Here’s what to know about primary candidates for Olympia area’s state Senate seat

There are three people on the Thurston County primary ballot running for the 22nd Legislative District’s Senate seat. The seat with a four-year term is open because longtime legislator Sam Hunt is retiring.

Here’s what to know ahead of Tuesday’s primary election. All three candidates this year stated on the ballot they prefer the Democratic party.

Jessica Bateman

Bateman has served as the 22nd District’s representative for the past four years. She told The Olympian that during that time, she has served on the Housing Committee and the Capital Budget Committee, and she has been Vice Chair of the Health Care Committee all four years.

She also has a day job as a strategic adviser for Washington Community Health Centers, which are nonprofit health care organizations that, as a network, provide care to a large percentage of Medicaid patients.

Before serving in the legislature, Bateman served as an Olympia City Council member for five years, two of those as Deputy Mayor. Prior to that, she was on the Planning Commission and the board of GRuB, the local nonprofit focused on food security and community.

Finally, before all that, she was a legislative assistant to former State Rep. Chris Reykdal for more than three years.

“I’ve been in this community for a while now, working on helping my friends and neighbors, and I’m looking forward to continuing that work and running for the Senate, because I want to ensure that we are building enough housing for population growth, making sure we have enough affordable homes for all individuals, protecting reproductive rights, and also increasing access to affordable health care, including behavioral health,” she said.

Bateman moved to Olympia in 2007 and graduated from The Evergreen State College.

According to Public Disclosure Commission data, Bateman’s campaign has raised $129,088 and spent $57,580. Some of her biggest contributors are the Nisqually Indian Tribe, Progress for Public Safety, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, and the Federation of State Employees.

Bob Iyall

Iyall is currently a Commissioner at the Port of Olympia, elected in 2021. He is an elder and member of the Nisqually Indian Tribe, and CEO of the Medicine Creek Enterprise Corporation, which manages the tribe’s for-profit businesses.

He grew up in Thurston County and graduated from Tumwater High School. He was in the building trades and is a 45-year retired member of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers. Near the end of his career he went back to school and received his MBA.

Iyall said he originally ran for Port Commissioner because the port seemed to be having a bit of trouble, and he felt he could be of assistance.

“I felt like I could be of assistance with my background in government corporations, because my day job and the port are very similar in organizational structure,” he said.

Iyall said he always had the idea in the back of his head that if Sam Hunt ever decided to step away from his seat that he’d make a run for the Senate.

“I feel that our political system is very divisive. These days, the two-party system seems to be growing further and further apart,” he said. “And I feel that I can be one of those who can bring the sides back together. I believe in a collaborative style of governance. And that means bringing all stakeholders to the table to address issues that are faced by the state and building objective solutions based on everybody’s needs.”

Iyall’s campaign focuses on making it easier to build affordable housing for all, expanding behavioral health services, environmental restoration and salmon recovery, and transportation issues.

According to PDC data, Iyall’s campaign has raised $36,178 and spent $29,245. Some of his top contributors include Justin Erickson, the CEO of Harbor Foods; Emiliano Perez with Salmon Recovery; and the Nisqually Indian Tribe.

Tela Hogle

Hogle told The Olympian she moved to the area in 1988 to attend Evergreen, and she’s been in Olympia ever since.

“One thing about Olympia that’s been wonderful this whole time is that even when I don’t have a place or a home, I’ve had a place to stay, I always have friends who have put me up when I needed it. And so the community here has been really important to me,” she said.

Hogle worked at Blue Heron Bakery and was a para-educator in the Olympia School District for some time before moving into teaching music full time. She owns a studio in downtown Olympia.

Hogle said she’s running for State Senate because she wants to champion the needs of the underrepresented and marginalized communities in Washington. She said she envisions a state where everyone, regardless of background, has access to equitable opportunities and resources to thrive.

“As someone who has used assistance, and currently does with food stamps, I know how living month to month is, and every historically excluded community is more prone to economic instability,” she said. “And so for me, putting forward economic reforms in our tax system is critical for lifting everyone up.”

Hogle said she became a Precinct Committee Officer for Thurston County Democrats two years ago and has been heavily involved with the party. She said she saw this race as a critical opportunity and a critical election, not only for the nation and state, but for the 22nd District specifically.

“I really feel like this is an opportunity to transform Olympia and Washington State, especially when it comes to economic justice,” she said.

According to PDC data, Hogle’s campaign has raised $5,344 and spent $5,073. Some of her top contributors include Emily Iles, an art director; Jenna Kemp with WSDOT; and Sarah Destasio with Northwest Therapy Group.