• Jeni Woock photo

    Jeni Woock

    Website Facebook Endorsements Twitter
    Evergreen Future
    Evergreen Future

  • Incumbent Jeni Woock has served on the Gig Harbor City Council since 2018. She has a long volunteer record, especially around the environment, as one of the co-founders of Citizens for the Preservation of Gig Harbor and chair of the Gig Harbor Sustainability Coalition.

    Woock ran for council in 2017 on a promise of slower growth. She advocated for developers to pay their share of traffic impact fees in 2019 and voted for a six-month moratorium on residential development in 2018. Woock is also an advocate for switching from a strong mayor form of government to a council form after tumultuous leadership by Mayor Kit Kuhn.

    Also in this race is real estate agent and former commercial fisherman Robert Wiles. According to his candidate statement, he wants to see less development in the city and more historical preservation, but he does not have any concrete policy proposals or wider campaign plans available as of mid-October.

    While Woock isn't very progressive overall, she is an environmentalist and the only viable choice in this race.

    Jeni Woock

    Incumbent Jeni Woock has served on the Gig Harbor City Council since 2018. She has a long volunteer record, especially around the environment, as one of the co-founders of Citizens for the Preservation of Gig Harbor and chair of the Gig Harbor Sustainability Coalition.

    Jeni Woock

    Incumbent Jeni Woock has served on the Gig Harbor City Council since 2018. She has a long volunteer record, especially around the environment, as one of the co-founders of Citizens for the Preservation of Gig Harbor and chair of the Gig Harbor Sustainability Coalition.

City of Gig Harbor

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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

Pierce County Ballot Measures

Pierce County Charter Amendment #51

  • No Position

    Read more below to make your decision

  • Pierce County Charter Amendment 51 concerns Section 4.10 in the county charter which lists prosecuting attorney as a partisan office. If passed, this amendment would instead change the elected prosecuting attorney position to a nonpartisan office where candidates can't list a party affiliation.

    Support for this amendment doesn't fall along traditional partisan lines, with both Democrats and Republicans on each side.

    Supporters say making the office nonpartisan reflects the office’s role to administer justice fairly for all.

    Opponents say maintaining partisan labels provides greater transparency in elections and - given the stark, far-right trends in today’s Republican party - helps voters make an informed choice based on their values.

     

    While not clear-cut, we lean against this ballot measure to maximize transparency on the ballot.

    Pierce County Charter Amendment 51 concerns Section 4.10 in the county charter which lists prosecuting attorney as a partisan office. If passed, this amendment would instead change the elected prosecuting attorney position to a nonpartisan office where candidates can't list a party affiliation.

    Support for this amendment doesn't fall along traditional partisan lines, with both Democrats and Republicans on each side.

    Supporters say making the office nonpartisan reflects the office’s role to administer justice fairly for all.

    Opponents say maintaining partisan labels provides greater transparency in elections and - given the stark, far-right trends in today’s Republican party - helps voters make an informed choice based on their values.

     

    While not clear-cut, we lean against this ballot measure to maximize transparency on the ballot.

Port of Tacoma

Port of Tacoma, Port Commissioner, Position #1

No Recommendation

We do not have a recommendation in this very low information race.

Navy veteran Laura Gilbert appears to be the more progressive candidate in this race but is not running an active campaign. She is challenging incumbent John McCarthy for Port of Tacoma, Commissioner Position 1. Gilbert works in mail service but was previously an electronics technician and nuclear reactor operator. In this race, she wants to focus on science-based environmental protections so that the Port of Tacoma can benefit the local economy without negatively impacting the surrounding ecosystem. Gilbert would also prioritize tribal sovereignty and strong community relationships in order to best serve the port.

McCarthy is a moderate who first joined the Port of Tacoma in 1983 and left in 1992 before rejoining in 2018 for a total of 13 years serving as a commissioner. A former longshore worker, McCarthy has been consistently moderate and is prioritizing environmental stewardship and job creation in this race. Outside of his work on the Port, he volunteers with the Mount Rainier National Park and the Tacoma General Hospital.

Port of Tacoma, Port Commissioner, Position #2

  • Elizabeth Pew photo

    Elizabeth Pew

    Website Facebook Endorsements Twitter

  • Employment specialist Elizabeth Pew is running for Port of Tacoma, Position 2. Pew serves the community as a legislative district caucus delegate, a precinct committee officer, and a member of the Tacoma Arts Commission. She has pledged not to accept any fossil fuel money during her campaign and has earned an impressive roster of community endorsements.

