Raymond Payne is a Communications Assistant with the City of Olympia, which includes duties as public works dispatcher and project manager for the City’s Communications 
team. Raymond’s motivation to run for Lacey City Council – he believes his family and his neighbors’ families deserves better.
Like many of his neighbors, Raymond settled in Lacey for the quality of life. But over the last several years, he’s noted with dismay the nonsensical political disputes driven in part by partisan politics being played out, while the citizens suffer.
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Raymond was born and raised in the Altavista, Virginia, the youngest of two children to a factory worker and homemaker. While his parents met, married, and chose to raise their family in Altavista, Raymond decided to chose a career in the military. Raymond joined the Virginia Army National Guard as an Infantryman in 1986 at the age of 17. After graduating from Altavista High School in 1987, he met his wife Michelle and they later married in 1989 and recently celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary. Raymond and Michelle have three children. Raymond entered the Air Force as an Administration Assistant in 1989 and he and Michelle set out to tour the world. Raymond served tours at Osan AB, Korea, Pope AFB, NC, Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal, Grambling State University, LA, The White House, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, and The Boeing Company, WA. Raymond retired from the Air Force as a Master Sergeant in 2010. Raymond is a Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force Airman’s Leadership School and a graduate of the Air Force Non- Commissioned Officer Academy.
LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
As a Lacey Planning Commissioner, Raymond has been directly involved in every major land use decision in the City of Lacey for the past 3 years. Raymond was again unanimously approved by the City Council earlier this year and is currently serving his second term. Gaining City Council approval for Design Review Manual, Shoreline Master Program, and Homeless Encampment Ordinance, highlight a few of Raymond’s accomplishments while on the Planning Commission. While serving his country in the Air Force, Raymond held numerous leadership roles. As Special Assistant to the Director of the White House Situation Room, Raymond was directly involved in the national response efforts to events such as the Africa Embassy Bombings, the bombing of USS Cole, and 9/11.
