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Welcome to the Fuse Progressive Voters Guide to the 2021 primary election! The Progressive Voters Guide compiles the information that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. You can learn about our partners and decision-making process here. Please share this guide with your friends and family!
County Council District Races
Depending on the county district you live in, you may have the following races on your ballot.
King County, District 3
Sarah Perry is a small business owner, non-profit fundraiser, and Democratic activist who is challenging incumbent Kathy Lambert for King County Council in District 3. Perry has years of experience building financial support for non-profits and universities in the Puget Sound area.
Perry is running on a platform of supporting small businesses, protecting farmlands and the environment, and improving transportation. In particular, she wants to provide more support for the 40% of the district in unincorporated King County that can't rely on city leadership for investments and infrastructure. In our interview with Perry, she presented a detailed overview of her campaign as a strong advocate for growth management. She wants to promote urban forests, preserve the district's natural areas, usher in alternative energy sources, and improve wastewater and storm runoff in open spaces. Perry also wants to see an equity lens brought to COVID recovery, ensuring that new modes of transit are brought to the district, supporting behavioral health, and assisting those struggling with affordable housing.
Perry's extensive civic engagement in the district has earned her overwhelming support from local and state elected officials and progressive organizations. Vote for Perry for new progressive leadership on the King County Council from District 3.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Sarah Perry is a small business owner, non-profit fundraiser, and Democratic activist who is challenging incumbent Kathy Lambert for King County Council in District 3. Perry has years of experience building financial support for non-profits and universities in the Puget Sound area.
Perry is running on a platform of supporting small businesses, protecting farmlands and the environment, and improving transportation. In particular, she wants to provide more support for the 40% of the district in unincorporated King County that can't rely on city leadership for investments and infrastructure. In our interview with Perry, she presented a detailed overview of her campaign as a strong advocate for growth management. She wants to promote urban forests, preserve the district's natural areas, usher in alternative energy sources, and improve wastewater and storm runoff in open spaces. Perry also wants to see an equity lens brought to COVID recovery, ensuring that new modes of transit are brought to the district, supporting behavioral health, and assisting those struggling with affordable housing.
Perry's extensive civic engagement in the district has earned her overwhelming support from local and state elected officials and progressive organizations. Vote for Perry for new progressive leadership on the King County Council from District 3.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Endorsed By: M. L. King County Labor Council, AFL-CIO
,
Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates
,
SEIU Locals 6, 775, 925, and 1199
,
The Stranger
,
Washington Conservation Action
,
Housing Action Fund
,
Alliance for Gun Responsibility
Sarah Perry is a small business owner, non-profit fundraiser, and Democratic activist who is challenging incumbent Kathy Lambert for King County Council in District 3. Perry has years of experience building financial support for non-profits and universities in the Puget Sound area.
Perry is running on a platform of supporting small businesses, protecting farmlands and the environment, and improving transportation. In particular, she wants to provide more support for the 40% of the district in unincorporated King County that can't rely on city leadership for investments and infrastructure. In our interview with Perry, she presented a detailed overview of her campaign as a strong advocate for growth management. She wants to promote urban forests, preserve the district's natural areas, usher in alternative energy sources, and improve wastewater and storm runoff in open spaces. Perry also wants to see an equity lens brought to COVID recovery, ensuring that new modes of transit are brought to the district, supporting behavioral health, and assisting those struggling with affordable housing.
Perry's extensive civic engagement in the district has earned her overwhelming support from local and state elected officials and progressive organizations. Vote for Perry for new progressive leadership on the King County Council from District 3.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Endorsed By: M. L. King County Labor Council, AFL-CIO
,
Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates
,
SEIU Locals 6, 775, 925, and 1199
,
The Stranger
,
Washington Conservation Action
,
Housing Action Fund
,
Alliance for Gun Responsibility
Other Candidates
Also in this race are incumbent Kathy Lambert and Joe Cohen. While the King County Council is officially non-partisan, longtime Republican Kathy Lambert has lost touch with this diverse and rapidly changing district. Lambert has voted against transit access for years, including voting to end Seattle's downtown free-ride zone. She also voted against making the county sheriff an appointed position, which was proposed to give the council and county executive more oversight in the wake of protests against police brutality. Lambert was the only no vote on the 2019 bill to use state money to fund early learning, post-secondary education, and in-home care providers.
Former Obama administration and Sen. Maria Cantwell staffer Joe Cohen is also challenging Lambert in King County District 3. Since returning home to the Eastside, Cohen has worked at the law firm of Hogan Lovells advising technology companies.
