Garrett Cady for County Clerk
Garrett Cady for Thurston County Clerk
Accountability Public Service Access to Justice
About Garrett
Garrett Cady grew up in the thriving community of Yelm, Washington, with a deep family history dedicated to public service rooted right here in Thurston County. Garrett is a proud graduate of Yelm High School and attended Washington State University. Garrett holds a certification from the Washington State Health Care Authority's certified peer counseling program and served on the Thurston County Treatment Sales Tax Advisory Committee from 2024 to 2025.
Garrett continues to serve as a Deputy Clerk at the Thurston County Clerk’s Office, where he works daily to support all Court operations with great passion and professionalism. Garrett is the only candidate with first-hand experience across multiple roles within the Clerk's Office, from directly assisting the public at the front counter to serving as Court Clerk. Garrett also assists in the training of new employees with the opening of new cases as well as teaching Court procedures. This specific operational experience is critical to serving as the elected Clerk, a leader who can manage the technically intensive responsibilities of the office as well as being able to step-in and share the substantial workload alongside the office's staff.
The Clerk's Office was recently disrupted by a severe budget reduction imposed by the County Commissioners' narrow 3-2 vote that implemented the County's 2026-2027 biennium budget. This disproportionate reduction resulted in the elimination of multiple positions that subsequently forced the office to close its doors to the public due to inadequate staffing. Despite the County's current fiscal climate, Garrett will prioritize the full restoration of all in-person services, as he believes these services are at the core of the Clerk's obligation to the citizens of our County.
With staffing having been recently reduced by nearly 25%, the office cannot afford to lose any of the invaluable institutional knowledge retained by the current team of dedicated deputy clerks. The next County Clerk must be capable of actively doing the work alongside the office's staff to maintain, and enhance, the core stability of the office. Garrett is the only candidate equipped with the necessary technical skills to do exactly that, working hard alongside his co-workers right from day one.
Garrett Cady is an independent candidate with no political affiliation because there is absolutely no place for politics in the Clerk's Office. Citizens never benefit when partisan politics paradoxically interfere with public service. The elected Judges of Thurston County hold non-partisan positions and Garrett believes that the Clerk must also be free of political influence. As both the supporting foundation and the gateway to the Courts, the Clerk's Office must serve all litigants and legal practitioners equally, free of any political biases that would harm the impartial administration of justice.
Garrett Cady is running for County Clerk with a mission to fully restore and enhance the crucial services that the community desperately needs. Two such services include the Domestic Violence Liaison Program and In-Person Front Counter Support, vital services that assist the public in navigating the Court system. Garrett will utilize his unique in-depth knowledge of the intricate inner workings of the Clerk's Office, as well as his excellent customer service skills, to implement innovative and creative administrative solutions that will benefit the community and improve the functionality of the Clerk's Office for years to come. Garrett vows that the Clerk’s Office shall operate with integrity, accountability and strong customer service. These core ideals enacted shall provide for unhindered access to justice for all residents of Thurston County.
Article One, Section 10 of the Washington State Constitution clearly states:
"Justice in all cases shall be administered openly and without unnecessary delay."
About the Clerk's Office
The County Clerk is one of several independently elected positions provided for by the Washington State Constitution. The Clerk acts as the administrative and financial officer of the Superior Court, bound by specific responsibilities assigned by state statute as well as local and state court rules.
Constitutional Authority and the Separation of Powers
The core purpose of the County Clerk is to ensure the separation of powers among the three branches of government: Executive, Judicial, and Legislative. This separation preserves the absolute integrity of the judiciary and is achieved through a unique constitutional structure:
The Keeper of the Record: As an independent elected official, the Clerk preserves unfettered public access to a fair, accurate, and independently established record of the opinions, decisions, and judgments of the court.
External Oversight: The Clerk is positioned within the Executive Branch of government. This provides a critical avenue for external oversight of the judiciary without allowing the legislative or executive branches to interfere with the court's actions or independence.
