of Representatives to represent Position No. 2 in the 35th Legislative District, said keeping kids in their classrooms and out of courtrooms is incredibly important to her.

She noted that she’s a descendent of the Skokomish Nation and a manager of the adult protective services team at the Squaxin Island Tribe, and also works with children’s protective services.

“For me, getting out into our community and expressing to our youth that we’re really blessed in such a diverse population of young people,” Littlesun said. “Coming out of the tribal community, our youth suicide rates are very high. I’ve always tried to work closely in Indian education. In the Shelton School District, I’m the president of our Indian Education Parent Advisory Committee.”

She said that work is incredibly important for her right now as she knows that young people are facing “extraordinarily high barriers.”

“Our job as leaders is helping break those barriers down and connect our community, and just being the connective tissue that young people feel that we’re approachable, and we’re folks that see them and hear them,” Littlesun said. “For me, it’s about the next seven generations. It’s not just about today.”