City of Federal Way

Jim Ferrell is running for a second term as mayor of Federal Way. A former King County Prosecutor and a Republican for 20 years, Ferrell switched parties to become a moderate Democrat in his latest run for mayor. Ferrell wants to continue the development of the Federal Way downtown core and maintain the police department (he added nine new officers to the force). Ferrell has banned homeless encampments on public property and supported cleaning sweeps via the Homeless Encampment Services Initiative.

Ferrell is running against Susan Honda. Elected in 2011, Honda currently serves on the Finance, Economic Development & Regional Affairs Committee, and is the president of women's organization Soroptimists International and incoming co-president of the local Kiwanis Club. Honda is focused on hiring a city administrator to run the day-to-day governmental needs of Federal Way.

While Ferrell is not extremely progressive, he has earned the most support from our progressive partner organizations.

Jesse Johnson is an excellent progressive candidate running for Federal Way City Council Position 2. Johnson works as an education and post-secondary mentor, especially for men of color, in his role as Family and Community Engagement Specialist in South King County. He has also worked on the College Access Now Americorps team, as a Multicultural Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator at the University of Washington, and on President Obama and Congressman Adam Smith's campaigns. Johnson's platform comprehensively addresses issues of crime, restorative justice, and education. He seeks to tackle crime systemically by creating programs targeting violence and providing wrap-around youth services that address mental health and trauma, and wants to retain local graduates through career ladder programs with local businesses.

Johnson is running against incumbent Republican Bob Celski. Johnson is the best choice in this race.

Hoang Tran is running for Position 4 against Republican Diana Noble-Gulliford. At 18, Tran fled Vietnam and eventually arrived in America as a refugee. He has worked in public service for over 20 years and currently works as an administrator in public assistance programs for the state Department of Social and Health Services. Tran's campaign is centered on public safety through crime prevention programs and police department funding, addressing homelessness, and ensuring fiscal responsibility in government. He would like to increase the number of businesses owned be people of color in the city.

His opponent, Diana Noble-Gulliford, is a former city councilmember and current president of the Historical Society of Federal Way. Her biggest priorities are economic development and public safety. She supported the six-month housing moratorium on multi-family units, which Tran had reservations about due to the need for affordable housing. Tran is the better choice in this race.

Roger Flygare owns two court reporting agencies and is a U.S. Army veteran. He is a member of the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Washington Business, the Federal Way Coalition Against Trafficking, and the past President and Commanding General of the Association of Washington Generals. His campaign is prioritizing public safety and economic development. Flygare would support the local moratorium on multi-family housing until the number of single family homes is roughly equal to the number of multi-family homes, as he states it puts an undue burden on social services and schools.

He is running against Republican Martin Moore, who has switched parties and supported Democratic and Republican leaders and initiatives over the years. Moore's campaign has prioritized public safety, bringing tech jobs to Federal Way, fighting a B&O tax, and transparent government.

Flygare is the best choice in this race.