Brett Wachsmith
Republican · WA · Kittitas County Commissioner, District 3
Brett Wachsmith has been a Kittitas County commissioner since 2019 and was county treasurer from 2015 to 2018; he is also a U.S. Army veteran. He has focused on mental health resources, services for people with developmental disabilities, and help for veterans.
Where Brett Wachsmith stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (2 records), Government Efficiency (1 record), Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record),
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (2 records)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 2 support
Moved to adopt updated county rules that protect wetlands and other sensitive lands. His motion dropped a proposed rule that wetland experts need five years of experience. It passed 3-0.
June 2, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: co.kittitas.wa.us
Moved to pass a resolution asking the state Legislature to keep paying for basic public health services. The county Board of Health approved it.
January 28, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: co.kittitas.wa.us
Track record — Government Efficiency
Government Efficiency · 1 support
Served as county treasurer from 2015 to 2018. He said he began investing idle county money, which raised yearly interest from about $22,000 to about $600,000.
January 9, 2019Supports Government Efficiency
Source: dailyrecordnews.com
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 2 oppose
Seconded and voted for an extra real estate sales tax of one-quarter of 1 percent (REET 2) to pay for county building projects. Staff said it would double this revenue to about $3.4 million in 2023. It passed 2-1.
August 2, 2022Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: co.kittitas.wa.us
Seconded and voted for a 1 percent property tax increase for the county general fund for 2021. It passed 2-1. He also voted for the same increase for county roads and flood control.
November 30, 2020Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: co.kittitas.wa.us
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Moved to put a sales tax of two-tenths of 1 percent on the ballot. The money would pay for the county's 911 emergency radio and dispatch systems (KITTCOM). The motion passed 3-0.
December 19, 2023Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: co.kittitas.wa.us
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 4 support
Seconded and voted to make the county's mental health and addiction sales tax permanent by removing its end date. The motion passed 2-1.
December 2, 2025Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: co.kittitas.wa.us
Voted for a county law creating a sales tax of one-tenth of 1 percent for mental health and addiction services. It passed 3-0.
December 21, 2021Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: co.kittitas.wa.us
Moved to pass a sales tax of one-tenth of 1 percent to pay for mental health services. The motion failed because no other commissioner seconded it.
April 14, 2021Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: co.kittitas.wa.us
Voted against putting off a public hearing on a new sales tax for mental health and addiction treatment. The tax was one-tenth of 1 percent. The other two commissioners voted 2-1 to put it off.
February 18, 2020Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: co.kittitas.wa.us
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 support
Seconded and voted for an extra real estate sales tax of one-quarter of 1 percent (REET 2) to pay for county building projects. Staff said it would double this revenue to about $3.4 million in 2023. It passed 2-1.
August 2, 2022Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: co.kittitas.wa.us
Track record — General
General · 2 records
Seconded and voted to send an extra real estate sales tax (REET 2) to a public vote instead of passing it directly. The motion passed 2-1.
September 21, 2021
Source: co.kittitas.wa.us
Seconded and voted for new county rules for solar farms in Solar Zone 3. Projects over 7 megawatts now need a special permit. The motion passed 3-0.
April 16, 2019
Source: co.kittitas.wa.us
Past race Brett Wachsmith ran in:
- Kittitas County Commissioner District 3 · November 3, 2026 · Kittitas County, Washington · incumbent