For the C-C Chamber of Commerce
One of the most important parts of representing our community in Olympia is listening to local leaders, identifying real needs, and then working together to turn those priorities into results.
I recently toured the Lewis County Public Health and Social Services building in Chehalis and had an opportunity to see firsthand how a $1.552 million state capital budget investment will help upgrade this aging facility, including critical HVAC and building improvements.
This project is a great example of how the legislative process should work.
At our legislative roundtable with Lewis County commissioners and staff last year, improvements to the Public Health building were identified as a priority. The building is aging, its systems need modernization, and the employees working there provide important services to residents throughout Lewis County.
As a member of the House Capital Budget Committee and one of the writers of the capital budget, I was proud to work with my 20th District seatmates, Rep. Ed Orcutt and Sen. John Braun, to help secure funding for this project. The 2026 House supplemental capital budget included $1.552 million for Lewis County Public Health building upgrades.
But projects like this don’t begin in Olympia. They begin at home.
Lewis County Commissioners Scott Brummer, Sean Swope and Lindsey Pollock, along with the Director Lewis County Public Health and Social Services Meja Handlen and county staff, identified the need, communicated the priority and worked with our legislative delegation to move the project forward. That local-state partnership is exactly how we can make sure limited capital dollars are directed toward projects that provide tangible benefits to our communities.
And the real story isn’t just the building. It’s the people and programs inside it.
Lewis County Public Health and Social Services works every day to protect public health and connect families with essential services. Its work includes environmental and community health programs, disease prevention, WIC services and other programs that contribute to a healthier Lewis County.
The county’s accredited Water Laboratory, for example, analyzes water samples for coliform bacteria and nitrates—important testing for public water supplies and private wells.
The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program serves local families by providing nutrition education, health screening, breastfeeding support, healthy food benefits and connections to health care and social services. Lewis County also extends WIC access beyond its Chehalis office through monthly visits to Randle, Mossyrock and Winlock.
These aren’t abstract government programs. They are services used by our neighbors, children, parents, businesses and communities.
That’s why infrastructure matters.
A reliable building, functional workspaces and properly maintained public facilities allow dedicated employees to focus on serving the public rather than dealing with failing or outdated building systems. Capital investments help preserve existing public assets, avoid potentially more expensive repairs down the road, and save the county taxpayers energy and operational costs.
As a capital budget writer, I believe some of our best state investments are those that strengthen the infrastructure communities already rely upon. We don’t always need a new building or a new program. Sometimes responsible government means taking care of what we already have and making sure it can continue serving the public for decades to come.
I especially want to thank the staff at Lewis County Public Health and Social Services for showing me around the facility and, more importantly, for the work they do every day.
This project demonstrates what we can accomplish when county leaders, legislators and community partners sit at the same table, identify priorities and work together toward solutions.
The process started with listening to Lewis County. It continued with our legislative delegation advocating for the project in Olympia. And now we are seeing those conversations translate into a meaningful investment back home.
That’s partnership. That’s good stewardship. And that’s how we build a stronger Lewis County.
Rep. Peter Abbarno,
Peter Abbarno, Attorney and Partner at Althauser Rayan Abbarno, and State Representative in the 20th Legislative District.