    Pew has a progressive vision that includes responsible environmental stewardship, economic development that doesn’t leave anyone behind, and a collaborative, efficient, and reliable working port. She wants to make sure that the port is responsive to community members and voters first and foremost, as opposed to corporate interests.

    We recommend Pew for new leadership that will prioritize sustainability at the Port of Tacoma.

    Elizabeth Pew

    Submitted by alexwhite on Mon, 09/27/2021 - 17:20

    Employment specialist Elizabeth Pew is running for Port of Tacoma, Position 2. Pew serves the community as a legislative district caucus delegate, a precinct committee officer, and a member of the Tacoma Arts Commission.

    Elizabeth Pew

    Submitted by alexwhite on Mon, 09/27/2021 - 17:20

    Employment specialist Elizabeth Pew is running for Port of Tacoma, Position 2. Pew serves the community as a legislative district caucus delegate, a precinct committee officer, and a member of the Tacoma Arts Commission.

  • Dick Marzano photo

    Dick Marzano

    Facebook

  • Incumbent Commissioner Dick Marzano is running to retain Port of Tacoma, Position 2. Marzano was first elected commissioner in 1995 and serves on the executive committee for the Puget Sound Regional Council. Before his career in public service, Marzano spent 52 years working in Tacoma as a longshoreman and was also the president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 23.

    If re-elected, Marzano wants to prioritize environmental protections and job creation. With his background as a longshoreman, Marzano knows that the two issues are connected and that those who live and work near the port are directly affected by its environmental impact. However, Marzano has not been supportive of protecting our communities from pollution from the proposed LNG facility.

    Dick Marzano

    Submitted by alexwhite on Mon, 09/27/2021 - 17:20

    Incumbent Commissioner Dick Marzano is running to retain Port of Tacoma, Position 2. Marzano was first elected commissioner in 1995 and serves on the executive committee for the Puget Sound Regional Council.

    Dick Marzano

    Submitted by alexwhite on Mon, 09/27/2021 - 17:20

    Incumbent Commissioner Dick Marzano is running to retain Port of Tacoma, Position 2. Marzano was first elected commissioner in 1995 and serves on the executive committee for the Puget Sound Regional Council.

    • Endorsed By: Teamsters Joint Council 28 , Pierce County Central Labor Council

Port of Tacoma, Port Commissioner, Position #4

  • Mary Bacon photo

    Mary Bacon

    Website Endorsements

  • Mary Bacon is running for Port of Tacoma, Commissioner Position 4. Bacon is an environmental scientist, health physicist, and veteran. She served as the elected president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 12 where she advocated for workers’ rights during multiple successful contract negotiations.

    If elected, Bacon hopes to address traffic congestion in and around the port, help foster greater economic growth, and ensure environmental stewardship that protects the unique estuarine ecosystem. She would prioritize science-backed climate policy and wants to see ports along the coast working together. Bacon has been endorsed by the Washington Conservation Voters, which sets her apart from her opponent despite listing similar platforms on their websites.

    Incumbent commissioner Don Meyer is running to retain the Position 4 seat he assumed after first being elected in 2010. Before that, Meyer served as the deputy director of the Port of Tacoma and the executive director of the Foss Waterway Development Authority. If re-elected, he wants to continue pursuing a more conservative agenda focused on modernizing terminals and waterways, but also intends to limit revenue, putting many improvements beyond reach.

    Mary Bacon is the best choice in this race to improve the port’s environment policies and advocate for the workers who keep Tacoma’s port running.

    Mary Bacon

    Submitted by alexwhite on Tue, 09/28/2021 - 12:40

    Mary Bacon is running for Port of Tacoma, Commissioner Position 4. Bacon is an environmental scientist, health physicist, and veteran.

    Mary Bacon

    Submitted by alexwhite on Tue, 09/28/2021 - 12:40

    Mary Bacon is running for Port of Tacoma, Commissioner Position 4. Bacon is an environmental scientist, health physicist, and veteran.

Gig Harbor Mayor

Gig Harbor Mayor

  • Tracie Markley photo

    Tracie Markley

    Website Facebook

  • Real estate agent Tracie Markley is running unopposed for mayor of Gig Harbor. Markley has served as a city council member in Position 4 since 2019 and served as a city parks commissioner for two years prior.

