Voters got a close look at their local choices Tuesday night as candidates for both the Woodland City Council Position 2 and the Woodland School Board District 3 seats took questions during back-to-back forums hosted by the Woodland Chamber of Commerce at Oak Tree Restaurant in Woodland.
The city council forum featured incumbent Carol Rounds and challenger Brittny Michaelson, while the school board event followed with incumbent Stephen Blum and challenger Marie Woodage.
Woodland City Council Position 2
Incumbent Carol Rounds and challenger Brittny Michaelson offered contrasting views on city growth, community funding, and the city’s repeated rejection of retail cannabis sales.
Michaelson, a sixth-generation Woodland resident, said she entered the race to bring “fresh energy” and to make sure residents feel heard. Early in the forum, she said the council should revisit its stance on cannabis and let the public weigh in, despite not partaking herself.
“Whether you agree or not, this is our town and we’re supposed to serve the people,” she said.
Rounds, who has served multiple terms and is active in local service groups, stood by the council’s decision to block cannabis shops and a public vote on the issue last year.
“We’re elected to make tough decisions,” she said. “It’s not for us to spend taxpayer money on every debate that comes along.”
Michaelson was also asked what specific steps she would take to make residents feel more represented at City Hall. She said she wants to hold more open community conversations and push for better communication between the city and its citizens.
“I think people should know what’s going on before decisions are made,” she said. “More town halls, more opportunities to listen before we vote.”
When asked about her approach to city spending, Michaelson said she supports funding projects that “bring people downtown” and create shared spaces for the community, while being cautious about overdevelopment.
“We can grow, but it has to be smart growth,” she said. “We need to focus on infrastructure and traffic before adding more homes.”
Rounds was also asked about a vote she cast during Monday’s City Council meeting, where she was in the minority opposing a motion to split $25,000 in lodging tax funds between the Woodland Visitor Center and the Downtown Woodland Revitalization (DWR) group. She was further questioned about her earlier remarks, suggesting that DWR had not accomplished much in supporting downtown businesses.
Rounds defended her position, saying the visitor center provides a direct benefit by drawing travelers into Woodland. In a previous council meeting, Neil Butler, president of the Woodland Chamber of Commerce, which operates the Visitor Center, said the organization cannot sustain operations under a reduced budget. Woodland Chamber of Commerce President Neil Butler said the even split would cause a reduction in funds for the Visitor Center, spelling trouble for its continuation.
“What the visitor center brings is people — people who stop to ask where to eat, where to stay, where to get gas,” Rounds said. “That’s why I supported it.”
Michaelson later commented that Woodland's difficulty in attracting businesses to Downtown was exacerbated by property owners retaining their properties, which hindered development. This, she noted, made DWR's emphasis on events crucial.
“Unfortunately, we can't [develop] until the property owners decide they want to do something with it, so I think that DWR's idea to bring events and do things on Davidson to bring some life … would be good for the pre-existing businesses that are there, so I do feel it's super important for them to have that chance,” she said.
Both agreed that the delayed Exit 21 interchange project remains one of Woodland’s biggest infrastructure priorities.
Michaelson cautioned that the city shouldn’t approve more subdivisions until roads can handle the traffic. Rounds said she supports “growth in a proper manner” while maintaining the city’s small-town atmosphere.
Woodland School Board District 3
The school board forum brought together incumbent Steven Blum and challenger Marie Wooldridge, who presented different views on transparency, parental rights, and how schools can better serve students.
Blum, who was appointed to the board and is seeking election to a full term, said his time on the board has been “eye-opening and rewarding.” A Woodland resident since 2016, he spoke about staying active in schools and seeing students’ creativity firsthand.
He said his priorities include maintaining open communication with parents and ensuring accountability for how district funds are used.
“I check my emails, I listen, and I bring concerns forward,” Blum said. “There’s no hidden agenda. It’s on the record how we spend taxpayer dollars.”
Wooldridge, who has lived in Woodland since 1996, centered her campaign on parental rights, transparency, and improving student life skills.
“Parents have a right to know what’s going on with their children in school,” she said. “Transparency builds trust between the district and families.”
She said her career in public service and working with young people showed her how many lack basic writing and job-readiness skills. She called for more “real-world learning” in classrooms. Additionally, she called for more transparency from the school district, though did not cite a specific incident when asked by a local.
“I don't know exactly all the hidden agendas, I can't say exactly what they may be,” she said. “This is something I would really look into.”
On financial oversight, Wooldridge admitted she lacks direct experience managing large budgets but said she is “eager to learn” and approach spending with common sense. Blum countered that he has managed multi-million-dollar budgets in his work at Intel and wants to use that experience to hold administrators accountable for results.
Blum also proposed free breakfast for all middle and high school students, saying it would remove stigma and cost the district roughly $150,000 a year.
Both candidates supported school levies, saying the state doesn’t provide enough funding.
On the question of book bans, Wooldridge said she would review concerns on a case-by-case basis, while Blum opposed banning books altogether but supported keeping materials age-appropriate.
“If we start banning ideas, we’re in trouble,” Blum said. “It’s about finding what’s appropriate for each age, not censorship.”
Both candidates were asked where they would draw the line between parental rights and students' safety, specifically surrounding gender identity. The La Center School District is currently challenging the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)’s ruling that districts should not disclose a student’s gender identity to parents, citing safety and privacy concerns for students.
Wooldridge, who emphasized parental rights throughout the forum, said she generally believes parents have a right to know what’s happening with their children. However, she added that there could be rare circumstances where it would be appropriate for staff not to disclose information if a student expresses fear for their own safety at home.
“You always want to have parents involved,” she said. “But if there’s concern that a child could be harmed, that’s a different situation.”
Blum was more outspoken about protecting student privacy, saying that while he personally values open communication between families and schools, he does not support “outing” students against their will. He said schools have a responsibility to create a safe environment for every student, regardless of how they identify.
“If something happens to my daughter, I want to know,” Blum said. “But this isn’t about hiding things — it’s about safety. Every child deserves a space where they feel safe being who they are.”
In their closing statements, Wooldridge called youth “our future leaders” and said she wants to make schools “fun and engaging,” while Blum urged residents to stay informed and exercise their right to vote.
“There are people all over the world who don’t have that right,” he said. “If you don’t use it, you risk losing it.”
The Woodland Chamber of Commerce’s forum recordings can be accessed online at woodlandwachamber.com/gallery.
