35th Legislative District

Incumbent Michael Shepard is running to continue representing District 1 as a Port of Bellingham commissioner. Shepard first joined the port in 2018 and serves on a number of committees including the Whatcom County Homeless Strategies Workgroup and the Small Cities Partnership. In addition, Shepard teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on anthropology and environmental studies online at Goucher College and Western Washington University.

During his first term, Shepard has focused on community- and environment-centered policymaking. His campaign priorities include revitalizing the waterfront, increasing tourism and commerce, and protecting the port’s ecosystem. He also wants to expand broadband access, affordable housing options, renewable energy production, and family-wage jobs.

CEO of Mills Electric, John Huntley, is challenging Shepard for the port commissioner seat. The lion's share of Huntley's campaign focus is on attracting industries to the port. He mentions the port using natural gas for "green energy", but the Shepard and the rest of the commission are already leading on the issue. The port is already using 100% renewable energy through wind power purchases and partnering with a local solar panel manufacturer to increase the generation of clean energy. Huntley is also featured in a local conservative newsletter where he shares that he is running to prioritize business and corporate interests.

Shepard has earned an impressive number of endorsements from progressive organizations and elected leaders and will continue bringing much-needed progressive leadership to the port as a commissioner. He deserves your vote for Port of Bellingham in District 1.

Small business owner Kelly Krieger is running for Port of Bellingham Commissioner in District 2. Krieger is active with the Whatcom County Democrats and has a professional background in business and marketing. She also served on the board of directors for the Puget Consumers Cooperative.

Krieger's campaign is focused on climate-friendly economic development, municipal broadband, affordable workforce housing, and aviation innovation. She wants to make the port a place for job creation and clean energy leadership.

Krieger is challenging incumbent Commissioner Ken Bell in District 2. Bell is a former Whatcom County planning commissioner and Whatcom County charter review commissioner, and he also currently serves as the president of a private company that cleans up contaminated soil. Unfortunately, Bell is involved with the Whatcom Republicans and played a role in a police-led sweep of a homeless encampment on port property earlier this year. He is not a progressive candidate.

We recommend Krieger for the Port of Bellingham in District 2 because of her progressive values and broad partner support.

Incumbent David Simpson is running to retain his seat as Commissioner of District 1 for the Port of Everett, which he was elected to in 2019 to fill an unexpired term. Simpson also works as a member of the Committee for Housing and Community Development. He has an extensive record in public service, having served as an Everett City Council member, a Washington state representative for the 38th Legislative District, and a member of the Snohomish County Charter Review Commission representing county council District 2. Simpson has also worked in the aviation industry as a manufacturing engineer and aviation mechanic.

Simpson's campaign platform prioritizes economic development, protecting the environment, and living wages. He has a slate of projects underway, including the Waterfront Place Central Development, that he believes will help Everett and the port recover from the community and economic impact of the pandemic.

Simpson faces a challenge from Scott Murphy, an Everett City Council member since 2013. Murphy strongly emphasizes his business background and has previously boasted of expanding Everett’s police budget during his time as a council member despite public support to reallocate some of those funds to community alternatives. If elected, he would push the port in a more politically conservative direction.

Snohomish County has benefitted from Simpson's commitment to bringing community-minded leadership to the port. David Simpson is the clear choice for Port of Everett Commissioner in District 1.

Bob Iyall is running for the Port of Olympia, District 2. Iyall is a Nisqually Tribal Elder who works in management with the Medicine Creek Enterprise Corporation (MCEC). He has also served as a member of the Nisqually Board of Economic Development and has been a member of the Bricklayers Union for over 40 years. Iyall's platform includes healing parts of the local environment and revising the port's approach to operations as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

His opponent in this race is Jessie Simmons, an Army veteran and former political consultant. Simmons also served as a board member with the Lacey Gold Star Memorial Foundation. His campaign is emphasizing protecting good-paying jobs and balancing organized labor with environmentalism. Additionally, Simmons wants to create an electric ferry service to run from the port to places like Tacoma and Bremerton.

Iyall is the best choice for Port of Olympia, District 2.

Joel Hansen is running a progressive campaign for Port of Olympia commissioner in District 3. He works at a solar energy company, and serves on both the Port of Olympia Citizens Advisory Committee and Tumwater Planning Commission and as a precinct committee officer. Hansen wants to put his expertise in finance and environmental science to use in order to strengthen the port economy without compromising on climate action.

If elected, Hansen wants to take a holistic approach to the commissioner position in order to generate living-wage jobs, attract local eco-friendly businesses, and engage an equity lens for port policymaking. He says he will listen to constituents about port issues and seek to better the communications between commissioners and those who live and work near the ort. Further, Hansen wants to advance environmental justice, and social justice broadly. He is supported by a number of local progressives and community leaders in this race.

Real estate broker and attorney Amy Evans is the other candidate in this race. Evans’ priorities include public access to port property, environmental stewardship, and job growth. Unfortunately, she lacks both a background in community leadership and widespread support in this race.

We recommend Hansen for Port of Olympia in District 3 to bring strong progressive leadership and a new perspective to the port.

Incumbent and businesses consultant Ryan Calkins has successfully pushed the port in a more progressive direction during his first term. The current Port of Seattle commissioners have enacted several crucial reforms over the last few years, including ensuring at least a $15 minimum wage for airline catering workers and starting an accelerator mentorship program aimed at increasing access to contracting jobs for women- and minority-owned businesses.

If re-elected, Calkins states that he will continue to lead on mitigating the environmental impacts of the airport and port operations, promoting living wage jobs, improving immigration policy, and more. He has earned broad support from progressive and Democratic Party organizations.

His opponent is Norman Sigler, the owner of a consulting firm that focuses on finding diverse executive leadership. He serves as a precinct committee officer and is on the executive board of the King County Democrats Central Committee. Sigler wants to focus the port on environmental and economic justice, stating that he would invest port profits into improving neighboring communities. He states that he would promote a green economy, work to end systemic racism and keep the port honest, but does not have as detailed of a policy agenda. For example, in a forum for Port of Seattle candidates, Sigler stated that he would seek "putting mandates" on cruises and airlines, while Calkins specifically stated that he would support electric aviation, cleaner fuels, and high-speed ground transportation over short flights.

Calkins has an excellent record on the port and broad support from the progressive community. Calkins is the best choice for Port of Seattle, Position #1.

Hamdi Mohamed is running for Seattle Port Commissioner, Position 3 with a visionary agenda for the port that centers the needs of the workers, the environment, and the broader community. Mohamed's family fled Somalia and settled in the SeaTac region when she was 5 years old, with her mother working in the airport. Mohamed now works in the King County Office of Equity and Social Justice as a policy advisor and has helped manage the millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds that went to community-based organizations in King County.

As a resident of SeaTac, Mohamed lives in one of the communities most affected by airport pollution. Given that none of the current commissioners live in South King County, she seeks to bridge the gap between port policy and lived experience. She wants to expand the port's efforts to transition from fossil fuels to clean energy and restore habitats for salmon and orcas. Through greater direct partnership with workers, Mohamed wants to protect unions, provide pandemic relief, and prioritize workplace health.

In our interview with Mohamed, we were incredibly impressed by her drive to improve the lives of those who work and live near the port. One recent example of her accomplishment was her work with Beyoncé and Tina Knowles to provide free coronavirus testing and supplies to local organizations and working with the King County Immigrant and Refugee Commission to center language access in COVID-19 relief.

Mohamed is running against incumbent Stephanie Bowman, who has served on the commission since 2013. Bowman is proud of the port commission's progress on many fronts, including expanding youth job training opportunities in partnership with Seattle Public Schools, making stormwater improvements, and developing a noise insulation program for homes close to the airport. She states that one of her most important accomplishments was tripling the number of interns, many of which were youth of color from marginalized communities. If re-elected, Bowman would focus on improving economic opportunity at the port for all, including union members, women-owned businesses, lower-income workers, and more.

