Olympia City Council candidate Jim Cooper sits down with “You Make Olympia” host Mathias Eichler for an election season chat about “game-changing” decisions the city can make toward developing a destination at mouth of the Deschutes River. Cooper also discusses the possibility of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater merging resources, and what it’d take to entice businesses to open in Thurston County to create jobs.

He has spent the past 15 years working for non-profit, corporate and government organizations, including serving as executive director at “TOGETHER!”, president of the Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention, member of the American Legion and member of RUaD, the statewide coalition to reduce underage drinking.