Twichell for Rainier mayor, Guist lead for contested councilor seat in early election results

Rainier will soon see its first new mayor in more than two decades, and so far, Garye Twichell is ahead in the race. As of Thursday, Nov. 12, Twichell was ahead in the Rainier mayoral race with 46.9% of the vote. Two other candidates vying for the seat, Michael Kreger and Vanessa Meza, held 28.9% and 21.2% of the vote, respectively. “We’re honored and humbled and just amazed that we have so much support in the community for us,” Twichell said after initial election results were released Nov. 3. “I want to thank the people of Rainier for putting their trust in me.” Twichell works for Smurfit Westrock and owns Columbia River Hazmat. He emphasized infrastructure and city services as key focus areas for city government. Longtime Mayor Jerry Cole is vacating the seat to serve on the Columbia County Board of Commissioners, and Kreger, Meza and Twichell ran to lead Rainier in his place. “No matter who won tonight, this was going to be a huge change for Rainier,” Twichell said.

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