Centralia City Councilor Elizabeth Cameron honored during her final meeting

Dec. 13—Centralia City Councilor Elizabeth Cameron attended the final council meeting of her four-year term on Tuesday, Dec. 12.

She was elected to the seat left vacant following former Councilor Joyce Barnes decision to not file for re-election in 2019.

"Councilor Cameron, you have been a faithful and dedicated public servant," Mayor Kelly Smith Johnston said during the meeting.

Smith Johnston added Cameron — despite not originally being from Centralia — fully invested in the community with "all of her heart and all of her soul" and hoped Centralia residents would emulate her.

During her time on the council, Cameron created the city's first-ever Volunteer Recognition awards and served on many committees, including the Centralia Senior Citizens Board and the Centralia Downtown Association, Smith Johnston said.

Cameron also stepped up to lead the city's homelessness committee after Councilor Leah Daruud resigned this past April, she added.

"When she joins something, she joins it with everything she has, and she makes sure that she fulfills those duties faithfully," Smith Johnston said. "... As a fellow councilor, I really appreciate the fact that she does her homework. She has a curiosity she brings to the work, and she sincerely dives into all of the issues that are in front of council."

All of the other Centralia City Councilors thanked Cameron for her service to the city and for working with them on the council. She also mentioned Councilor Adrianna Garibay, who Cameron encouraged to apply for the councilor position left vacant earlier this year following Daruud's resignation.

"I just want to say thank you, thank you very much, because you have been there for me every single time that I needed it," Garibay said.

Smith Johnston gave Cameron an honorary plaque and flowers, and then Cameron spoke to those in attendance at Tuesday's meeting. She started off by thanking the Centralia residents for voting and placing their faith in her.

Cameron added she feels optimistic about Centralia's future and the proposed changes coming.

"And I just want to say how proud I am of Adrianna," Cameron said. "Met her about a year and a half ago, and I met her at the bank of all places. I see this little bitty thing getting into this huge truck, and I started to talk to her and said, 'You know, I think you should run for city council.'"

"I think she's going to have a very successful four-year term, and I think she will work very hard for you and do positive things," Cameron added.

While Garibay now serves on the Centralia City Council position formerly held by Daruud and successfully beat challenger Kylie Sexsmith in the November general election, Cameron's position will be filled by Chris Brewer, who was elected during the November general election after defeating Russell Barr.