However, we were extremely disappointed when Bowman voted in 2015 to allow Shell Oil to base its arctic drilling operations in Seattle. In addition, she voted to use taxpayer money to file a legal challenge against SeaTac's $15 per hour minimum wage. In our interview with Bowman this year, she stated that she had been on the commission for less than six months before the wage increase vote, and believed that the council did not have the regulatory authority to make the change. On the Shell vote, she said that the commission was not transparent enough about it and that she would rather have ships come to Seattle ports where the environmental standards are the highest.

We believe Mohamed would be a stronger leader for progress at the port and would bring much-needed representation to the commission for South King County communities. We strongly support Hamdi Mohamed for her dedication to the community, her progressive agenda, and her backing by progressive organizations.

Incumbent Peter Steinbrueck is running for his second term in Position 4 on the Seattle Port Commission. He is an architect and former Seattle City Council member who has also served on the boards of many organizations in his history of public service, including the Washington Environmental Council, AIA Center for Civic Leadership, and Walkable Livable Communities Institute.

If re-elected, Steinbrueck has vowed to push the status quo on the economic, social, and political issues that matter to everyone in the region. In our interview, he stated that he supports a just and fair transition to clean fuels, one that includes electrification at the port as well as reducing ultrafine particulates and other kinds of pollution. He points to the port's job and apprenticeship programs, many of which offer opportunities to youth of color, women, and others as indicators of the types of policies he wants to continue moving forward. Environmentalism is his great passion, he states, and he believes that as the port recovers from the pandemic and evolves that he would continue to support climate justice at all levels, from workers' health, habitat restoration, and more.

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.

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.

Commission president Eric LaBrant was elected for his first six-year term in 2015 on a promise to protect our communities from fossil fuels pollution. He has upheld that promise, joining his fellow commission members in putting out a statement against future bulk fossil fuel terminals in the port, a rare stance for ports in our region. LaBrant has also supported wind energy jobs, helped pass the port's renewable energy policy, and led businesses through the COVID crisis and recovery. If re-elected, LaBrant states that he will focus on passing a climate action plan and continue to develop more job opportunities at the port.

Opposing LaBrant is Greg Seifert. Seifert is the former president and CEO of Biggs Insurance and previously served as a Republican precinct committee officer. He states that as commissioner he would emphasize improving regional multimodal transportation planning to attract new businesses to the port.

While Seifert has yet to put out a detailed policy agenda, LaBrant has already proven himself as an environmentally minded and forward-thinking commissioner. LaBrant and Don Orange already form a two-person progressive team on the three-person body. We recommend LaBrant in order to continue pushing for progress on the Port of Vancouver in District #2.

Incumbent and Navy veteran Greg Wheeler is currently serving his first term as mayor. He previously served for eight years on the city council and is also on the boards of Kitsap Public Health, Kitsap Economic Development Alliance, Kitsap Transit, and others.

During the height of the pandemic, Wheeler and the city council worked to keep residents safe and curtail the worst of COVID-19's economic effects by investing in technology for remote schooling and offering rental and utility bill assistance. Another recent benchmark success is the soon-to-be-open Pendleton Place apartment complex, which will help permanently house and provide services for people struggling with addiction and mental health issues. If re-elected, Wheeler states that he is dedicated to funding the Bremerton Rental Assistance Program, continuing the weatherization program, stabilizing rent costs, and increasing the city's housing stock.

Wheeler's opponent is William "Bill" Broughton, who served as the Bremerton city attorney from 1982 to 1987. He is also the former president of the Kitsap Building Association and is pushing for more development in the city. He states that if elected he will triple the transportation funding for downtown transit options, fix road crossings, and increase biking and walking infrastructure. Broughton also wants to see more dense, multi-use buildings utilized downtown, as well as a loosening of residential building regulations.

Wheeler's broad support by a number of local Democratic groups and progressive elected officials as well as his efforts to keep Bremerton livable and healthy for all makes him the better option for mayor of Bremerton.

Jennifer Chamberlin is technically running unopposed for Bremerton City Council, District 1. Her opponent, Tony Stephens announced to the Kitsap Sun in mid-September that he was dropping out of the race, and encouraged voters to choose Chamberlin.

Chamberlin works for the Bremerton School District, and has served five years so far as a City of Bremerton Arts Commissioner, and is a proud member of the Bremerton Professional Education Association. While more detailed policy stances don't appear to be available, Chamberlain says she aims to help those in crisis rise up with dignity, supports reproductive health for all, and wants to create a safer and more inclusive city for those who have been disenfranchised.

Stephens is the former president of the Kitsap County Republican Party. His name will remain on the ballot because he dropped out after the deadline. Were he to win, the council would need to fill the position by appointment. We recommend Chamberlin for Bremerton City Council, District 1.

Melissa Watkinson is a social scientist who has taught at U.W. Bothell in several roles. She is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and a descendent of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and she has worked with Indigenous Sisters Resistance and Seattle's Environmental Justice Committee.

At the core of Watkinson's platform is a commitment to equity and a sustainable vision for the area. As a council member, she wants to encourage mixed-income housing, provide more accessible transportation, support small business programs, and incentivize the protection of the local ecosystems.

She is running against Jeff Coughlin, a director working remotely on the NASA Kepler Mission and a Bremerton planning commissioner. Coughlin's campaign has three main priorities - improving input and communication from voters, reinvesting the revenue from increased growth into city services, and supporting local businesses.

Watkinson offers the most thoughtful and progressive platform in this race. We recommend Watkinson for Bremerton City Council in District 3.

Incumbent Michael Goodnow is serving in his first term on the Bremerton City Council. He is a Navy veteran who has been deeply involved in volunteering through community organizations such as Habitat for Humanity Kitsap County, Kitsap Humane Society, Kitsap Pride Network, and the Downtown Bremerton Association.

Goodnow voted for - and is the vice chair of - the Race Equity Advisory Committee, and has supported body cameras for more oversight and transparency in law enforcement. He also joined his fellow council members in a unanimous vote to relax accessory dwelling unit (ADU) restrictions, which will help increase the city's housing stock. If re-elected, Goodnow wants to continue to expand affordable and low-income housing in the city, fill vacant buildings with small businesses and increase road and pedestrian accessibility.

His opponent Matthew Adams is a veteran and a self-proclaimed "regular guy." Adams' Twitter page is filled with personal attacks against Goodnow, seemingly motivated by Goodnow's anti-racist principles. Adams has few policy proposals available. He states that he wants to see more parking enforcement and no additional utility taxes.

Goodnow is by far the better choice in this race and has earned a second term for Bremerton City Council in District 5.

Anna Mockler is a former professor and wetland scientist who is running for Bremerton City Council, Position 6 to support sustainability.

If elected, Mockler will focus on securing grants that help low-income families secure their first home. She also wants to see more bike lanes, safe sidewalks, and the promotion of green manufacturing jobs. Unique to Mockler's campaign is her focus on housing quality. As a former insulation contractor whose family works in construction, she wants to enforce a warranty of habitability to ensure that residents have structurally safe housing. She supports union labor and believes that the city should prioritize union contracts to promote living wages and fair working conditions.

Her opponent, incumbent Mike Simpson, is one of the more conservative members of the council. In February 2021, because Simpson had been working in Japan on a work assignment for over a month, the city council voted to remove Simpson from the District 6 seat because he had spent more than 30 continuous days outside of the city. They immediately voted to appoint him, but the result is that Simpson must now run for the seat though the original term of his position would have expired in 2023. While on the council, Simpson voted against loosening accessory dwelling unit laws, which could help alleviate the affordable housing crunch. He also pushed back on the need for a race equity committee, which was established after the national conversation on racial justice to better address the concerns of Bremerton residents. Simpson is endorsed by the local county Republicans.

Mockler is widely endorsed by progressive state legislators and local Democratic organizations and is the better choice in this race.

