Clallam Democrats Rising - November 2025
Vol. 1, #10 - November 2025
As of this writing, the government remains shut down, but Clallam Democrats Rising continues covering Good Trouble in action. In our November issue, learn how groups throughout our county and across the nation are working together to make a difference.
Check out the latest news and actions!
Chair’s Corner - The power of civic engagement and preparing for 2026
Local Impacts, Local Actions
Good news for Olympic Discovery Trail expansion
Plans to clean up Port Angeles Harbor enter new phase
Update on Rayonier Mill cleanup
Meet the Friends of Ennis Creek
Plus:
Feature Articles on the Blog
Interview with three-term County Commissioner Mark Ozias
Local tribes join national movement to protect Native programs
Clallam County needs Young Democrats
Read on, enjoy, get active!
The Power of Civic Engagement and Preparing for 2026
As this column goes to print, we await the official results of our final 2025 election cycle. Here in our community, new leaders may emerge who will take seats next to seasoned veterans. As voters and constituents, we hope that our choices have been wise and that our elected officials will work together for the greater good. Our responsibility doesn’t end at the ballot box; we must remain vigilant and supportive while holding these leaders accountable to ensure fair and equal representation for all.
The nationwide No Kings rallies on Oct. 18th were a testament to the power of civic engagement. Here in Clallam County, nearly 4,300 people turned out, representing over 5.5% of our population—a truly remarkable feat that underscores the strength and passion of our community. Thank you to all who organized, carpooled, partnered with friends and neighbors, and boldly took to the streets to be seen and heard. Most importantly, thank you to all who spoke out not only for themselves, but for those who could not, those whose voices are silenced by fear. In reality, we represented far more than 5.5% of our community; we embodied the hopes and concerns of many more.
In the coming days, as we welcome both the newly and the duly elected representatives in our community, our focus turns to the future. With 2026 less than two months away, we must remain united; continuing to organize, advocate, and prepare for the monumental election year ahead.
As always, thank you for your commitment, your participation, and your support.
Let’s look ahead and work together to elect the leaders we deserve!
In solidarity,
Ellen Menshew
Chair, Clallam County Democrats
chair@clallamdems.org
Save the date, December 28th for the Clallam County Democrats year-end holiday party! Stay tuned for more information.
Exciting news for Olympic Discovery Trail West End expansion
Change of land ownership is opening up new options for extending the Olympic Discovery Trail in the Forks/West End region of Clallam County. Here’s what we’ve learned directly from Ann Livingston, the new Executive Director of the Olympic Discovery Trail:
“A company named EFM Investments & Advisory (EFM) has purchased over 80,000 acres of western Clallam County forestland, formerly owned by Rayonier Timberlands. Based in Oregon, EFM’s mission is to support rural communities, practice climate-smart forest management, and encourage use of their forest road system for biking and hiking. Additionally, the company has become an active proponent of the Olympic Discovery Trail and partner to the Peninsula Trails Coalition (PTC), whose mission and goal is to complete, maintain and advocate for the Olympic Discovery Trail.
“The PTC is excited about the partnership with EFM, having supported federal and state grant applications sought by EFM to support their goals of managing forestlands in an ecologically sensitive manner. The PTC also provided EFM with letters of support for their efforts to obtain federal and state funding to conserve their land ownership from future non-forest development. EFM is currently working with Clallam County to provide over 20 miles of Olympic Discovery Trail easements for future use of the trail.”
SNAP funding critical to our community
As of the end of October, funds from the Federal government for SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program formerly called Food Stamps) are set to stop, due to the Government shutdown and President Trump’s withholding of contingency funds. This would be devastating to communities across the nation and here in Clallam County, where 15.2% of households receive SNAP benefits. SNAP is even more important to people in the west end, where between 16% and 24% of households in the Forks area use SNAP. In the Neah Bay area, that number is between 24% and 33%.
At the Oct. 21 meeting of the Clallam County Board of Health, County Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry reported on the impacts of the loss of SNAP:
“SNAP is a highly effective program, both as a public health program and as an economic program. For every dollar that is given out to SNAP benefits, we expect $1.50 in economic benefits. So, if they don’t put any more funds towards SNAP, or the government doesn’t reopen by the end of this month, that would be devastating, not only for our families who really need that support, but also for the community and the economy. Folks who get SNAP use these dollars. They spend them at our local grocery stores, they spend them at our local businesses.”
If the loss of SNAP funding is hurting you or someone you know, please tell your story, or ask them to tell their story, to our Congresswoman Emily Randall. You can send an email at https://randall.house.gov/contact/email-me or call her Bremerton Field office at (360) 373-9725. Congresswoman Randall has told us that she needs these stories to give her ammunition to fight these injustices.