    Markley states that her priorities for the office include transparency and local control of growth. She is also committed to leading the city through a thoughtful and collaborative process to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    Markley has earned your vote for mayor of Gig Harbor. 

    Tracie Markley

    Real estate agent Tracie Markley is running unopposed for mayor of Gig Harbor. Markley has served as a city council member in Position 4 since 2019 and served as a city parks commissioner for two years prior.

    Tracie Markley

    Real estate agent Tracie Markley is running unopposed for mayor of Gig Harbor. Markley has served as a city council member in Position 4 since 2019 and served as a city parks commissioner for two years prior.

Gig Harbor City Council

Gig Harbor City Council, Position #1

  • Jeni Woock photo

    Jeni Woock

    Website Facebook Endorsements Twitter
    Evergreen Future
    Evergreen Future

  • Incumbent Jeni Woock has served on the Gig Harbor City Council since 2018. She has a long volunteer record, especially around the environment, as one of the co-founders of Citizens for the Preservation of Gig Harbor and chair of the Gig Harbor Sustainability Coalition.

    Woock ran for council in 2017 on a promise of slower growth. She advocated for developers to pay their share of traffic impact fees in 2019 and voted for a six-month moratorium on residential development in 2018. Woock is also an advocate for switching from a strong mayor form of government to a council form after tumultuous leadership by Mayor Kit Kuhn.

    Also in this race is real estate agent and former commercial fisherman Robert Wiles. According to his candidate statement, he wants to see less development in the city and more historical preservation, but he does not have any concrete policy proposals or wider campaign plans available as of mid-October.

    While Woock isn't very progressive overall, she is an environmentalist and the only viable choice in this race.

    Jeni Woock

    Incumbent Jeni Woock has served on the Gig Harbor City Council since 2018. She has a long volunteer record, especially around the environment, as one of the co-founders of Citizens for the Preservation of Gig Harbor and chair of the Gig Harbor Sustainability Coalition.

    Jeni Woock

    Incumbent Jeni Woock has served on the Gig Harbor City Council since 2018. She has a long volunteer record, especially around the environment, as one of the co-founders of Citizens for the Preservation of Gig Harbor and chair of the Gig Harbor Sustainability Coalition.

Gig Harbor City Council, Position #2

  • Roger Henderson photo

    Roger Henderson

    Website Facebook Endorsements

  • Roger Henderson is a member of the Gig Harbor Parks Commission and a former civil engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He states that if elected, he will aim for sustainable growth and to improve community walkability and accessibility to shopping, parks, and more.

    He is running against controversial educator John Skansi who does not have a detailed platform available as of early October. Skansi's official voters' guide statement says that he is running to bring more local control to the community and smarter economic development, though he doesn't elaborate on what that entails.

    Skansi was recently barred from substitute teaching in at least four Seattle schools for a wide range of conduct offenses, including singling out Black students, failing to properly wear a mask, and failing to actually teach in his classes. Skansi also stood with armed protestors in opposition to a youth demonstration for Black lives. In a video from the event, he is shown holding a Trump sign and taunting kids.

    Skansi's divisive and inflammatory does not speak to good leadership for Gig Harbor. We recommend Henderson in this race because of his longtime experience in sustainability and environmental work.

    Roger Henderson is a member of the Gig Harbor Parks Commission and a former civil engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He states that if elected, he will aim for sustainable growth and to improve community walkability and accessibility to shopping, parks, and more.

    He is running against controversial educator John Skansi who does not have a detailed platform available as of early October. Skansi's official voters' guide statement says that he is running to bring more local control to the community and smarter economic development, though he doesn't elaborate on what that entails.

    Skansi was recently barred from substitute teaching in at least four Seattle schools for a wide range of conduct offenses, including singling out Black students, failing to properly wear a mask, and failing to actually teach in his classes. Skansi also stood with armed protestors in opposition to a youth demonstration for Black lives. In a video from the event, he is shown holding a Trump sign and taunting kids.

    Skansi's divisive and inflammatory does not speak to good leadership for Gig Harbor. We recommend Henderson in this race because of his longtime experience in sustainability and environmental work.