Robin Vazquez is a Lacey Planning Commissioner running for Lacey City Council, Position 4. Her priorities include increasing access to affordable housing and providing more public transit and transportation choices. As a member of the commission, Vazquez has supported increasing the housing supply in Lacey to match the need for more affordable options. She mentions that as a certified instructor for teaching English as a second language and as a Community Emergency Response Team member, she wants to develop a city language access plan and multilingual disaster preparation.

Vazquez is running against Emma McSharry, who said her frustrations with the state's COVID regulations and homelessness spurred her to run for office. Her Facebook states that her three priorities include fiscal responsibility, supporting businesses, and cleanliness, though more detailed policies are not available on her website. This snapshot of her potential agenda, along with endorsements by the police officer's guild and Republican elected officials, indicate she would likely pursue a moderate to conservative agenda if elected.

Vazquez has earned the support of several members of the current city council, as well as a large number of city councilmembers from neighboring cities and progressive members of the state legislature. Vazquez is by far the best choice in this race.

Mayor Andy Ryder is running unopposed for re-election to the Lacey City Council.

He has served on the council since 2010, and is a member of the board of directors for thee Race, Equity, and Leadership Council (REAL) for the National League of Cities. In his time on the council, Ryder has been supportive of veterans services, the city's newly-instated commission of equity, and expanding housing options.

Michael Steadman is running unopposed for re-election to the Lacey City Council, Position 6. He is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and owner of a commercial leasing company.

Steadman is running to use his experience as a small business owner to help Lacey recover economically from the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, Steadman ran as a Democrat for Thurston County Commissioner, a campaign in which he promoted tackling water quality issues, improving alternative criminal justice options, and improving mental health services.

Carolyn Cox was elected in 2018 and is serving her first term as a councilmember for Position 7. She represents the city in several organizations, including as chair of the Intercity Transit Authority, on the Thurston County Regional Housing Council, and on the Thurston Climate Mitigation Steering Committee. Cox is now running for mayor to bring these issues to the forefront in a combined local and regional approach to continue to improve the lives of residents.

Cox notes that there is not enough housing to meet the needs of residents, especially the unsheltered. She wants to continue working with the housing council to build more lower-cost housing. The council also just unanimously approved the creation of mobile outreach teams, who will work with police to contact and help those who are homeless or in crisis. She supports the creation and expansion of bike lanes, safe pedestrian walkways, and public transit. As the city begins to recover from the pandemic, Cox states that the $1 million grant fund to small businesses is just the first step in making sure that residents and establishments get back on their feet.

Cox faces a challenge from Felix Peguero-Reyes, a U.S. Army veteran who now works as a financial advisor. He has not released a detailed platform but states he wants to focus on economic development and safety. He has been endorsed by some conservative business groups and Republican elected officials.

Cox has earned an impressive set of progressive endorsements because of her track record on the council and detailed platform. Cox is the clear choice for Lacey City Council, Position 7.

Incumbent Yến Huỳnh was appointed to the Position 2 seat in January 2021 after Jessica Bateman left the council to join the state Legislature. She is a former equity and social justice coordinator at the Washington State Department of Corrections, where she aimed to reduce recidivism and is a former Olympia planning commissioner. She is the only person of color currently serving on the council as well as the youngest member of the council.

Huỳnh's priorities include helping small businesses recover from the pandemic, working with local arts organizations, expanding affordable housing, and improving transportation for all. The council member wants to see public safety reimagined through the input of the community, and wants to see first responders and diverse community members included as part of the city's public safety decision-making process. She is endorsed by a wide slate of state senators, elected officials, city council members, unions, and other progressive organizations.

She is running against Robbi Kesler, the former general counsel for the Confederated Tribes of Chehalis, and a member of the Skokomish Tribe in Mason County. In the primary, Kesler's initial answers on homelessness in local interviews did not point to an effective strategy, with an overemphasis on private property. Kesler has since significantly expanded her platform, providing more details on her plans to address homelessness, handle waterfront development, and support collective bargaining. However, Huynh's solid track record on the council and support from the progressive community still makes her the best choice in this race.

Incumbent mayor pro tem Clark Gilman is running for re-election to his seat on the Olympia City Council, where he has served since January 2016. Previously, Gilman worked as a clean energy advocate at Climate Solutions and an organizer for the carpenters union. Currently, he works as a paraeducator at South Sound High School.

Gilman's top three campaign priorities are protecting the city's environment and natural spaces, engaging residents in city planning, and encouraging a sense of cooperation in the community. While on the council, Gilman has been an advocate for affordability requirements on tax-incentivized development, which keeps more homes and apartments affordable for all. He also worked to pass renter protections for people falling behind on payments due to COVID. Gilman and the council have also supported reverting Capitol Lake back to an estuary to support salmon populations.

His opponent is Candace Mercer, who says that she is a 'progressive' who voted for Donald Trump. Much of her writing focuses on her decision to embrace right-wing advocates and ideals. Her secondary focus is on homelessness and addiction, with a stronger focus on the latter, though the measures she suggests are largely punitive. Mercer states that the city should aggressively prosecute drug dealing and sex work, build privatized urban campsites, and push for substance abstinence.

Gilman's agenda is far more comprehensive and actually progressive, addressing the city's biggest issues at the source with services that help struggling families and prevent people from falling into poverty in the first place. Clark Gilman is the best choice for Olympia City Council, Position 4.

Dontae Payne is a former U.S. Army member and currently works as the deputy district director to Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland. Payne has also worked as the regional representative for the Olympic Peninsula and South Puget Sound to the governor's office.

Payne wants to see the city acknowledge systemic racism and support the use of an equity lens in its policymaking. On housing and homelessness, Payne states that expanded transitional and permanent supportive housing will help alleviate the crisis while providing COVID relief for small businesses and rent stabilization for commercial tenants will aid the city's economic recovery.

He also supports additional funding for body cameras, social services, mental health, addiction programs, and the city's crisis response unit. In his interview, he stated that his opinion on defunding the police was nuanced and that the city should focus on true reform, justice, and accountability.

Payne states that if elected, he would be the first Black man to ever serve on the city council. He says that his experience as a gay, Black, former military member would bring the voice of marginalized people to the table.

He is running against retired Air Force member and former firefighter Corey Gauny, who works as a management analyst for the state's Department of Licensing. The only issue listed in detail on his site is around homelessness. Gauny says that he would tackle the issues by providing resources around behavioral health, but does not address key issues like affordable housing or the need to provide shelter for the hundreds of people who sleep on the streets every night. He also mentions that he wants to focus on a vision of the city that centers businesses. Gauny is also using a Republican consultant, which further indicates he would bring a more conservative voice to the council.

Payne is the best choice in this race.

Incumbent Jim Cooper is a veteran and the CEO of United Ways of the Pacific Northwest. He is also deeply involved in the community as president of the Olympia Metropolitan Parks District, chair of the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency Board, and chair of the Regional Housing Council.

Cooper and the city council have passed several significant pieces of legislation that benefit the community. Notably, he supported the Olympia Home Fund to build new supportive permanent housing, provided funding for struggling businesses and families during the pandemic, and created a regional climate plan with neighboring cities. If re-elected, Cooper states that he will focus on housing and economic recovery, twin crises that affect everyone in the community, as well as continuing conversations on criminal justice reform.

Cooper faces a challenge from conservative Spence Weigand, an Olympia-based realtor. His three listed campaign priorities include addressing homelessness, housing, and improving the business climate. While his site doesn't go into specifics on these as of mid-October, he repeats false and misleading claims about people experiencing homelessness in Thurston County. He also criticizes efforts to clean up and supply sanitation at encampments and wants to see increased law enforcement presence and new mental health facilities. On the matter of affordable housing, he is a supporter of zoning reform on single-family zoning, as well as projects like the 478-unit West Bay Yards project, while disclosing that his real estate firm is involved in the Hardel property.

