Voie earns Key Award for sharing documents with her community

Centralia resident Brittany Voie was presented a Key Award in May 2026 for her use of public records to enlighten the public about an official who left office and several others hoping to win an elected seat.

Brittany Voie and George Erb, WashCOG secretary

Using the Public Records Act, Voie found and published records that partially explained the city of Centralia’s baffling selection of a mayor who resigned after a month in office. She was also compiling a public data on candidates for sheriff on a website she created: nextlcsheriff.com. Her goal was to make available all information she could gather through government records to shine more light on these candidates prior to the Aug. 4 primary. Four candidates filed for the open seat. (Update: As of September, the website shows information for the two candidates moving forward to the general election.)

Voie, who runs her own marketing business, has taken on numerous projects, largely through her personal Facebook page. She previously worked as a journalist for The (Centralia) Chronicle and now frequently writes for the Lewis County News.

During the May 28 presentation in front of Centralia City Hall, Voie said that being the person to dig and find information that people might not see otherwise is “meaningful work.”

‍  “I appreciate the opportunity to do it and be recognized,” she said.

This was Voie’s second Key Award. Her first was given in 2017 when she was a reporter at The Chronicle. The WashCOG board votes to give Key Awards throughout the year to recognize people or organizations who have done work advancing the cause of open government.