Rainier City Council · Nov 3, 2026
Denise
Watson
City Councilor, Position 2; term ends December 31, 2028City of Rainier
Denise Watson (City Councilor, Position 2) is not on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot and will stay on the Rainier City Council after the election.
Not sure who to vote for? Answer a few questions and see which Rainier candidates agree with you, and why.
No sign-in. Your answers stay on your device. We never endorse anyone. Report an error
Background
- About
- Rainier city councilor in Position 2 whose term ends December 31, 2028.
On the record: Denise Watson
17 sourced01Wastewater system3 sourced positions
Voted yes on authorizing staff to obtain a loan for the wastewater plant expansion (passed 4-0, September 2026).
Council voteRainier City Council minutes, September 14, 2026 · Sep 14, 2026LinkHow the council voted
as summarized in the official Council minutes; not a direct quote
Said she was opposed to adding a screw press to the wastewater plant and suggested a life cost analysis.
Own statementRainier City Council minutes, March 2, 2026 · Mar 2, 2026Link
Voted yes on applying for a Community Development Block Grant to help fix leaky sewer laterals (passed 7-0, March 2026).
Council voteRainier City Council minutes, March 2, 2026 · Mar 2, 2026LinkHow the council voted
02Watershed1 sourced position
Voted yes on directing the city forester to prepare a request for proposals for a timber cruise and updated forestry plan (passed 4-0, September 2026).
Council voteRainier City Council minutes, September 14, 2026 · Sep 14, 2026LinkHow the council voted
03Utility rates2 sourced positions
Voted yes on directing staff to prepare a spreadsheet of all city fees and charges (passed 7-0, August 2026).
Council voteRainier City Council minutes, August 3, 2026 · Aug 3, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Voted yes on adopting residential sewer rates with the automatic yearly inflation adjustment removed (passed 5-0, June 2025).
Council voteRainier City Council minutes, June 30, 2025 · Jun 30, 2025LinkHow the council voted
04Sewer finances2 sourced positions
Voted yes on transferring 2025-26 appropriations to balance the Sewer Fund (passed 5-0, May 2026).
Council voteRainier City Council minutes, May 4, 2026 · May 4, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Voted yes on forgiving an interfund loan from the General Fund to the Sewer Fund (passed 7-0, March 2026).
Council voteRainier City Council minutes, March 2, 2026 · Mar 2, 2026LinkHow the council voted
05Budget oversight2 sourced positions
as summarized in the official Council minutes; not a direct quote
Expressed concern about how moorage fees are distributed within the city budget.
Own statementRainier City Council minutes, April 6, 2026 · Apr 6, 2026Link
Voted no on the April 2026 consent agenda approving the March minutes and monthly financial statements (passed 5-1, April 2026).
Council voteRainier City Council minutes, April 6, 2026 · Apr 6, 2026LinkHow the council voted
06Parks1 sourced position
Voted yes on applying for a state parks grant for the Rainier Eagles Skate Park project (passed 6-0, April 2026).
Council voteRainier City Council minutes, April 6, 2026 · Apr 6, 2026LinkHow the council voted
07Local economy1 sourced position
Voted yes on changing the Lower Columbia Maritime Enterprise Zone boundary for a Scion Lumber investment (passed 5-0, May 2026).
Council voteRainier City Council minutes, May 4, 2026 · May 4, 2026LinkHow the council voted
08County road stations1 sourced position
Voted yes on a letter urging Columbia County to keep its road department satellite stations (passed 7-0, February 2026).
Council voteRainier City Council minutes, February 2, 2026 · Feb 2, 2026LinkHow the council voted
09Burning rules1 sourced position
Voted yes on Ordinance 1102 regulating open burning with seasonal restrictions (passed 6-0, October 2025).
Council voteRainier City Council minutes, October 6, 2025 · Oct 6, 2025LinkHow the council voted
10Parking1 sourced position
as summarized in the official Council minutes; not a direct quote
Said she is opposed to parking meters at the plaza.
Own statementRainier City Council minutes, June 2, 2025 · Jun 2, 2025Link
11City spending1 sourced position
Voted no on buying a curved dais for council meetings (failed 1-4, June 2025).
Council voteRainier City Council minutes, June 2, 2025 · Jun 2, 2025LinkHow the council voted
12Past candidacies1 sourced position
Ran for City Council in 2024 (won).
Own statementColumbia County · Nov 27, 2024Link
Every claim links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works
Denise Watson: their words and their votes on the same issue
Wastewater system
In their words
Said she was opposed to adding a screw press to the wastewater plant and suggested a life cost analysis.
Mar 2, 2026 ·as summarized in the official Council minutes; not a direct quote ·Rainier City Council minutes, March 2, 2026 · Mar 2, 2026
On the record
Voted yes on applying for a Community Development Block Grant to help fix leaky sewer laterals (passed 7-0, March 2026).
Mar 2, 2026 ·Rainier City Council minutes, March 2, 2026 · Mar 2, 2026
Budget oversight
In their words
Expressed concern about how moorage fees are distributed within the city budget.
Apr 6, 2026 ·as summarized in the official Council minutes; not a direct quote ·Rainier City Council minutes, April 6, 2026 · Apr 6, 2026
On the record
Voted no on the April 2026 consent agenda approving the March minutes and monthly financial statements (passed 5-1, April 2026).
Apr 6, 2026 ·Rainier City Council minutes, April 6, 2026 · Apr 6, 2026
Match quiz · 2 minutes · no sign-in
See which Rainier candidates match you
Also on your Rainier ballot
See something wrong? Report an error
Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.