Cooper is backed by a significant number of unions, including the Lacey and Olympia firefighters' unions and United Food and Commercial Workers Local 367, as well as by Lt. Gov. Denny Heck and a large number of county and city elected officials. His track record on the council and strong support from our partners and local leaders make him the best choice in this race.

Incumbent Fred Chang is running to retain Position 6 on the Port Orchard City Council. Chang works for the State Department of Transportation in Seattle. He was elected to the council in 2005 after serving on the city’s planning commission for six years. As a community leader, Chang has been involved with the Bremerton Ferry Advisory committee, the Sidney Museum and Arts Association, and the Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce.

On the Economic Development & Tourism and Land Use committees, Chang has worked to strengthen the economic backbone of Port Orchard so that all community members have a chance to thrive. In this race, Chang is prioritizing expanding public transportation and making city government more transparent, accessible, and responsive to the residents it serves. Chang is supported by the local Democrats and elected officials in this race.

Kaylan O’Connor is challenging Chang for Position 6. O’Connor’s campaign is aligned with other right-leaning candidates running for office in Port Orchard this year. Her campaign website isn’t working as of early October and her voters statement is vague, emphasizing that she would oppose progress and prioritize business interests.

Fred Chang is the best choice for Port Orchard City Council, Position 6 and deserves to be re-elected to keep bringing community-minded improvements to the city.

Joyce Shui is an attorney and founder of the Purple School who is running for the Bellevue School Board in District 3. Shui is currently the lead senior legal counsel for a software company and has previously served on the boards of the Washington Women Lawyers and the American Lung Association of Washington. She has also volunteered at a legal clinic in the International District providing legal services to community members with low incomes.

Her campaign is emphasizing equity and empathy, as well as increasing opportunities for all students. She wants the community to be involved in school board decision-making and pledges to be a transparent leader on the board. Shui is endorsed by progressive leaders including Rep. My-Linh Thai and groups including the 41st and 48th Legislative District Democrats.

Shui is facing Faye Yang, a dietician and nutrition service director. Yang's campaign is focused on criticizing the Bellevue School District's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She is also strongly opposed to the district's efforts to promote racial equity and reduce the opportunity gap.

Yang has faced extensive criticism during the campaign for racist remarks she made about Black and Latino students. In a shocking email to the Bellevue School Board in 2018, Yang said that the lower graduation rate of Black and Latino students was due to the "genetic disparity between the races when it comes to IQ scores." This extremely racist and factually inaccurate statement harkens back to the worst of the Jim Crow era and segregated schools.

One out of every six students in the Bellevue School District is Black or Latino. Yang has clearly demonstrated that she is unqualified and uninterested in providing them a quality education. Her racism has no place in our schools or any elected office.

Shui is the clear choice for Bellevue School Board in District 3.

Jane Aras is running for the Bellevue School District Board of Directors in District 5. She has experience teaching special education and has spent the past 19 years volunteering in Bellevue schools. She is active in the PTSA, created a math and reading club for students, and introduced before-school computer programming for 4th- and 5th-grade students.

Aras understands the toll COVID-19 has taken on students and staff. She wants to prioritize bringing students back with proper support while addressing pre-pandemic issues including closing academic gaps and encouraging everyone to consider a variety of options after graduating. Aras’ campaign also focuses on equitable access to high-quality education for all, giving every student the tools they need to thrive.

Aras is facing Gregg Smith. He owns a broadband business and has been a Parent Student Teacher Association vice president. Smith has two children who he pulled out of Bellevue public schools during the COVID-19 pandemic and enrolled in private schools to receive in-person education.

Smith has been active with a small group of conservative Bellevue parents who has been spreading divisive conspiracy theories about Bellevue schools. Classrooms should be a place where kids develop their understanding of the world, but some politicians like Smith are trying to make our kids’ classrooms into political battlegrounds. Part of Smith's campaign strategy is scaring parents by spreading lies about the lessons being taught instead of supporting a historically accurate education. Like Faye Yang, Smith has also been a vocal opponent of the district's efforts to promote racial equity and reduce the opportunity gap for students of color.

Smith's track record indicates he would be a divisive and inflammatory voice who would unnecessarily politicize the school board. Aras’ experience, strong platform, and endorsements make her the clear choice for Bellevue School District Board of Directors in District 5.

Incumbent and current school board president Jenn Mason is running to retain Position 4 on the Bellingham School Board where she has served since 2017. Outside of her role as a school board director, Mason is a parent, certified sex educator, lifelong Democrat, and small business owner. Previously, Mason was an education and trauma counselor in schools.

Since joining the board, Mason has supported a race and equity policy, addressed the poverty gap in the student population, and co-authored a Student Safety Resolution. Her campaign priorities in this race include serving marginalized students, expanding mental health support, and focusing on equity and inclusion at all levels.

GOP candidate Philip Stockton is challenging Jenn Mason for the school board seat. Stockton is a conservative political organizer and former sales and marketing professional. Recently, he stated at a conservative rally that “for 100 years,” public schools in the United States have been trying to “take our children, indoctrinate them, and turn them basically into little leftist zombies.” If elected, he would bring a divisive, right-wing agenda to the school board.

Jenn Mason will continue to bring progressive and inclusive values to the school board. She is the clear choice for Bellingham School Board, Director Position 4.

Incumbent Douglas W. Benjamin is running to retain Director Position 5 on the Bellingham School Board. Benjamin first joined the board by appointment in 2014 and has since been elected for terms in 2015 and 2017. Outside of school board work, Benjamin is a licensed mental health counselor who runs his own practice. Additionally, he chairs the Whatcom County Public Health Advisory Board and serves on a task force related to the Whatcom Alliance for Healthcare Access.

In this race, Benjamin is prioritizing executing the school board’s strategic plan, The Bellingham Promise. He has also focused on modeling equity and inclusion and keeping the administrative operations of the board running smoothly. Benjamin wants to build on the board’s recent accomplishments like upgraded bus facilities, athletic infrastructure improvements, and new schools in Sehome and Happy Valley.

Challenging Benjamin is Jeffrie Ford, who runs a cleaning service. Ford has no public service or community leadership background, and he lacks a website with detailed policy proposals. His official voters' guide statement says that he is new to Bellingham and wants to make sure that inequities between school districts are addressed.

We recommend Douglas Benjamin for Bellingham School Board, Director Position 5 because of his public service experience and his commitment to an equitable and inclusive school district.

Incumbent Corey McEnry is a public high school educator and a parent of a current Camas student running for re-election for Camas School Director in District 1.

McEnry is proud of the district's efforts to create a safe and flexible environment for students to learn during the pandemic. He notes that the district has experienced virtually zero COVID transmissions thanks to health protocols. If re-elected, he will continue to support five days of in-person learning with remote options, following all laws on safety and public health, and providing emotional and social support for kids, staff, and families. McEnry also strongly believes that the district should continue pursuing equity so that all students, no matter their race, socioeconomic background, ability, or gender, can thrive in Camas schools. He will continue to diversify school programming and pathways to graduation and support professional development for staff while engaging with families and promoting digital access for school board meetings and more.

McEnry's challenger in this race is Ernie Geigenmiller, a Republican precinct committee officer and journalist who says that he is running to keep politics out of schools but is supported by the League of Conservative Women Voters. In a recent candidate forum, Geigenmiller focused on the idea that schools are doing too much and need to go "back to basics," an idea at odds with the fact that many students need greater support right now. For example, Geigenmiller states that schools "cannot do everything" to support homeless students and should rely on nonprofit organizations, while McEnry says that first students in need should be identified, and then schools should provide for students through the community resource center - whether that be food, technology, and more. Geigenmiller's stance on following health mandates is unclear from his website, but his endorsements and statements seem to show that he would be a conservative school board member.

We recommend McEnry in this race for his experience and care for all students in Camas.

