Opinion | Thurston Chronicle

Chad Taylor is co-owner and publisher of The Chronicle. He can be reached at chd@chronline.com.

Chad Taylor commentary: Hypocrisy on parade — when a dictator is bad until he isn’t

For years, Nicolás Maduro has been an easily vilified figure. While Maduro's critics easily described him as an authoritarian, brutal and illegitimate leader who destroyed his country's economy and … more

By Chad Taylor / For The Chronicle | 1/6/26

Peter Abbarno commentary: Normalizing dangerous drugs is creating a new prison system in Washington

Fentanyl and other deadly drugs continue to ravage neighborhoods across Seattle and Washington state. A recent decision by newly elected Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson to allow open use of … more

By Rep. Peter Abbarno | 1/5/26

In Valerie Buck’s class at Maywood Middle School, reading and writing skills are woven into lessons on other topics. There’s also an emphasis on hands-on learning in the class, part of Issaquah School District’s experimental microschool. (Photo by Donna Gordon Blankinship)

Commentary: How microschools and other innovative K-12 programs are catching on in Washington state

Educators are exploring new and creative approaches to meeting students where they are academically; for some options, regulatory and funding frameworks are still evolving When Cadence was … more

By Donna Gordon Blankinship / The Washington State Standard | 1/5/26

Rob Richards is a Navy veteran and former congressional staffer who has been an active community member in Thurston County for over two decades

Commentary: Fairness is not a ‘bait-and-switch’ — the case for modernizing Washington’s tax code

For decades, Washington has held an unfortunate title: having one of the most unfair tax systems in the country. Despite being home to some of the world’s richest people, our tax rules … more

By Rob Richards | 1/2/26

Peter Abbarno commentary: Child care deserts in Washington — families lose twice to scarcity and to fraud

Across urban, suburban and rural communities, families are living in child care deserts — places where there are far more children in need of care than licensed, affordable options available. … more

By Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Chehalis | 12/31/25

Stride: Considering the things children really notice at Christmas

Adults tend to remember Christmas by what we provide. Children remember it by how it felt. They don’t catalogue the cost of the gifts or the size of the tree. They don’t remember whether the … more

By Richard Stride | 12/30/25

McDonald: As an Air Force wife and mother, Alta Smith cherished her life

A few years ago in Washington Hall at Centralia College, Rev. Alta Smith swapped one hat for another, including a long white wig, as she spoke of the many roles her friend Doris Wood-Brumsickle has … more

Commentary by Julie McDonald / For Nisqually Valley News | 12/30/25

Wayne Fournier is a Thurston County commissioner, former Tenino mayor, firefighter and lifelong community advocate. His column appears in The Chronicle every two weeks.

Wayne Fournier commentary: The hardest year for elected officials — learning to govern

Every election season produces a familiar ritual. Candidates run on ideas, critiques, promises and energy. Voters choose. Ballots are counted. And then, almost overnight, something profound happens. … more

By Wayne Fournier | 12/22/25

Rob Richards commentary: New rule — political success is measured in kindness

If you feel exhausted or turned off by local politics, you are not alone. Too many people who get involved, whether running for office or simply volunteering, get caught up in endless personal fights … more

By Rob Richards for Thurston Chronicle | 12/19/25

Sen. John Braun speaks during a legislative forum.

John Braun commentary: As 2025 ends, a sobering look at what Olympia has done to our state

On the eighth day of Christmas, according to the popular holiday song, the gift was eight maids a-milking. I can’t say if milking a cow would qualify as a taxable “live presentation” … more

Commentary by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia | 12/19/25

Thurston County District 2 Commissioner-elect Rachel Grant is sworn-in during a ceremony at The Atrium in Olympia on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

Grant: A practice of gratitude

Gratitude is a word we often reserve for holidays, milestones and the big moments that make it easy to feel thankful. But this past year has taught me that gratitude is something steadier — … more

By Rachel Grant | 12/16/25

Wayne Fournier commentary: A year-end ‘thank you’ to those who stepped up to serve

Every December, something important happens in democracies that we rarely pause to appreciate. Across the country, leaders step down. Seats change hands. New voices arrive as experienced ones … more

By Wayne Fournier | 12/10/25

Commentary: Beyond Prop 1 — Olympia needs a $20 minimum wage

I recently read Thurston County Commissioner Wayne Fournier’s post-mortem on the defeat of Proposition 1 in Olympia, in which he framed the loss as a rejection of poorly drafted policy. … more

By Rob Richards | 12/5/25

Wayne Fournier: Prop 1 didn’t fail because Olympia is divided — it failed because the policy wasn’t ready

In the days since Olympia voters rejected Proposition 1, a tidy explanation has been circulating among the initiative’s proponents: renter-heavy precincts voted yes, homeowner-heavy precincts … more

Commentary by Wayne Fournier / For The Chronicle | 12/1/25

Wayne Fournier Commentary: Fixing courthouses isn’t sexy, but it’s what good governing looks like

Most people think of governing in terms of ribbon cuttings, groundbreaking ceremonies, and big public announcements. Those moments matter, but they’re the easy part. The harder work, the … more

By Wayne Fournier | 11/25/25

Wayne Fournier is a Thurston County commissioner, former Tenino mayor, firefighter and lifelong community advocate. He believes that small towns are the last frontier of big ideas. He shares stories of civic creativity, leadership and community-building in his regular newspaper column.

Fournier: The Day I Bought Two Peacocks for Tenino

Sometimes leadership isn’t about budgets or policies. Sometimes it’s about creating stories that make a town unforgettable. Why Peacocks? Every small town has its lore. Tenino has the … more

By Wayne Fournier | 11/18/25