Impartial Administration: By being completely independent of the judicial branch, the Clerk protects the judiciary from any appearance of impropriety or unfairness in the scheduling of cases, the implementation of orders, or the investment of trust funds.
Administrator of Court Records and Exhibits (RCW 36.23.030)
All documents presented in a Superior Court cause of action must be received, processed, and secured by the Clerk. This processing involves precise record classification, the assignment of cause numbers, computerized digital docketing, and the manual filing of hard-copy records. Records must be maintained, retained, and eventually purged strictly in accordance with statutory time constraints and rigorous state archival standards.
Quasi-Judicial Officer (RCW 2.32.050)
The Clerk exercises discretion of a judicial nature to keep the legal system moving. Under state law, the Clerk has the authority and duty to:
Review complex court documents for statutory errors prior to judicial review.
Issue Letters Testamentary and Letters of Administration in probate cases.
Issue civil and criminal warrants of arrest.
Issue writs of execution, garnishment, attachment, restitution, and orders of sale.
Financial Officer for the Courts (RCW 36.23.100 & RCW 36.48)
As the court's financial agent, the Clerk collects statutory fees, fines, Legal Financial Obligations, trust funds, and support funds. The Clerk maintains a secure trust account for monies received, receipts and disburses monies exactly as ordered by the court, and provides an active investment plan for monies held. The collection, rigorous accounting, and investment of court monies are executed to ensure that the financial interests of both the public and the county are entirely secured.
Ex Officio Clerk of the Court (WA Constitution, Art. IV, § 26)
Under the State Constitution, the Clerk holds the title of Ex Officio Clerk of the Court. This mandate requires the Clerk’s presence (or the presence of a sworn Deputy Clerk) at all court sessions and trials. In the courtroom, the Clerk receives and records all documents and exhibits, administers oaths to witnesses and jurors, and establishes the independent, official record of proceedings for the public.
Justice System Administrator
The Clerk must constantly identify and articulate the changing needs of court record processing. This includes adapting the storage, retrieval, and disposal of documents and exhibits to modern technological standards, ensuring the justice system remains accessible and efficient.
Departmental Administrator
The Clerk has the responsibility to establish office policies, manage complex budgets, and implement procedures in accordance with the established guidelines of the Board of County Commissioners, while maintaining the office's inherent independent authority as prescribed by constitutional mandate.
. It's easy.
Garrett's Endorsements
Billy Harrington |
Vickie Larkin |
Vicki Kimball |
Denice Lingle |
Ralph Schultz |
Russ Hendrickson |
Jackie Sinner |
Joan Patrick |
Christine Hansen |
John Gray |
Denise Hendrickson |
Dyllan Erikson |
Michele Boone |
Kathleen Boyajian |
Susan McLaughlin |
Teri Malone |
Steve Chambers |
Jackie Davis |
Grady Debin |
Arthur Wuerth |
Vivian Eason |
Sophia Moscone |
Scott Johnson |
Clayton Lundstrom |
Paige Wright |
William Cannon |
Endorse Garrett
Show your support for Garrett with your endorsement and have your name added to the growing list above!
Your voice will help strengthen Garrett's message to the community while on his journey to public office.
Donations Welcome
Your contribution helps us reach voters, strengthen community engagement, and supports our campaign.
Though online payments are great for a matter of convenience, mailing your donations to the address below is the preferred method if that option is available to you. This will help avoid the service fees associated with credit card transactions.
To make your donation go that much further, please mail a check, made out to Garrett Cady for County Clerk, to
15739 Topaz Dr SE
Yelm, WA,98597
*Contributions are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Contributions are subject to the limits and reporting requirements of Washington State law. State law requires political committees to report the name and address of contributors who give more than the amount required by law in the aggregate during an election cycle. Corporate contributions and contributions from foreign nationals are prohibited. Contributions collected will be used to support the election of Garrett Cady for County Clerk.
Contact Information
15739 Topaz Dr SE
Yelm WA, 98597
(360) 972-9937
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