Incumbent Erika Cox has served on the Camas School Board in District 2 since 2018. She has chaired the city of Camas' Salary Commission, served as president of Prune Hill Elementary PTA, volunteered on the Dorothy Fox Elementary PTA executive board, and served on the Citizen's Advisory Committee to the school board.

Cox is running for re-election to continue to prioritize health, equitable opportunities for students, and engagement with the community. Under her experienced leadership, Camas students and families currently have the option of remote learning as well as safe, in-person education.

Her opponent is Jeremiah Chevrolet Stephen, an insurance agent and former oil and pipeline operations planner. Both Stephen and fellow candidate Geigenmiller are campaigning on taking politics out of schools, but both are supported by the League of Conservative Women Voters, with Stephen being promoted on a Clark County Republican Facebook page. Stephen says that he is running because of "inappropriate" content in schools, which he provides no additional context on. He does not believe that equity programs can help students who are struggling and would provide "equal opportunities" for students - a notion which many researchers, education advocates, and teachers have said only exacerbates the issue and puts students of color, low-income students, and homeless students further behind.

We recommend Erika Cox for Camas School District Director in District No. 2.

Teresa (Tere) Landa is running technically unopposed for Central Valley School District, Board Director in District 2. However, she has recently faced a challenge from Brett Howell, who is mounting a write-in campaign aligned with other extreme far-right candidates in school board races this election.

Landa has worked in the Central Valley School District for more than 25 years and in education for even more. She worked in a range of roles including, but not limited to, elementary teacher, administrator, and K-12 curriculum director. Landa also served as the superintendent of the Newport School District. Now, she is running to make sure that all students have the learning opportunities and resources they need to recover from the pandemic disruption.

Howell was recruited to challenge Landa by District 5 candidates Pam Orebaugh and Rob Linebarger who represent extremist views in this election. Howell, a business executive and consultant, wants to oppose the state’s science-based, health directives by making masks and vaccines optional, which would threaten the health and safety in the school district as well as jeopardize state funding which accounts for 81% of the district’s budget.

Teresa Landa is the obvious choice in this race to represent District 2 on the Central Valley School District board.

Stan Chalich is opposing two far-right candidates in a strong write-in campaign for Central Valley School Board Director in District 5. Chalich is a retired coach and high school teacher with the Central Valley school district, where he was awarded for his teaching on civics and government. He has represented the school district with the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce and works on the Liberty Lake Sewer District, Liberty Lake Trails, and Watershed Committee. Chalich is a recognized community leader with a campaign to address the most pressing issues for students, teachers, families, and the school board, itself, rather than divide Spokane Valley’s school community more.

Chalich is facing conservative candidates Pam Orebaugh and Rob Linebarger. Pam Orebaugh is a nurse and nursing educator who was a part of the 2020 campaign to oppose comprehensive sexual and emotional health education in Washington schools. She has taken some extremist stances in this race including teaching climate change denial and the Christian origins of life in public schools, severely limiting students’ access to reproductive health care, and encouraging homophobic ideas of family in all parts of the curriculum.

Rob Linebarger is a self-described “Freedom Loving MAGA Populist Conservative” and more extreme even than Orebaugh in his vision for the school district. Linebarger recently led a group to recall school board directors over their science-based mask policy which has helped to keep teachers, students, and their families safe from the spread of COVID-19.

In this campaign, Chalich has strong community support, including from both the Washington and Central Valley Education Associations. By comparison, Chalich’s opponents are unfit to serve on the board due to their refusal to comply with Washington’s health standards for schools, which would jeopardize the 81% of the school district’s funding that comes from the state. Additionally, both candidates are involved in a nonprofit, Washington Citizens for Liberty, that appears to be in open violation of campaign finance laws.

Write in “Stan Chalich” for “Director Dist No. 5” on the Central Valley School Board and then completely fill in the bubble left of Chalich’s name.

Incumbent Julie Bocanegra is running for re-election to Evergreen School Board Director, District 1. Bocanegra was part of the Evergreen School District's strong response to the COVID-19 pandemic including getting meals delivered to students and helping shift students to online classes. Even before the pandemic, Bocanegra worked to provide computer tablets for students, a decision that has strongly benefitted their remote learning during COVID-19. She is also committed to ensuring students learn from a broad range of perspectives throughout their education.

Her challenger in this race is Mike Appel. Appel works at Washington State University in Vancouver and is running on a reactionary, Trump-style agenda criticizing the current curriculum in schools. He lacks a vision for the role beyond conservative politics and has no community experience. Appel's campaign social media also mocks the Black Lives Matter movement and promotes a recent conservative trend to remove honest, age-appropriate discussions about American history from school curriculums.

Bocanegra is the best choice in the race for Evergreen School Board Director, District 1.

Incumbent Ginny Gronwoldt is running for re-election to Evergreen School Board in District 5. While serving on the school board, she has supported expanding equity work in the district and helped oversee increased graduation rates. Gronwoldt's re-election priorities include investing in making every student feel included and providing quality educators for all classrooms.

Gronwoldt is being challenged by Amanda Breck. Breck is a former event coordinator and volunteer soccer coach. Her platform does not bring the focus on equity that Gronwoldt's does. Breck is emphasizing transparent communication and accessibility without providing detailed plans for how to achieve these goals.

Gronwoldt is the best choice for Evergreen School Board in District 5.

Sydne Mullings is running for re-election to Issaquah School Board, Position 4. Mullings was elected to the school board in 2019 and has worked at Microsoft since 2008. She is also a board member of After-School All-Stars Puget Sound. In her time on the school board Mullings has worked to support the social, emotional, and mental health of students, foster a welcoming environment for all, and engage different voices from the community. If re-elected Mullings will prioritize facilities that serve all students and enhance learning environments using environmentally sustainable strategies.

Also in this race is Dr. Wendy Ghiora, a retired public school principal who has worked in both public and charter schools. She also authored, "Unleashing the Student's 'I Can'" a personal account of her time as a teacher and administrator. If elected, Ghiora would prioritize supporting students who struggled with online learning during the pandemic and pushing the district to set high goals for student achievement.

Mullings is the best choice in the race for Issaquah School Board, Position 4.

Scott Rodgers is an attorney and Washington state medical commissioner running for Kennewick School Board, Director Position 1. In this race, Rodgers is prioritizing the whole student and wants the school district to prepare students for life, not just future academic and professional opportunities.

Rodgers has a more progressive platform that includes promoting equity, expanding dual-language programs, and optimizing student achievement for a variety of post-graduate paths. He supports commonsense public health measures to keep students, teachers, and staff safe, as well as the school district community at large. In this race, Rodgers has earned support from a number of progressive and education-focused organizations.

Rodgers' opponent is Micah Valentine, a far-right candidate who is running to oppose historically accurate curriculums, science-based health policy, and age-appropriate sexual health education. Valentine wants Kennewick schools to defy the state’s mask mandate, which would jeopardize the health of students and school district employees, as well as their families, and threaten in-person learning. His reactionary, conservative platform is short-sighted and does not reflect the needs of the school district.

Scott Rodgers is the clear choice in this race and deserves your vote for Position 1 on the Kennewick School Board.

Erin ​​Steinert is running for Kennewick School Board, Director Position 2. Steinert has spent more than 17 years as an educator, teaching science, math, and art in the district. She is the current director for the Bechtel National Planetarium and Robert & Elisabeth Moore Observatory at Columbia Basin College. Steinert previously served on the board of Hands In for Hands On (HIHO) Tri-Cities, an organization to raise funds for a local children’s museum.

Steinert’s campaign emphasizes transparency, accountability, and accessibility. If elected, she would make sure that every student has access to the tools and resources to thrive, and she believes that the school district should be aligned with the values of empathy, critical thinking, and intellectual curiosity. Steinert also wants to promote science-backed policy and improve communication between the board and the community.

