Sevald, Hillard ready themselves for mayoral roles

Cathlamet Mayor Elect Nicholas Sevald will soon take his seat, but he won't be the only young, new face taking such an office on the western side of Washington. Pacific County's Ilwaco recently had a mayoral election as well, and candidate Eddie Hillard defeated incumbent Mayor Mike Cassinelli by a staggering 53.5 percent margin. Cassinelli has been serving as Ilwaco's mayor since 2022 and, before that, served in the position from 2010 to 2017. Hillard, who is 24 years old, was born and raised in Ilwaco and is a graduate of Ilwaco High School. "This community has been part of my identity from the beginning," said Hillard. "Growing up in a place where neighbors support and inspire one another leaves a mark, and that sense of community has stayed with me ever since. Ilwaco taught me the value of showing up, staying connected, and rolling up your sleeves when something needs to get done, and those experiences are a big part of what led me to public service."

Having respect for the soon to be former mayor, Hillard noted his decision to run "wasn't about running against Cassinelli." It was because he "cares deeply" about the community and felt "it was the right time to step up" for Ilwaco's future. "With big projects and long-term planning on Ilwaco's horizon, I believe I can bring fresh energy, a new perspective, and an openness to explore different approaches," said Hillard. "Above all, I want to bring people together, inspire collaborative community involvement, and help lead Ilwaco into its next chapter in a positive, constructive way."

Running "on the belief that real progress comes from working together," Hillard "is proud to have a positive and supportive relationship" with Ilwaco's City council. "I value the dedication each member brings to our community," said Hillard. "I'm also excited to welcome the incoming council members and build a strong, engaged team from the start. Effective local government is built on teamwork and shared purpose, and I'm looking forward to working alongside them as partners as we guide Ilwaco's future together."

Though not born and raised here, Sevald has lived in Cathlamet since 2018. Prior to that, the mayor elect had been visiting family in the area for 10 years. "I want to help my community, and I thought running for mayor might be a good way to do that," said Sevald. "I am good at bridging gaps and resolving conflicts; two things I feel that would be very useful as mayor."

During the "Meet Your Candidates" series published by The Eagle last month, Sevald, when asked how he would "work with the Town Council, the County, and local organizations to move projects forward and solve problems together," admitted to being "almost at a loss" on how to answer such a question. "To me, simple constructive communication should not be a special highlight, it should be a basic expectation," said Sevald. "My goal would be not just to work diplomatically with the council - and to foster relationships with local organizations - but to reset that expectation with everyone from the leadership, to our partners, to our community. I want the future of this town to expect reasonable, responsible, team-driven leadership all around."

With "unity" being one of his biggest priorities, Sevald is looking for "easy avenues" in which the town's governing body and its people can communicate with each other. "Feedback from the town on what the next steps for Cathlamet's future are is very important to me," said Sevald. "I have ideas for the town, but if that is not the direction most of us want to head in, then it shouldn't be forced. Likewise, if the council doesn't have all the information they need to make important decisions for the town, we run the risk of wasting precious time and money trying to fix past mistakes."

Like Sevald, Hillard, too, focused on strengthening communication as part of his campaign. As part of this "practical progress," Hillard also emphasized supporting local businesses and "responsibly preparing for the growth we know is coming." Seeing the election as "a meaningful turning point" for Ilwaco, Hillard said, "I'm honored to be part of the new chapter residents chose. I also hope it inspires younger generations, as well as anyone of any age or background, to engage with local government and recognize how much their voice matters. Ilwaco has so much potential, and I'm excited to work with our council, staff, businesses, and neighbors to build a future grounded in collaboration and steady, meaningful progress."

With these two young voices prepared to soon take their respective office, the focus, at least from the voters who elected them, will not only be how but how soon they plan to put them into practice.