Thank you, Ward 4 💙

Well… we did it.

To everyone in Ward 4 who voted, talked with neighbors, put out a yard sign, or simply took the time to learn about the race, thank you. I am deeply honored to be elected to continue serving you on the Aberdeen City Council.

During the campaign I promised to be transparent, honest, and available. That promise does not end on Election Day. It really starts now. My goal is to show up, listen carefully, ask good questions, and keep you informed about what is happening at City Hall and why.

“Your Voice, Our Aberdeen” was not just a slogan. It is how I want to do this job.

Gratitude Where It Is Due

Campaigns are never solo projects, and this one was no exception.

A huge thank you to Bette Worth, who helped organize my candidate meet and greet, brought her amazing meatballs, and passed out invitations all over the Ward. My best friend, Heidi Goddard, made the rest of the food for the event, and it was incredible. And thank you to Joan Waters, who generously provided the venue and hosted the event in her amazing home, the Aberdeen Mansion. They all poured so much time and care into the event, and created a warm and welcoming space where people felt comfortable staying, talking, and asking questions. I am so grateful for all three of these women and the way they showed up for me and for our community.

Thank you to Les Bolton, who cheerfully delivered yard signs up and down Ward 4. And to everyone who agreed to put a sign in your yard, seeing those signs pop up around the neighborhood was humbling and honestly a little surreal. Every time I drove past one, it was a reminder to work hard and earn that trust.

And then there is Josi Corbett. That girl. My big cheerleader from start to finish. She put a magnet version of my campaign signs on the side of her car, and she drove it all over town for the entire campaign. If you saw an “Elect Carrie Hubbard” car cruising around, that was Josi doing what she does best, encouraging, energizing, and lifting people up. I am so grateful for her support and friendship.

Finally, thank you to my family, friends, and everyone who encouraged me to put my name forward in the first place. You kept me grounded when things got stressful and reminded me why this work matters.

A Very Special Thank You to Fred

I also need to thank the person who has been beside me through every step of this journey, my partner, Fred Becker.

Fred is the one who kept saying, “You should do this,” even when I was not so sure. He encouraged me to run, hyped me up when I doubted myself, and gave me the confidence to put my name on the ballot. He proofread my materials, listened to me talk through ideas, and acted as advisor, confidant, financial advisor, and campaign manager in spirit. I did not have any official campaign staff, it was just me. But in reality, it was me with Fred in my corner every single day.

Campaign seasons can be intense and a little overwhelming. Having someone who believes in you, reminds you to eat, proofreads one more time, and still laughs with you at the end of the day is a gift. I am incredibly grateful for his love, support, and steady presence through all of this.

A Word About Cliff

I also want to thank Cliff Feigelson, my opponent on the ballot, who made the decision to withdraw from the race so he could focus his energy on the new Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC).

Because his withdrawal came late in the process, Cliff’s name still appeared in the voter’s pamphlet and on the ballot. He chose not to campaign and instead threw his support behind me. That was a generous and selfless choice, and I appreciate it so much.

I am excited to work with Cliff on EDAC as we explore ideas to revitalize Aberdeen’s economy and support our local businesses. I truly believe we are on the same team when it comes to wanting the best for this community.

The New Economic Development Advisory Committee

One of the most encouraging developments this year is the creation of the Economic Development Advisory Committee. I am honored that the Mayor appointed me as one of two Councilmembers serving on EDAC, alongside Councilmember Melvin Taylor.

EDAC brings together amazing people from across our community, including business owners, community leaders, and residents who care deeply about Aberdeen’s future. Together, we will be looking at practical ways to:

• Strengthen our local economy

• Support small businesses

• Make downtown a place we are all proud of

• Attract new opportunities while honoring who we already are

EDAC meets on the 1st and 3rd Mondays at City Hall, and these meetings are open to the public. If you are interested in economic development, this is a great place to plug in, listen, and share ideas.

Office Hours and Staying Available

Because I am now serving on EDAC on the 1st and 3rd Mondays, I have moved my regular Council office hours (along with my Ward 4 partner Deb Hodgkins) to the second Monday of every month, from 4:30pm to 6:30pm.