Steinert is running against Gabe Galbraith, another far-right candidate who is promoting divisive, conspiracy-based policy. If elected, he would oppose science-backed public health standards, endangering the school district community. Additionally, Galbraith wants to censor the curriculum by eliminating age-appropriate sex education for opt-in students and by preventing accurate history from being taught. He works in human resources for a Christian health care facility.

Erin ​​Steinert is the clear choice in this race. She deserves your vote for Kennewick School Board as Director 2.

Nina Kim Hanson is running for Lake Stevens School District 4 in Director District 4. She has taught at the University of Washington and Northwest University for ten years and runs her own business as a freelance writer and public speaker. Hanson is also a member of the Center for Women and Democracy Board and the Lake Stevens Allies for BIPOC Board.

Hanson's campaign platform includes improving civics and foreign language studies, providing teachers and schools with the tools they need to ensure all students get a great education, and boosting career and college prep resources. She has earned a number of progressive endorsements in this race from both our partner organizations and local elected leaders.

Also in this race is Republican Brett Rogers, a lawyer, former police officer, and current director of parking enforcement with the Seattle Police Department. Last election, Rogers challenged Bob Ferguson for attorney general. In this race, he wants to decrease staff salaries, emphasize test scores - which are proven to be a poor measure of learning outcomes, and prohibit progressive curriculum changes like multicultural programming and comprehensive sexual health education.

Hanson is the obvious choice to a school board director in Lake Stevens School District 4 and she deserves your vote.

Vildan Kirby is running for Lake Stevens School Board in District 5. Kirby is a substitute teacher in the city school district and she previously served as the board president of a local co-op preschool. She has a professional background in marketing and advertising and is a parent to twins enrolled in an LSSD school.

If elected, Kirby wants to invest in emergency preparedness so that the school district can adapt more effectively in situations like the COVID pandemic. Also included in her platform is increasing mental health support and prioritizing an individual student focus. As a citizen, Kirby has spoken publicly in support of the city’s diversity commission. She has earned strong progressive support in this race from local leaders and organizations.

Veteran Carolyn Bennett is also in this race. Bennett does customer service work at a manufacturing corporation. In addition, she serves as the secretary to the county’s Human Rights Commission and previously lost a 2019 race for Lake Stevens City Council. Bennett was an outspoken supporter of right-wing 2020 candidate for governor Loren Culp and on her personal social media she has posted a flag associated with white supremacist groups. Her 2019 statement included disappointing language about Lake Stevens residents experiencing housing insecurity.

Kirby is the clear choice in this race and deserves your vote to represent District 5 on the Lake Stevens School Board.

Leah Choi is challenging incumbent Cassandra Sage to represent District 3 on the Lake Washington School Board. Choi is a first-time candidate with a background in financial planning, education, and science.

Choi is running on a progressive platform that starts with bringing climate education front and center in public schools to prepare the next generation to face this crisis. She also supports technical training programs for alternative paths to success, following the science on later start times for adolescents, and improving equity work so that all Lake Washington students can thrive.

Incumbent Cassandra Sage was first elected to the school board in 2017 and has pushed a more moderate agenda since joining. In this race, she is prioritizing equity and inclusion, academic recovery, and mental health support across the school district. Outside of school board work, Sage is a family advisor at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

We recommend Leah Choi in this race because of her endorsements from our partner organizations and her clear progressive vision for the seat. She deserves your vote to serve on the Lake Washington School Board in District 3.

Incumbent Mark Stuart is running for re-election to Lake Washington School Board in District 4. Stuart was first elected to the school board in 2013 and now serves as the board vice president. Outside of elected office, he works in global media relations and volunteers as the president of the Sammamish Rotary.

Stuart is running to rebuild, focusing on what remote learning highlighted about equity, health, and access in the school district. He wants to invest in mental and emotional support for students as well as social-emotional learning and equity programs. Stuart’s top three campaign priorities are investing in diversity and inclusion programming, implementing anti-discrimination policy, and improving communication between the school board and the community. In this race, he is supported by a number of our progressive partner organizations as well as important elected leaders.

Vishal Misri, a former executive at a digital service company who now works for Amazon, is challenging Stuart in District 4. Misri is a parent of a Lake Washington school district student and a member of the PTA. He is running to improve mental health services, teacher support, equity and inclusion measures, and school infrastructure.

Mark Stuart deserves to be re-elected to the Lake Washington School Board in District 4 to continue advocating for an equitable and well-resourced school district. We recommend him because of his strong support from our partners and his proven track record of progressive leadership.

Jacqueline McGourty is running for re-election to Northshore School Board in District 1. She has worked in the biotechnology industry for three decades and was elected to the school board in 2017 where she now serves as the vice president. In her leadership role, she has hosted community forums on equity issues facing the Northshore school district.

In her time on the school board, McGourty advanced mental health support, upgraded learning facilities, and worked to provide internet access and digital devices to all students. Her strong campaign platform includes ensuring students are able to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, closing opportunity and outcome gaps, and making more progress on inclusivity and access to education for all students. In this race, she is endorsed by local Democrats and a number of elected leaders.

McGourty is being challenged by Elizabeth Crowley, a Boeing employee and concerned parent running without a background in community leadership. Her top campaign priorities are increased cybersecurity for teachers and students as well as stronger communication between the school district and the community.

McGourty is the best choice in the race for Northshore School Board Director representing District 1.

Incumbent director Sandy Hayes is running for re-election to represent District 4 on the Northshore School Board. Hayes first joined the school board in 2009 and has also served as a leadership consultant for the Washington State School Directors’ Association since then. Outside of public service, she runs a restorative justice practice.

Since joining the board, Hayes has led school district improvements such as building both Ruby Bridges Elementary and North Creek High School, creating one-to-one student access to laptops for learning, and purchasing three electric buses to reduce the school district’s carbon footprint. In this race, she is prioritizing expanding arts programming, achieving digital equity including universally accessible broadband, and building an adaptable curriculum to support career paths that may not yet exist. Hayes defines her campaign against the reactionary politics of some conservative school board candidates, and she has been widely endorsed by progressive elected officials and organizations.

Aerospace professional and consultant Chris Roberdeau is also in this race. Earlier this year, Roberdeau participated in a reactionary rally to unseat board members for not going back to in-person learning sooner, despite science-based health concerns. Unfortunately, he also subscribes to the Trump-led, right-wing efforts to not teach honest, up-to-date history to students. Roberdeau is not a progressive choice.

Hayes is the best choice to represent District 4 with her background in law, community leadership, and direct school board experience. She deserves your vote to continue bringing positive change to the school district.

Incumbent school board director Amy Cast is running to retain her seat representing District 5 on the Northshore School Board. Cast has served the school district since first being elected in 2013. Outside of elected office, she runs her own website design company and serves as a leadership consultant for the Washington State School Directors’ Association.

On the board, Cast has helped Northshore to become one of the highest performing school districts in the state through work like adding language immersion programs, investing in alternative career paths through the Career and Technical Education class, and implementing social-emotional health curriculum for kindergartners and up. If elected, she has detailed suggestions to increase equity, including incorporating Universal Design for Learning, expanding cultural competence curriculum, and investing in student services like social-emotional learning, mental health supports, and wrap-around financial need programs. Cast is also prioritizing thoughtful budgeting after a 20% increase in the student population, and she wants to fund programming for modernized skill-building.

The other candidate in this race is Amy Felt, an attorney, NSD parent, and PTA member. Felt wants to amplify student voices while improving relationships between all school stakeholders including parents, administrators, teachers, unions, and board directors. She supports spending to close learning gaps between students and funding mental health resources.

Cast is the best choice in this race because of her widespread support from local leaders and organizations as well as her clear plan for bringing positive change to the school district.

Darcy Huffman, a communications and resource director for her church, is running for Olympia School Board in District 3. The former finance professional challenged an incumbent Republican in the state’s 35th Legislative District last year. Huffman currently also works on the Affordable Housing Taskforce for a coalition of Washington churches and as a member of the Quixote Communities board, which works to provide permanent supportive housing for people struggling with homelessness.

