City of Woodinville

Michelle Evans is the owner of a strategic marketing consultancy business. She has volunteered as a Girl Scout leader and Habitat for Humanity, and on the board of directors for the Whatcom County Boys and Girls Club.

Evans' candidacy is focused on improving the quality of life for residents through increasing affordable housing options, protecting parks and open spaces, and supporting more diverse voices in the city. She would advocate for the creation of an affordable housing trust, selectively relax zoning, and offer developers incentives to achieve the first priority. Evans also supports funding a parks and recreation center, creating a diversity council, and adding more safe sidewalks and bike lanes. She is backed by progressive endorsements, including a local Democratic group and environmental advocates.

Phil Mark was appointed to this seat in July 2021 after Councilmember Charles Price resigned. Mark has worked as a volunteer for the Woodinville Wine Country Visitor Center and in his homeowner's association board. Choosing a new council member from two candidates for the race - Mark and Michelle Evans - was unusual. As a very new council member, Mark's record and policy positions have yet to be fully seen. He states that if voters retain him, he will encourage small and local businesses and low-cost housing, promote youth recreation opportunities, and support tourism.

We lean towards Evans for her more progressive platform and her community support.

Robin Lynne White is challenging incumbent Rachel Best-Campbell for Woodinville City Council, Position 3. White works in product management for a lung disease diagnostics company. She volunteers with events and organizations researching cures for cancer.

White is running on a progressive platform that includes instituting environmental protections, increasing and improving transit options, supporting small Woodinville businesses, and creating affordable housing. She has earned a number of key endorsements in this race from our partner organizations and the local Democrats.

Councilmember Rachel Best-Campbell is running for re-election on a moderate platform that includes expanding public green spaces, reducing traffic congestion, and opposing the Woodinville transfer station. Since joining the council in 2019, she has not been a strong progressive voice and has been particularly disappointing on climate action.

Robin Lynne White is the best choice in this race for Position 3 on the Woodinville City Council. She deserves your vote to bring strong progressive leadership to city hall.

Incumbent Mike Millman is running unopposed for his seat on the Woodinville City Council.

He was appointed to fill Mayor Elaine Cook's Position 4 seat after she decided to vacate her council seat and move out of the country in December 2020. A former station captain of the Everett Fire Department, he has twice served as Woodinville Fire District Commissioner. As the only candidate running, when elected he will serve until the term for the seat is complete in December 2023. We hope Millman will use the next two years to pursue a more ambitious progressive agenda on the Woodinville City Council.

Sarah Arndt is a Woodinville Public Spaces Commissioner who is running for Woodinville City Council, Position 5.

Many of Arndt's priorities seek to improve or expand on the city's natural and built infrastructure. Arndt wants to focus growth in the downtown core, prioritizing sustainable buildings and keeping commercial spaces affordable for small businesses. She also wants to see the city form more walkable "pocket" neighborhoods by increasing walkability, maintaining the tree canopy, and adding bike lanes. Arndt wants to also be an advocate for affordable housing with equitable zoning practices, with an eye on racial equity in public policy and distribution of city services.

Also vying for this open seat is general contractor and business owner Jesse DeGroff. DeGroff does not have a campaign website available as of late October but says that he wants to advocate for small businesses and provide more affordable housing options. However, DeGroff's available positions are not as nuanced as Arndt's, whose five years on the advisory commission has given her deeper insight into the city's needs. For example, in regards to repositioning funding from law enforcement to reduce police brutality and issues of accountability, DeGroff says that he would only seek to provide visibility on how money is spent in law enforcement. However, Arndt proposes that the city join the North Sound Response Awareness, De-escalation and Referral (RADAR) program, which would pair mental health professionals with officers on behavioral health calls, increasing the level of safety and service for officers and residents. Similarly, Arndt would examine the city's code to increase the city's housing stock on much-needed below-market rate housing, while DeGroff says more simply that he would consider those who needs starter homes.

We recommend Arndt in this race for her more detailed and more progressive platform and recommendations from progressive organizations.

James Randolph is running for Position 7 to bring new leadership to the Woodinville City Council. He has been active in the community, including serving on the King County Site Advisory Group to oppose a new waste transfer station in Woodinville. Randolph also partnered with local businesses, activists, and elected leaders to organize the Woodinville Black Lives Matter march last year. If elected, Randolph would work to bring people together for common goals, improve transparency, and promote equity across the community.

Randolph is challenging retired pharmacist Gary Harris, who was elected mayor by his fellow city council members this January. He has served on the council since 2018 and has also volunteered as a PTA president as well as president of his homeowner's association. Harris has taken a moderate and cautious approach on the council that hasn't matched the scale of needs in the community.

Randolph is the best choice for Woodinville City Council, Position 7.