31st Legislative District

Elected in 2014, financial manager Nancy Backus is the first female mayor of Auburn. Prior to her first term, she served on the Auburn City Council for 10 years as Chair of the Finance and the Planning & Community Development committees, among other roles. In 2016, she served as president of Sound Cities Association (SCA) and was the first board member from Auburn to be elected to the Sound Transit board. Backus' first term is backed by an impressive list of accomplishments. Unemployment in Auburn is among the lowest in the state. Backus has made economic development a priority, including welcoming new small businesses to the downtown area, launching a downtown facade improvement program, and seeking additional expansion from Boeing. In 2016, the mayor led the charge for a homelessness task force and the city is currently working on 40 of the 56 recommendations issued by the task force, including extending availability at the emergency shelter. Backus' leadership has earned her another term.

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 last run for mayor. Ferrell wants to continue the development of Federal Way downtown core, as well as maintaining the police department (he added nine new officers to the force). Ferrell has banned homeless encampments on public property and endorsed cleaning sweeps through the Homeless Encampment Services Initiative.

Ferrell's opponents are Mark Greene and Susan Honda. Honda is a current councilmember. Elected in 2011, Honda currently serves on currently 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 the most progressive candidate, he has earned the most support from our partner organizations and is the best choice in this race.

Sharry Edwards is a licensed practical nurse who is running for Federal Way City Council Position 4. Her platform includes creating more I-5 access points, fully staffing the police department, enacting business-friendly tax policies, and protecting parks. Her main opponent is Republican Diana Noble-Gulliford. Jack Stanford and Hoang Tran are also running for this position. Edwards in the best choice in this race.