These office hours are a chance for you to:

• Ask questions

• Share concerns

• Bring ideas

• Or just talk about what you are seeing in your neighborhood

I will keep posting reminders about dates and times, but please know that you are always welcome. I want you to feel like you have a direct line to your councilmember, because you do.

Where to Find Me Going Forward

As I transition from campaign mode into the ongoing work of council, I will be winding down my campaign tools and shifting fully to official channels.

• I will be shutting down my campaign website in the near future.

• My campaign Facebook page will go quiet and stay dormant until the next election cycle.

That does not mean I am disappearing. It just means we are moving to the appropriate spaces for official city work.

For updates, questions, and ongoing conversation, please connect with me here:

• Official City Council Facebook page

• Official Council webpage (contact info)

You can reach me through the contact information listed on my Council page, or by sending a message to my official Council Facebook page. I genuinely want to hear from you.

Help Us Improve Public Involvement

One of the things I have learned already is that the City is still struggling to get the level of public involvement we need. We post public notices and press releases, but I am not sure they always reach people where they are actually looking.

Right now, the City posts information on the website, puts physical notices on the doors at City Hall, and some councilmembers share updates on their Facebook pages. Even with all of that, many people still tell me, “I had no idea that was happening.”

I would love your help with this.

If you have ideas about where you would be more likely to see public notices and meeting announcements, please let me know. Are there specific social media pages you follow, neighborhood groups you trust, community bulletin boards you actually read, or other places you think we should be using more often?

Your feedback will help us reach more people and make it easier for you and your neighbors to stay informed and get involved.

Join Us at City Council

If you really want to see how decisions are made, I encourage you to:

• Attend City Council meetings in person, or

• Watch them live via Teams

Meeting schedules, agendas, and viewing information are all available here:

https://www.aberdeenwa.gov/275/City-Council

We make better decisions when more people are engaged, ask questions, and share their perspectives. Your voice truly matters.

A Heartfelt Thank You to Councilmember Liz Ellis

At our last meeting, we said goodbye to Councilmember Liz Ellis, who stepped down into her well earned retirement.

Liz was a huge help to me when I was first appointed to Council. She took time out of her own schedule to sit down with me, walk me through the role, answer my many questions, and help me find my footing. When you are trying to learn everything at once, that kind of mentorship is priceless.

She has been a passionate, vibrant voice on the Council, never afraid to speak up and always focused on what she believed was best for Aberdeen. Her presence will be missed, both personally and professionally, and I wish her all the joy and rest that retirement can offer.

The Races Still Too Close to Call

While my race is decided, two other Aberdeen Council races are still very much in suspense:

• Kacey Morrison vs. Deb Wilson, separated by just 4 votes

• David Lawrence vs. John Shaw, separated by just 2 votes

We will not know the final outcomes for a while, and I know many of us are sitting on the edge of our seats.

These razor thin margins are a powerful reminder that every single vote matters. If you ever wondered whether your ballot makes a difference, Aberdeen just answered that question very clearly.

The Work Ahead

Looking forward, my focus remains consistent with what I shared throughout the campaign:

• Addressing homelessness with compassion and practicality: Working with regional partners and local organizations to find real solutions that balance public safety, human dignity, and long term support.

• Revitalizing downtown and growing our local economy: Through EDAC, downtown improvements, and support for small businesses, I want to help make Aberdeen a place where people want to live, visit, and invest.

• Investing in infrastructure: From streets and sidewalks to utilities and public spaces, we need to keep chipping away at the long term projects that support both residents and businesses.

  
  

I do not have all the answers. Together, though, we have a lot of wisdom, creativity, and lived experience. My goal is to keep bringing your voices into the room where decisions are made.

Moving Forward, Together

Thank you again, Ward 4, for trusting me with this responsibility.

I promise to keep showing up, listening, and communicating openly with you. Please come to office hours, reach out through my official channels, and stay engaged in city business. Your ideas, questions, and concerns are not an interruption to the work. They are the work.

Here is to the next chapter for Aberdeen.

Your Voice, Our Aberdeen.

— Carrie