If elected, Huffman wants to make sure that Olympia’s public schools are supportive learning environments for all students. Her platform includes strengthening lines of communications with parents, prioritizing the emotional and social wellbeing of students, funding essential skills learning, and closing the opportunity gap. Huffman’s campaign to create a more equitable school system is supported by a large number of local progressive and Democratic organizations and leaders.

Wealth advisor Mark Boyer is running against Huffman on a vague platform that highlights no priorities or policy. He was a part of a conservative group that campaigned to bring back in-person learning earlier this year before it was safe to do so.

We recommend Darcy Huffman because of her progressive background, strong community support, and clear vision for the District 3 director position.

Incumbent Director Scott Clifthorne is running to retain his seat serving District 5 on the Olympia School Board. Clifthorne was first elected in 2017 and now serves as president. Clifthorne works as a negotiator for Teamster 117 and was formerly the president of the Lincoln Community Council. Previously, he was a member of the City of Olympia Community Workgroup on Homelessness.

During Clifthorne’s time on the board, Olympia was able to secure PE, art, and music teachers in all elementary schools beginning in Fall 2021. In this race, Clifthorne wants to continue expanding student opportunities, deepen lines of communication for families and schools, and address systemic inequities particularly relating to race, disability, and socioeconomic status. With three kids enrolled in Olympia public schools and widespread support from community leaders and organizations, Clifthorne will continue to bring progressive values to the board.

Challenging Clifthorne is Don Mitchell, a nurse and assistant professor of nursing. Mitchell advocated for school re-opening earlier than was safe, and he is now running on a reactionary platform that ignores scientific-informed, school board decisions. He also wants to continue valuing standardized tests despite ample research that shows that they are not an effective assessment of student success. Mitchell is not a progressive choice.

We recommend Scott Clifthorne in this race because of his school board experience and inclusive plan for the school district.

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.

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.

Vivian Song Maritz is running for Seattle School Board in District 4. Maritz is a small business owner, PTSA president, member of the Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Council, and mother of three students in Seattle Public Schools. As the daughter of immigrants and as an Asian American with a hearing disability, Maritz emphasizes the significant impact public schools had on her own life and the work ahead to make them more inclusive for all.

Maritz is running to bring her 15 years of private sector experience in finance and operations to the school board. If elected, she would focus on delivering mental health support as an essential service for students, achieving progress on inclusion in the classroom and school system broadly, securing efficient and accessible transportation for students, and expanding the services and quality of education for disabled students. She would also like to reduce the focus on standardized testing and continue, but reform, the option school program, which allows students to apply to attend schools outside their neighborhood. She is also committed to applying anti-racist principles to governance and school policies.

In the primary, Maritz has faced some criticism regarding both her involvement in a Facebook group that pushed to reopen schools early and her recent move into District 4. After extensive research, we did not find either criticism to be compelling. During our interview, Maritz stated that she supported the Seattle Education Association's three priorities at the time and she advocated for vaccinating teachers earlier to re-open schools safely. As for her move, Maritz was candid about relocating to District 4 to run for office, clarifying that her children already attend an option school alongside many students from District 4 and her family had already been spending a lot of time in the area. This was not a concern for us given her previous connection to the district and the short move from Capitol Hill.

Maritz is running against Laura Marie Rivera, an educator, active union member, and board member for the Coe Elementary PTA. Rivera also serves as the local chair of the National PTA’s Reflections Art Competition and on the board of Friends of Seattle’s Olmsted Parks. She is running to bring transparency, opportunity, and equity to the school system.

Maritz is the best choice to represent District 4. She will bring important financial management expertise and increased representation to the Seattle School Board.

Michelle Sarju is running for Seattle School Board in District 5. Sarju is a former midwife, social worker, and PTA member who currently works with King County Public Health.

Sarju wants to make sure that all children in the Seattle Public School system have a chance at a quality education. Her campaign platform includes closing the racial gap in student opportunity, valuing alternative evidence-based metrics for success above standardized tests, providing social and emotional support for students, and investing in an anti-racist curriculum. She believes that in order to care for students during in-person learning, schools must provide more mental health support. Sarju is committed to not simply going back to normal post-COVID, but instead addressing root causes to make our school system stronger and more equitable than ever.

Sarju is running against Dan Harder, a Boeing engineer who is running on a reactionary, Trump-style agenda focused on pushing out honest and age-appropriate curriculum that teaches students about our history. Harder would use this excuse to explicitly walk back progress made in diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Seattle Public School system. He lacks a vision for the role beyond Trump politics and has no community or elected experience.

We recommend Michelle Sarju for Seattle School Board in District 5 because of her clear, progressive vision and the broad support she has earned from our partners and local leaders.

Incumbent Director Brandon Hersey is running for re-election to Position 7 on the Seattle School Board. Hersey joined the school board after being appointed in September 2019, and he used to teach at an elementary school in Federal Way. Hersey is also the current vice president of the board of directors and volunteers as a scoutmaster for Washington’s first African American Boy Scout troop. Previously, he served as a policy analyst for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

Since joining the board, Hersey has supported Seattle Public Schools’ participatory budgeting and multicultural curricula. In this race, he is running to make sure that all Seattle students, especially students of color, can receive a safe, equitable, and historically accurate education. His campaign platform includes COVID-safe school policies, open lines of communication between families and the board, and mental health programming for students of all ages.

Hersey's opponent is Genesis Williamson, a Seattle University graduate who now works as an assistant to the dean’s office. She has yet to release detailed campaign information as of late October, and submitted no information to the official King County voters guide.

With his policy and teaching background, and strong support from our partners, Hersey is the best choice in this race to maintain progressive leadership on the Seattle School Board.

Emily Williams is running for re-election to the Shoreline School Board in District 2 after joining the board last year. Williams is an educator, small business owner, racial equity advocate, and a parent. She previously directed Learning Center Seattle, a youth re-engagement program with Seattle Central College and Seattle Public Schools. Williams has also worked as an advisor to marginalized Lake Washington students, including those with disabilities, those from low-income backgrounds, and first-generation college students.

Now, Williams is running a progressive campaign to continue making Shoreline schools as equitable as possible so that all students can reach their full potential. In her time on the board already, Williams has backed the implementation of ethnic studies in Shoreline schools and an anti-racism policy for the district. She joined the board in the worst of the pandemic and has been a strong voice for science-backed safety protocols to keep students, teachers, and staff safe.

Tyann Nguyen, a special education paraeducator, is challenging Williams for the District 2 director seat. Nguyen has a background in education and youth services but lacks a detailed campaign platform and a website as of mid-October.

Emily Williams is the best choice in this race because of her broad progressive support and her clear vision for the position.

Educator Melissa Bedford is running for Spokane School Board, Director Position 3. Bedford currently works as an assistant professor at Eastern Washington University and has previously served both as a public school teacher and in institutional leadership positions. Outside of teaching, Bedford volunteers with a number of after-school programs and local organizations like the Spokane Public Library.

Bedford is running to make education more accessible, equitable, and inclusive. She believes that the pandemic showcased the existing inequities within the state’s school system. If elected, Bedford wants to work to get broadband internet and other technology to all students, to promote the social and emotional health of students, and to make sure that all students feel welcome in the classroom. She has written about teaching civic engagement in the classroom and wants to bring the voice of an educator to the school board.

Bedford is facing Daryl Geffken, a financial advisor and parent of two children in the district. If elected, Geffken would bring conservative values to the school board including opposing historically accurate curriculums about race. He also opposes same-sex marriage, inclusive classrooms, and multicultural programs.

Melissa Bedford is by far the most qualified and progressive choice in this race and she deserves your vote for Spokane School Board, Director Position 3.