Update on Port Angeles Harbor cleanup
According to a recent update from the Washington Department of Ecology, the Western Port Angeles Harbor cleanup is now in the “design-the-cleanup” phase. After a public comment period, the Department determined that the cleanup is not likely to cause significant environmental harm. Environmental, historical, and cultural factors were considered in this process.
The cleanup plan will include a schedule and cleanup requirements. During this step of the cleanup process, the potentially liable parties — the City of Port Angeles, Georgia-Pacific LLC, Merrill & Ring, Nippon Paper Industries USA Co., Ltd, Owens Corning, and the Port of Port Angeles — will create the cleanup engineering design. This includes more sampling to refine the boundaries for cleanup elements, as well as logistics such as permitting and contracting. Engineering design is expected to take about four years due to the cleanup’s complexity and size, and the length of different permitting processes. You can review the steps of Washington’s cleanup process in Figure 1 (below). For more information, visit Ecology’s cleanup process webpage.
Rayonier Mill Cleanup update
By Darlene Schanfald, Ph.D.
The State Department of Ecology (DOE) has postponed its response to public comment (R2C) on the Rayonier Mill interim cleanup action plan submitted last summer. This is in spite of the fact that all 350 comments received supported a complete removal of contaminants from the sediments and soils. All commenters were opposed to leaving the City of Port Angeles with 10 acres of toxic waste on its waterfront.
After committing to having its response by December of this year, DOE now says they were overburdened due to their limited capacity and may not be able to provide the R2C until Spring 2026. In addition, the department has not said when it will respond with its final cleanup level.
This delay is unacceptable. Work in the water can only be conducted during certain periods and any further delay on Ecology’s end delays the start of the cleanup.
What you can do:
Write Ecology that:
We are waiting to hear from them, and insist they respond this year.
We support the comments from the City of Port Angeles, pointing out errors in Ecology’s assessment.
A full cleanup is the only acceptable option.
Write to:
Bobback Talebi, Ecology SWRO Manager, BTAL461@ECY.WA.GOV
cc: Casey Sixkiller, Ecology Director, casey.sixkiller@ecy.wa.gov
Locals take action to protect and restore Ennis Creek
Ennis Creek drains out of the Olympics from Klahhane Ridge and Mount Angeles, and enters the Strait of Juan de Fuca at the old Rayonier Mill site. It is the largest salmon stream between the Elwha River and Morse Creek.
About 50 years ago, Robbie and Jim Mantooth bought property up Del Guzzi road bordering Ennis Creek. They fell in love with the land and the stream and began actively working to protect it. They restored the creek on their property with logs and plantings. They put part of their property into a Conservation Easement through North Olympic Land Trust. But they went beyond that, creating the group “Friends of Ennis Creek.” The group sponsors booths at events, hikes on the creek, letter-writing campaigns, and generally works to build community support for improving the creek.
If you would like to learn more, visit their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/EnnisCreek) or send Robbie Mantooth an email to get on their mailing list (ennis@olypen.com) for stream walks and other activities.
Profile in Leadership: Mark Ozias leads with Democratic values
From Brussels sprouts to County Commissioner – follow the path of Mark Ozias, three-term District 1 Commissioner, from farming near Sequim to County leadership. An intriguing interview by Paul Pickett delves into how Mark knew early on that his values were aligned with the Democratic Party.
Tribes unite to combat Federal government cuts
Facing massive cuts to funding for federally recognized Native American and Alaska Native nations, Olympic Peninsula tribes are working with a coalition of national Native advocacy organizations to educate federal officials on the impacts of the cuts on tribal projects. The coalition sent a series of letters urging federal officials to protect legally mandated Tribal programs from harm.
Young Democrats needed to lead the way in Clallam County
As right-wing groups supporting fascist policies become more active with youth in our County, Democrats 35 or younger are needed to take action and make a difference. Read about Young Democrats by selecting the button below.
Take-Action Thursdays continue! November 6, 13, & 20, 4:30 p.m.
On Thursday afternoons, drop by Clallam County Democrats headquarters to enjoy a meal with like-minded people and discuss ways we can take positive action to preserve our democracy. Bring your preferred beverage, your appetite, and your ideas. HQ is located at 124-A West First St. in Port Angeles.
CHAT n CHEW No-Host Lunch, Tuesday, November 18, 12 p.m.
Every third Tuesday of the month is a chance to get together for a visit over lunch. No RSVP needed. Everyone is welcome! Meet at Asian Buffet (near Harbor Freight) in Port Angeles Plaza, 1940 E 1st St, Port Angeles, WA.
Clallam County Democrats Year-End Holiday Party! Sunday, December 28
Get more information on this fun-filled, year-end event in our December newsletter!
Stay tuned for all of our exciting fall and winter events!
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