City Council Position #2 Town Hall (Meet the Candidates) July 6, 2023

There are 3 people running for City Council Position #2.  Dennis McVey has scheduled a Town Hall where Rainier voters can meet the three candidates and ask them questions.

Candidates are:

• Kirby McDonald
• Ryan Roth
• Damion (Bud) Green

Event:  Town Hall

Date:  July 6, 2023

Time:  7:00 PM

Location:  Senior Center of Rainier
                 108 Michigan Street S
                 Rainier, WA 98576

For more information please call Dennis at the City of Rainier.  (360) 446-2265

Congratulations George Sharp!

George Johnson presented George Sharp with a Certificate of Appreciation at the monthly STEDI (South Thurston Economic Development Initiative) Meeting, Friday, November 19, 2021, for his help and inspiration here in Rainier, WA.  "We Love Rainier WA" is his creation.  He's helped us get it off the ground - and it hit the road running!  

George Sharp has been the driving force behind many of the successful projects in Rainier WA.  He has supported & encouraged the Senior Center of Rainier, as well as the City of Rainier to write for grants to help fund major projects here.  I know that the Senior Center of Rainier and the Rainier Emergency Food Center received funds that helped us survive the pandemic lockdown.  We wouldn't have made it through these lockdowns without his guidance.  THANK YOU, GEORGE!

George identified resources for Rainier:

• Senior Center of Rainier grants:  $17,500
• Rainier Emergency Food center:  $12,500
• City of Rainier:  $30,000 in 2020, $319,000 in 2021 & $319,000 2022
• Thurston Strong Grants $860,000 Rural Areas & $90,000 Rainier Businesses

George brings people and groups together.  They build their own teams to get things done in South Puget Sound.  He's behind the economic development of many small communities in our area:  Bucoda, Rainier, Tenino, Rochester, Grand Mound & Yelm.  

For your leadership, service and contributions to 

“We Love Rainier WA”, 

Senior Center of Rainier 

and the people of the City of Rainier. 

Your dedication and guidance has helped 

make our community a huge success. 

You are our “Difference Maker”.

 

Damion "Bud" Green Write-In Candidate for Council Position #4

Hi, my name is Damion Green, but most people in town know me as "Bud".

I am running as a write-in candidate for City Council Position #4. The reason I'm running for this office is that it’s been brought to my attention that my opponent was fired by the City Council, when he was our Building Inspector.  I love our community and I want to see even more great things happen in it.  I’ve lived in Rainier most of my life.  My family moved to the out skirts of Vail when I was in the 4th grade.  Little did I know then, how blessed I was to be a part of this city. I worked here locally for over a decade - meeting and befriending lots of the local family’s and newcomers. 

Rainier is a great place to live and still retains a lot of its small town charm that I love and hope it never loses.  I hope your thoughts for the future are similar to mine, so I can help to be a part of it   I pride my self on being old fashion, but know when it's important to be a forward thinker. I love to volunteer when I have time.  My wife and I worked with other family’s in our community to get a Cub Scout pack going here in town which is getting stronger with every passing year. I love seeing things getting done for the youth. They are our future and scouting teaches young people to be leaders. That’s another reason I’ve chosen to run for the City Council. I’ve been taught to lead by example.  Julia and I have three children. I figure what better way to lead than to serve the city that I grew up in, found my soulmate in and I’m building a life in. 

I’ve told my wife Julia repeatly that I’m never moving they will take me out of this house in a body bag LOL.  God willing, that will not be too soon. I'm a simple blue collar man that wants my family, and the ones around us, to feel safe and thrive in this little slice of heaven that’s known as Rainier. I know as time passes thing around here will change.  It has already changed so much in the time my wife and I have been here. I look forward to the future and hope it only gets better. 

We have a great foundation here for a truly great city, that with the right leader ship and community involvement, will be the standard that other small city’s like ours will strive for. I’m a busy father, husband, and volunteer, but as the journey man that taught me when I was an apprentice “If you want something done, and done right, give that job to some one that’s busy!” 

I can’t promise you perfection, but I promise to strive for it. And I also promise to listen to the people here in our city.  I am open to ideas and will take advice, as longe and it benefits us all.  My door is always open to anyone that wishes to voice their opinions and keeps an open mind.   

May the best person win and I hope you see me as that person. I’m telling you now I’m in it for the long haul here. One day I’ll be one of the older generation sitting at the market drinking coffee with the others saying "Wow, look how far our little town has made it and we were a part of that." If you have any questions or concerns give me a call or stop by.

Note:  We don't usually post political things on our blog.  That being said, Bud was asked by several members of our community to run for this office.  Since this is only the second time someone has been a formal "write-in canditate" in our state, we decided to post this information on our blog. Thank you.

Look what's happening in Rainier - Because We LOVE Rainier, WA!

George and I drove around town to check out all of the work the "We LOVE Rainier" crew has been doing to dress up the city.  They have put out flags and flowers, cleaned up flower beds and sidewalks.  There's a new basketball court and sand for a beach ball volleyball court.  

This is just the beginning...