Lacey council member lives at gym he owns, lawyer testifies at auditor’s hearing
Thurston County commissioner candidate Nic Dunning affirmed that he lives at his Lacey gym in response to a voter registration challenge Thursday.
Auditor Mary Hall reviewed provided evidence and heard testimony during an administrative hearing at her office in Olympia. She said she will issue a written decision “as soon as possible.”
“It is 100% a complete political attack by an opponent who actually did no actual research on what the situation was,” Dunning told The Olympian immediately after the hearing.
Dunning, who currently serves on the Lacey City Council, is challenging incumbent Emily Clouse for her District 5 seat on the county commission. North Thurston Public Schools board director Michelle Gipson also is running, making it a three-person race that will narrow to two after the August primary. The voter registration challenge may not ultimately affect Dunning’s standing in the commissioner race, The Olympian previously reported, but it’s raised questions about where Dunning actually lives.
Former Olympia City Council member Jim Cooper filed the challenge earlier this month. In his challenge, Cooper alleged Dunning does not “reside at the address listed on their voter registration.”
The address Dunning listed in his registration is 5823 Lacey Blvd SE, the address of West Coast Fitness, a business Dunning owns.
Cooper contends Dunning actually lives in the 9000 block of 22nd Way Southeast, citing Thurston County Assessor’s property information. This address is just east of Lacey city limits but within the city’s urban growth area.
Attorney Conner Edwards spoke on Dunning’s behalf during the hearing. He said Dunning lives at his gym and that he’s provided the Auditor’s Office with “copious amounts of evidence” to prove that.
“He lives there,” Edwards said. “That is his home. That is his abode and he is properly registered there.”
Cooper filed an affidavit with the Auditor’s Office in lieu of appearing in person. Hall entered the affidavit and other exhibits from each party into the record but has not yet shared them publicly. The Olympian has made a public records request for copies of each exhibit.
Cooper did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.
Edwards told the auditor at the hearing that any claims that Dunning may be violating city code by living at his gym are irrelevant to the proceeding on Thursday.
“(Cooper) can make those claims,” Edwards said. “That’s not what you’re here to decide today. Washington state law is very clear that people without a traditional residence still have the right to vote when they are properly precincted where they live.”
Cooper’s challenge is a political act that occurred right after filing week, Edwards alleged. Cooper has endorsed incumbent Clouse and donated $250 to her campaign, according to her campaign website and the state Public Disclosure Commission.
“In view of all that, I think it would be appropriate for you all to dismiss this challenge and uphold his voter registration address as being proper,” Edwards said.
Before the hearing concluded, Edwards asked Hall if she had a personal relationship with Cooper.
“I know him, but I wouldn’t say we go out and have dinner or cocktails or get together on any social basis,” Hall said.
Edwards went on to ask if Cooper’s partner ever worked in Hall’s office. Hall confirmed she did. Her LinkedIn indicates she worked as an executive assistant for Hall from 2014 to 2018.
Dunning told The Olympian that Cooper could have easily clarified the situation with him before issuing the challenge.
“As soon as it became an administrative hearing, I was no longer allowed to talk about it, and for two weeks now, people have been able to make up lies, mistruths, paint the narrative differently, and do no actual research on who Jim Cooper is and why he did this in the first place.”
Hall previously said Dunning would be required by statute to correct the voter registration address if the challenge succeeds. However, Hall said such an outcome would likely not impede Dunning from running in the commissioner race.
Both addresses Cooper listed in his challenge are within District 5, which is between District 1 to the west and District 2 to the east. The district covers a large portion of Lacey and stretches from Johnson Point in the north to just past Pattison Lake in the south.
Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder previously told The Olympian that Dunning is temporarily living at West Coast Fitness until work is completed at his new home in the McAllister Park area of the county.
Dunning will have to live within the city of Lacey if he loses the commissioner race and chooses to stay on the Lacey City Council, Ryder said.