Riley Smith, an operations coordinator at Feeding Washington, is running for Position 4 on the Spokane School Board. He grew up in Spokane and spent 13 years in the Spokane public school system. Aside from his nonprofit work, Smith works as a precinct committee officer and has previously aided a number of progressive campaigns. In his free time, he volunteers with Native Project COVAX Vaccination Clinic and Spokane Food Fighters.

If elected, Smith has two main focuses: expanding student mental health resources and investing in support for alternative career paths like apprenticeships and trade schools. A pre-pandemic study from the Washington State Department of Health showed that nearly 40% of Spokane students struggle with their mental health. As a result, Smith argues that access to mental health resources, services, and support is fundamental to achieving student success and building a stronger school system. Additionally, he believes that skill training for blue-collar jobs would ultimately expand student opportunity and success.

Life coach and mother of five Kata Dean is running to bring right-wing policy to the school board. She supports repealing meal programs, daycare support, and multicultural curriculums. Dean would also push for Christian doctrine to be taught alongside evolutionary biology in public schools. She is not only anti-choice and against same-sex marriage, but she believes her views should dictate the policy of the school board.

Smith is the clear choice in this race. He deserves your vote for Spokane School Board, Director Position 4.

Enrique Leon is running for re-election to Tacoma School Board, Director Position 2. He has served on the school board since 2018. Along with his position on the board, Dr. Leon works at MultiCare Tacoma Family Medicine and volunteers as a team physician for Lincoln and Stadium High schools. His re-election campaign prioritizes enhancing partnerships with local community groups, expanding social-emotional curriculum, and providing great resources to students and teachers.

His opponent in this race is Sarah Hendrix, the co-owner of a contracting company. Hendrix has served as PTA treasurer and president. Her platform is dismissive of teaching students healthy social and emotional skills like self-awareness and self-control, and is equally against teaching kids honest and complete history.

Leon is the clear choice in the race for Tacoma School Board, Director, Position 2.

Korey Strozier is running to retain Tacoma School District, Director Position 3. He works as a program manager overseeing King County's vocational rehabilitation program for young people and was appointed to this seat in 2020. Strozier has focused on ensuring equity has been centered in the decisions of the school board as well as being a voice for disenfranchised students. If elected, he will continue his work on closing access, opportunity, and achievement gaps in the district.

Strozier is unopposed in the race for Tacoma School District, Director Position 3, and deserves your vote.

Chelsea McElroy is running unopposed for Tacoma School District, Director Position 4. McElroy is the vice-chair of the South Tacoma Neighborhood Council and the assistant treasurer of the Pierce County Democrats. She has spent 10 years as a pre-school teacher and launched her own program, Vision Step Team, in 2016. McElroy's priorities for the school board include transparency, consideration of all students and parents when making decisions, and increasing accessibility including bringing translators to meetings.

McElroy is running unopposed for Tacoma School District, Director Position 4, and deserves your vote.

Elizabeth Bonbright is running for re-election to Tacoma School Board, Director 5. She was elected to this position in 2019 and has served as vice president of the school board since 2020. Before joining the school board, Bonbright served as the executive director of the Child Care Aware of Washington and on the advisory committee of organizations including the National Women's Law Center and Strengthening Families United Way. She is proud of her record of delivering meals, internet access, and needed technology to students during the COVID-19 pandemic and implementing safe in-person education ahead of the Washington state schedule. If re-elected, Bonbright wants to improve equity in the district by expanding early childhood education and addressing disparities in disciplinary actions against Black and brown students.

Bonbright is facing Bill Hanawalt, the development director of a local nonprofit organization. Hanawalt was the initial executive director of Peace Community Center and been involved with the Peace Lutheran Church. He also served on the Expanded Learning Statewide Council for over five years, and was a founding member of the Vibrant School Coalition. His platform is not particularly detailed but does mention accessibility, listening to the perspective of all community members, and ensuring students are equipped with all the tools they need to be successful.

Bonbright is the best choice in the race for Tacoma School Board, Position 5 because of her community support and her track record in office of serving youth and children with data-driven solutions.

There are two candidates in the race for University Place School Board, Position 1: Ethelda Burke and Whitney Holz. We are not making a recommendation in this race. Voters should review the two candidates and pick the one whose values most align with their own.

The incumbent Burke has worked in public education for 40 years as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. She was elected to the school board in 2017 after being appointed in 2015. Burke previously served as a board member with the Tacoma Youth Symphony and United Way. If re-elected, she pledges to listen to the concerns of all citizens and maintain awareness of graduation rates and academic performances of students. In 2012, Burke resigned as superintendent of the Tukwila School District and in 2013 she was found to have created a hostile work environment for ten other employees by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (link: https://www.kiro7.com/news/us-govt-tukwila-school-district-employees-victims-/246019162/).

The other candidate in this race, Holz, helps run a local business. Her candidacy is largely based on opposing the age-appropriate sex-education programs adopted by Washington state voters last year. In addition to disapproving of this curriculum, Holz wants to encourage "unique and innovative" learning opportunities to prepare students for trades, business, the military, or continuing education.

Incumbent Sandra Zavala-Ortega is running to retain Position 2 on the Vancouver School Board. She is a small business owner and was a family resource coordinator with Vancouver Public Schools for five years. Zavala-Ortega was appointed to this seat in April of this year.

Zavala-Ortega started as a kindergartener in Vancouver Public Schools speaking no English. She is proud of the fact that she was a proficient speaker when she graduated and she wants to provide that same opportunity for all students. Zavala-Ortega also wants to use her experience as a business owner to implement responsible budgets for the district. Her campaign is emphasizing academic achievements and rebuilding trust in the community.

Also in this race is Michelle Belkot. Belkot is a veteran who works in construction and engineering contracts. Her platform mentions careful management of the district's finances but lacks the level of detail of Zavala-Ortega's platform.

Zavala-Ortega's experience and focus on the needs of students make her the best choice in the race for Vancouver School Board, Position 2.

Incumbent Wendy Smith is running for re-election to Vancouver School Board, Position 3. Smith has served as a school board director since 2017 and was previously a teacher for 17 years. Her campaign platform is focused on addressing the mental health challenges facing students, improving the school board's transparency, and supporting dual-language programs. Smith wants to respect community demands to ensure resources are allocated to programs that will improve the lives of students.

Smith is facing Jorge Bailey in this race. Bailey is a veteran who directs three nonprofit organizations in the Clark County area and has 30 years of experience working in finance. However, the platform he lists on his website neglects important issues like providing more mental health resources for students and expanding the school district's curriculum.

Smith is the best choice in the race for Vancouver School Board, Position 3.

Incumbent director Terri Trick is running for Walla Walla School Board, Position 2. Trick joined the school board in 2018 when she was appointed to fill a vacancy and was later elected in 2019 to retain the seat for a two-year term. Before that, she spent more than 30 years in education including teaching pre-college courses and developing the GED program at Walla Walla Community College. Trick serves on the boards of Little Theatre of Walla Walla, Friends of the Farm Labor Homes (Valle Lindo), and the American Association of University Women.

During her time on the school board, Trick has worked to raise the district’s graduation rate above the state average, provide science-based and transparent decisionmaking throughout the pandemic, and most recently, to establish the Summer Sol program to help students who have fallen behind during online learning. If re-elected, she wants to continue putting the budget to good use with school improvements and supportive programs for students. Trick will also continue her work on the ​​district’s Equity and Access Committee. She has earned ample Democratic endorsements and community support in this race.

Firefighter and union member James Stovall is challenging Trick for this position. Stovall is running to make sure that the school district is meeting the needs of its diverse community and has said that he would use his experience as treasurer for the firefighter’s union to help manage the district’s budget and keep Walla Walla schools well-resourced. However, he does not have a detailed platform as of mid-October.

Trick will continue building on past school board successes and bringing steady, thoughtful leadership to the district. She deserves your vote for Position 2 on the Walla Walla School Board.