• Blanche Barajas photo

    Blanche Barajas

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  • Blanche Barajas is running unopposed for Pasco City Council, District 1. She was elected to the city council in 2018 and as mayor pro-tem in 2020. Barajas works with the Community Health Plan of Washington doing community outreach to people who do not have access to health services and is a board member with Elijah Family Homes. She also received a Public Servant of the Year award in 2018.

    Barajas is unopposed and deserves your vote for Pasco City Council, District 1.

    Blanche Barajas

    Blanche Barajas is running unopposed for Pasco City Council, District 1. She was elected to the city council in 2018 and as mayor pro-tem in 2020.

    Blanche Barajas

    Blanche Barajas is running unopposed for Pasco City Council, District 1. She was elected to the city council in 2018 and as mayor pro-tem in 2020.

City of Pasco

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Statewide Ballot Measures

Advisory Vote #36

  • VOTE MAINTAINED

    Vote Maintained to strengthen mental health crisis support

  • This spring, lawmakers passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1477 to expand the state’s crisis response system to include a new hotline dealing exclusively with mental health emergencies.

    Sponsored by Democratic legislators, the law will divert some calls away from 911 so that Washingtonians can get more specialized crisis responses. In addition, law enforcement officers no longer need to take on responsibilities associated with social workers. This will be funded by a tax of 30 cents a month on most phone services in October 2021 until a bump to 75 cents a month starting in July 2024. All revenue generated by the tax will go to crisis line-related expenses, including expanding hotline personnel during the community mental health crisis associated with the pandemic.

    Vote “Maintained” on State Advisory Vote 36.

    This spring, lawmakers passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1477 to expand the state’s crisis response system to include a new hotline dealing exclusively with mental health emergencies.

    Sponsored by Democratic legislators, the law will divert some calls away from 911 so that Washingtonians can get more specialized crisis responses. In addition, law enforcement officers no longer need to take on responsibilities associated with social workers. This will be funded by a tax of 30 cents a month on most phone services in October 2021 until a bump to 75 cents a month starting in July 2024. All revenue generated by the tax will go to crisis line-related expenses, including expanding hotline personnel during the community mental health crisis associated with the pandemic.

    Vote “Maintained” on State Advisory Vote 36.

    • Endorsed By: The Stranger

Advisory Vote #37

  • VOTE MAINTAINED

    Vote Maintained to balance our tax code

  • Washingtonians deserve an economy that works for us all. An essential part of that is a balanced tax code where everyone pays their share. Yet, Washington boasts the most upside-down system in the nation, where the state’s lowest-income earners pay 17% of their income in taxes while the wealthiest few pay just 3% of their income.

    This legislative session, Democratic lawmakers wrote and passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5096, which created a 7% capital gains tax on the sale of assets like stocks valued above $250,000. The tax is estimated to raise about $415 million primarily for child care and early learning - both services that became clearly essential to Washingtonians during the coronavirus pandemic.

    We know that good public schools, beautiful parks, and strong social services make Washington a great place to live. This long-overdue capital gains tax will go towards making sure that all Washingtonians pay their share in taxes and have the opportunity to thrive.

    Vote "Maintained" on State Advisory Vote 37.

    Washingtonians deserve an economy that works for us all. An essential part of that is a balanced tax code where everyone pays their share. Yet, Washington boasts the most upside-down system in the nation, where the state’s lowest-income earners pay 17% of their income in taxes while the wealthiest few pay just 3% of their income.

    This legislative session, Democratic lawmakers wrote and passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5096, which created a 7% capital gains tax on the sale of assets like stocks valued above $250,000. The tax is estimated to raise about $415 million primarily for child care and early learning - both services that became clearly essential to Washingtonians during the coronavirus pandemic.

    We know that good public schools, beautiful parks, and strong social services make Washington a great place to live. This long-overdue capital gains tax will go towards making sure that all Washingtonians pay their share in taxes and have the opportunity to thrive.

    Vote "Maintained" on State Advisory Vote 37.

    • Endorsed By: The Stranger

Advisory Vote #38

  • VOTE MAINTAINED

    Vote Maintained to close a tax loophole for insurance companies

  • In the most recent legislative session, lawmakers passed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5315, which creates a 2% tax on certain insurance premiums. In effect, the law would close a tax loophole for corporations with their own insurance policies, known as captive insurers, so that all insurance companies pay premiums taxes. It is estimated to generate around $53 million over the next decade.

    SB 5315 had bipartisan sponsorship and was passed nearly unanimously with only one vote of opposition between both houses. The legislation was requested by Democratic Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, who wants to make sure that all insurance companies pay their share of taxes.