    Roger Henderson

    Roger Henderson is a member of the Gig Harbor Parks Commission and a former civil engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He states that if elected, he will aim for sustainable growth and to improve community walkability and accessibility to shopping, parks, and more.

Gig Harbor City Council, Position #3

  • Brenda Lykins photo

    Brenda Lykins

    Website Facebook Endorsements

  • Brenda Lykins is a nurse practitioner and founder of the Southwest Washington Perinatal Education Consortium. She has also volunteered in the community as a Girl Scout leader and with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and March of Dimes, among other organizations.

    Much of her campaign is focused on planning out the city's growth and infrastructure needs in the years to come. Lykins is advocating for improvements such as expanded sidewalks and bike paths, traffic calming policies, and maintaining the tree canopy. She also wants to limit growth downtown and ensure that the commercial fishing industry is protected. Lykins' candidacy is endorsed by a local Democratic organization.

    Lykins is challenging incumbent Jim Franich, who served on the council from 2000 to 2010, and then was again re-elected in 2017. The council member has a conservative voting recording, including voting against honoring Indigenous people for Native American Heritage Month. He was also the sole vote against the kayak dock that will form the nexus of a potential waterfront park. Franich further displayed poor judgment this year with the endorsement of his colleague and fellow candidate John Skansi, who came into the spotlight this summer for harassing high school protestors alongside armed men at a Black Lives Matter rally.

    Brenda Lykins is the better choice in this race.

    Brenda Lykins is a nurse practitioner and founder of the Southwest Washington Perinatal Education Consortium. She has also volunteered in the community as a Girl Scout leader and with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and March of Dimes, among other organizations.

    Much of her campaign is focused on planning out the city's growth and infrastructure needs in the years to come. Lykins is advocating for improvements such as expanded sidewalks and bike paths, traffic calming policies, and maintaining the tree canopy. She also wants to limit growth downtown and ensure that the commercial fishing industry is protected. Lykins' candidacy is endorsed by a local Democratic organization.

    Lykins is challenging incumbent Jim Franich, who served on the council from 2000 to 2010, and then was again re-elected in 2017. The council member has a conservative voting recording, including voting against honoring Indigenous people for Native American Heritage Month. He was also the sole vote against the kayak dock that will form the nexus of a potential waterfront park. Franich further displayed poor judgment this year with the endorsement of his colleague and fellow candidate John Skansi, who came into the spotlight this summer for harassing high school protestors alongside armed men at a Black Lives Matter rally.

    Brenda Lykins is the better choice in this race.

    Brenda Lykins

    Brenda Lykins is a nurse practitioner and founder of the Southwest Washington Perinatal Education Consortium. She has also volunteered in the community as a Girl Scout leader and with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and March of Dimes, among other organizations.

Gig Harbor City Council, Position #7

No Recommendation

We do not have a recommendation for Gig Harbor City Council, Position 7. Neither candidate's plans for the city nor their endorsements seem particularly progressive.

Incumbent Spencer Abersold has served on the council since 2018. He is a station manager at KGHP who also volunteers as a club advisor at Peninsula High School. He states that he wants to guard the community's cultural identity and heritage, though he does not expand on what that means and does not have a campaign site available as of mid-October.

Seth Storset works in the maritime industry as a director of safety, and volunteers on the boards of Permission to Start Dreaming and Foss Waterway Seaport. He is running, like Abersold, to protect the city's identity and balance infrastructure needs with natural habitats. He lists priorities including maintaining Gig Harbor's maritime heritage on his website but doesn't provide details.

Peninsula School Board

Peninsula School Board, Director, District #2

  • Jennifer Butler photo

    Jennifer Butler

    Website Facebook

  • Former Naval officer and architect Jennifer Butler is running for school board to help the district, students, and families recover from COVID and thrive. She is the vice president of the Peninsula Schools Education Foundation, a volunteer with the Minter Creek PTA, and was a volunteer chair for Stand Up for Peninsula Schools, which helped pass the 2019 bond for school funding to bring four new elementary schools to Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula.

    With all the difficulties of the pandemic for students and families, Butler is strongly advocating for flexible emotional and academic support systems. She states that increased counseling services, opportunities for individualized education programs (IEPs), and school-based coordinators are needed to help parents and kids navigate these times. She states clearly that the school board should prioritize in-person learning while following the statewide mask mandate, which safeguards the health of staff, students, and families. Butler wants to provide accountability and communications from the school board to families and establish a formal mentorship program to pair students with local volunteers who want to help students succeed.

