04/13/2026 - CORRECTION: City of Olympia Launches Mayor for the Day Essay Contest

The City of Olympia is excited to announce the return of the Mayor for the Day program, a civic engagement opportunity for local youth. The program invites 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grade students who live within the City of Olympia to share their ideas for improving the community.

"Our hope is to engage and educate our local youth on the workings of city government in a fun and meaningful way," said Olympia Mayor Dontae Payne.

To participate, students must submit an essay of 250 words or fewer responding to the following prompt:

"If you were selected to be Mayor for the Day, what would you do to make Olympia a better community for everyone, and how would you do it? Be specific. Also share why you should be chosen as Mayor for the Day."

Teachers may also nominate a student by submitting a brief statement of 150 words or fewer describing why the student would be an excellent candidate.

The selected student will:

• Be ceremonially "sworn in" and shadow the Mayor for a day.
• Receive a Certificate of Recognition signed by the Mayor.
• Be recognized at a City Council meeting, where their essay or nomination will be read.
• Be featured in a news release and photo with the City Council (with parental/guardian consent).

Judging Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated on

• Creativity
• Originality
• Positive community impact
• Relevance to the prompt

The contest opens April 13 and closes on May 8, 2026. For full contest rules and access to entry forms, visit the City of Olympia website at: https://www.olympiawa.gov/government/city_council___mayor/mayor_for_the_day.php