    Ensuring big corporations pay their share is an important step toward balancing our state's tax code. Vote “Maintained” on State Advisory Vote 38.

    In the most recent legislative session, lawmakers passed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5315, which creates a 2% tax on certain insurance premiums. In effect, the law would close a tax loophole for corporations with their own insurance policies, known as captive insurers, so that all insurance companies pay premiums taxes. It is estimated to generate around $53 million over the next decade.

    SB 5315 had bipartisan sponsorship and was passed nearly unanimously with only one vote of opposition between both houses. The legislation was requested by Democratic Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, who wants to make sure that all insurance companies pay their share of taxes.

    Ensuring big corporations pay their share is an important step toward balancing our state's tax code. Vote “Maintained” on State Advisory Vote 38.

    • Endorsed By: The Stranger

Pasco City Council

Pasco City Council, District #3, Position #3

No Recommendation

We do not have a recommendation for Pasco City Council, District 3, Position 3. Councilmember Saul Martinez is not running for re-election. The candidates in this relatively low-information race are Nikki Torres and Leo Perales. Torres was previously the president of the Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber and currently works as a partnerships manager for Western Governors University. Her campaign platform includes using permitting and zoning to address affordable housing and bringing new businesses to the city but does not contain specific details for how these policies would be implemented.

Perales is an assistant manager for a technical consultants firm. He opposes tax reforms that would help balance Washington's upside-down tax code but does mention he would prioritize the use of union workers for future infrastructure projects. Perales has also been involved with the Tri-Cities Community Work Group on Community Policing.

Write in a progressive of your choice for Pasco City Council, District 3.

Pasco City Council, Position #3

No Recommendation

We do not have a recommendation for Pasco City Council, District 3, Position 3. Councilmember Saul Martinez is not running for re-election and the candidates to replace him in this relatively low-information race are Nikki Torres and Leo Perales.

Torres was previously the president of the Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber and currently works as a partnerships manager for Western Governors University. Her campaign platform includes using permitting and zoning to address affordable housing and bringing new businesses to the city but does not contain specific details for how these policies would be implemented.

Perales is an assistant manager for a technical consulting firm. He opposes tax reforms that would help balance Washington's upside-down tax code but does mention he would prioritize the use of union workers for future infrastructure projects. Perales has also been involved with the Tri-Cities Community Work Group on Community Policing.

Pasco City Council, District #1

  • Blanche Barajas photo

    Blanche Barajas

    Facebook

  • Blanche Barajas is running unopposed for Pasco City Council, District 1. She was elected to the city council in 2018 and as mayor pro-tem in 2020. Barajas works with the Community Health Plan of Washington doing community outreach to people who do not have access to health services and is a board member with Elijah Family Homes. She also received a Public Servant of the Year award in 2018.

    Barajas is unopposed and deserves your vote for Pasco City Council, District 1.

    Blanche Barajas

    Blanche Barajas is running unopposed for Pasco City Council, District 1. She was elected to the city council in 2018 and as mayor pro-tem in 2020.

    Blanche Barajas

    Blanche Barajas is running unopposed for Pasco City Council, District 1. She was elected to the city council in 2018 and as mayor pro-tem in 2020.

Pasco City Council, District #4

No Recommendation

We do not have a recommendation for Pasco City Council, District 4. Incumbent Councilmember Pete Serrano is running for re-election unopposed.

In December of 2020, while the COVID-19 pandemic continued to rage, Serrano introduced an ordinance for the council to disregard the restrictions put in place by Gov. Inslee to keep Washingtonians safe. Write in a progressive candidate of your choice for Pasco City Council, District 4.

Pasco City Council, District #6

  • Craig Maloney photo

    Craig Maloney

    Website Facebook

  • Craig Maloney is running for re-election to Pasco City Council, District 6. Maloney works for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and co-founded the Pasco Taco Crawl, an annual event to raised money for local Boys and Girls Clubs and support businesses in the community. His campaign is emphasizing bringing more jobs to the area, ensuring all children in Pasco are set up to succeed, and focusing on diversity as one of the strengths of the community. In his time on the council, Maloney served as mayor pro-tem for two years and as the vice-chair of the Regional Public Facilities District Board.

    Maloney is unopposed in the race for Pasco City Council, District 6 and deserves your vote.

    Craig Maloney

    Craig Maloney is running for re-election to Pasco City Council, District 6. Maloney works for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and co-founded the Pasco Taco Crawl, an annual event to raised money for local Boys and Girls Clubs and support businesses in the community.

    Craig Maloney

    Craig Maloney is running for re-election to Pasco City Council, District 6. Maloney works for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and co-founded the Pasco Taco Crawl, an annual event to raised money for local Boys and Girls Clubs and support businesses in the community.