    Her opponent is Linda Ader, who states that she is a former environmental consultant. Ader is pushing a far-right conspiracy that aims to remove accurate, historical discussions from schools, depriving kids of the opportunity to have age-appropriate discussions and honest reckoning with the nation's past. She states that efforts to provide equity and inclusion measures for students could teach them that their country is bad. Ader refused to provide evidence for these divisive claims when questioned by the Tacoma News Tribune in July. In a recent October interview, Ader states that many of the district's challenges around infrastructure, vocational options, and internet access have been addressed, and the rest of her campaign will continue to focus on turning schools into a battleground on the topics of history and health education.

    Butler's education experience and advocacy for all students make her the clear choice in this race. We recommend Jennifer Butler for Peninsula School Board Director, District 2.

    Former Naval officer and architect Jennifer Butler is running for school board to help the district, students, and families recover from COVID and thrive. She is the vice president of the Peninsula Schools Education Foundation, a volunteer with the Minter Creek PTA, and was a volunteer chair for Stand Up for Peninsula Schools, which helped pass the 2019 bond for school funding to bring four new elementary schools to Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula.

    With all the difficulties of the pandemic for students and families, Butler is strongly advocating for flexible emotional and academic support systems. She states that increased counseling services, opportunities for individualized education programs (IEPs), and school-based coordinators are needed to help parents and kids navigate these times. She states clearly that the school board should prioritize in-person learning while following the statewide mask mandate, which safeguards the health of staff, students, and families. Butler wants to provide accountability and communications from the school board to families and establish a formal mentorship program to pair students with local volunteers who want to help students succeed.

    Her opponent is Linda Ader, who states that she is a former environmental consultant. Ader is pushing a far-right conspiracy that aims to remove accurate, historical discussions from schools, depriving kids of the opportunity to have age-appropriate discussions and honest reckoning with the nation's past. She states that efforts to provide equity and inclusion measures for students could teach them that their country is bad. Ader refused to provide evidence for these divisive claims when questioned by the Tacoma News Tribune in July. In a recent October interview, Ader states that many of the district's challenges around infrastructure, vocational options, and internet access have been addressed, and the rest of her campaign will continue to focus on turning schools into a battleground on the topics of history and health education.

    Butler's education experience and advocacy for all students make her the clear choice in this race. We recommend Jennifer Butler for Peninsula School Board Director, District 2.

    Jennifer Butler

    Former Naval officer and architect Jennifer Butler is running for school board to help the district, students, and families recover from COVID and thrive.

Peninsula School Board, Director, District #5

  • Juanita Beard photo

    Juanita Beard

    Website Facebook Endorsements

  • Juanita Beard is running a strong campaign for Peninsula School Board Director in District 5. Beard is a therapist, former social worker, and health care case manager. She runs a small business for her counseling services in Gig Harbor. Beard has two school-aged children currently in the Peninsula school system.

    Beard has a progressive vision for the position. Her priorities include diversity, equity, and inclusion in the school system and the board itself, expanded mental health resources for students, making sure the school board is an accessible government body, and supporting teachers and staff. Beard hopes to bring her vast experience in listening and healing to the district as it recovers from the struggles brought by online learning and pandemic pressures. She has earned progressive and Democratic support in this race.

    Beard is challenging conservative incumbent David Olson in this race. Olson is the current president of the Peninsula School Board after being first elected in 2013. He works in the government banking division of U.S. Bank in Tacoma. Olson has expressed opposition to some basic COVID-19 safety protocols in schools and objects to teaching students about the impacts of racism.

    We need leaders who will follow science and public health recommendations to keep our kids safe. Beard is the best choice in this race and deserves your vote to serve Peninsula School District No. 401 as the next District 5 director.

    Juanita Beard

    Juanita Beard is running a strong campaign for Peninsula School Board Director in District 5. Beard is a therapist, former social worker, and health care case manager. She runs a small business for her counseling services in Gig Harbor.

    Juanita Beard

    Juanita Beard is running a strong campaign for Peninsula School Board Director in District 5. Beard is a therapist, former social worker, and health care case manager. She runs a small business for her counseling services in Gig Harbor.

    • Endorsed By: Fuse , Peninsula Education Association, 26th Legislative District Democrats