Cohen's campaign is focusing on improving the county's approach to homelessness and reforming the Sheriff's office. Cohen has expressed frustration with the county's lack of progress addressing homelessness and wants to increase oversight over the county's spending on these programs. He wants to use his experience investigating federal law enforcement agencies in the Obama administration to make the sheriff's office more transparent and accountable. Cohen mentioned that though criminal justice takes three-quarters of the county budget, he does not believe that funds need to be transferred to human services or other budget areas that some of the community have called for. He believes that a change of culture in police departments and having more non-uniformed personnel respond to issues will address community concerns. While not conservative, Cohen's platform falls short on some progressive priorities that are important to voters.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Also in this race are incumbent Kathy Lambert and Joe Cohen. While the King County Council is officially non-partisan, longtime Republican Kathy Lambert has lost touch with this diverse and rapidly changing district. Lambert has voted against transit access for years, including voting to end Seattle's downtown free-ride zone. She also voted against making the county sheriff an appointed position, which was proposed to give the council and county executive more oversight in the wake of protests against police brutality. Lambert was the only no vote on the 2019 bill to use state money to fund early learning, post-secondary education, and in-home care providers.
Former Obama administration and Sen. Maria Cantwell staffer Joe Cohen is also challenging Lambert in King County District 3. Since returning home to the Eastside, Cohen has worked at the law firm of Hogan Lovells advising technology companies.
Cohen's campaign is focusing on improving the county's approach to homelessness and reforming the Sheriff's office. Cohen has expressed frustration with the county's lack of progress addressing homelessness and wants to increase oversight over the county's spending on these programs. He wants to use his experience investigating federal law enforcement agencies in the Obama administration to make the sheriff's office more transparent and accountable. Cohen mentioned that though criminal justice takes three-quarters of the county budget, he does not believe that funds need to be transferred to human services or other budget areas that some of the community have called for. He believes that a change of culture in police departments and having more non-uniformed personnel respond to issues will address community concerns. While not conservative, Cohen's platform falls short on some progressive priorities that are important to voters.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
King County, District 9
Kim-Khanh Van is a current Renton City Council member who is running for King County Council in District 9 to bring her diverse experience to the county. After her family escaped Vietnam as refugees and settled in King County, she went on to earn her doctorate and become an attorney. Van credits the community for her successes and wants to provide families and residents with healthy, livable communities that include child care access and infrastructure maintenance.
Van has demonstrated that she is willing to take tough public votes on behalf of the most vulnerable in the community. She was one of only two members of the Renton City Council who voted to maintain the Red Lion Hotel as a source of housing for residents experiencing homelessness. In our interview, we were impressed with her in-depth knowledge about the issue and her desire to lead as a consensus and coalition builder at the county level. She wants to do more to educate voters on the economic and social benefits of providing supportive, stable housing early, rather than jailing people experiencing homelessness.
Van has done much advocacy work for marginalized communities. She understands the struggles that the Black, Latino, and Asian-Pacific Islander communities have faced historically and in the present, and vows to continue to stand with residents to make the county a place of opportunity for all.
Van's personal and professional experience make her a great choice for King County Council in District 9.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Kim-Khanh Van is a current Renton City Council member who is running for King County Council in District 9 to bring her diverse experience to the county. After her family escaped Vietnam as refugees and settled in King County, she went on to earn her doctorate and become an attorney. Van credits the community for her successes and wants to provide families and residents with healthy, livable communities that include child care access and infrastructure maintenance.
Van has demonstrated that she is willing to take tough public votes on behalf of the most vulnerable in the community. She was one of only two members of the Renton City Council who voted to maintain the Red Lion Hotel as a source of housing for residents experiencing homelessness. In our interview, we were impressed with her in-depth knowledge about the issue and her desire to lead as a consensus and coalition builder at the county level. She wants to do more to educate voters on the economic and social benefits of providing supportive, stable housing early, rather than jailing people experiencing homelessness.
Van has done much advocacy work for marginalized communities. She understands the struggles that the Black, Latino, and Asian-Pacific Islander communities have faced historically and in the present, and vows to continue to stand with residents to make the county a place of opportunity for all.
Van's personal and professional experience make her a great choice for King County Council in District 9.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Kim-Khanh Van is a current Renton City Council member who is running for King County Council in District 9 to bring her diverse experience to the county. After her family escaped Vietnam as refugees and settled in King County, she went on to earn her doctorate and become an attorney. Van credits the community for her successes and wants to provide families and residents with healthy, livable communities that include child care access and infrastructure maintenance.
Van has demonstrated that she is willing to take tough public votes on behalf of the most vulnerable in the community. She was one of only two members of the Renton City Council who voted to maintain the Red Lion Hotel as a source of housing for residents experiencing homelessness. In our interview, we were impressed with her in-depth knowledge about the issue and her desire to lead as a consensus and coalition builder at the county level. She wants to do more to educate voters on the economic and social benefits of providing supportive, stable housing early, rather than jailing people experiencing homelessness.
Van has done much advocacy work for marginalized communities. She understands the struggles that the Black, Latino, and Asian-Pacific Islander communities have faced historically and in the present, and vows to continue to stand with residents to make the county a place of opportunity for all.
Van's personal and professional experience make her a great choice for King County Council in District 9.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Chris Franco is an Army veteran who serves on the leadership team in the Office of Equity and Social Justice of the King County Executive. He also serves as co-chair of the county's Latinx Affinity Group and on the county's anti-racism Core Team, which develops policy and budget priorities based on feedback from organizations and communities of color.
In our interview with Franco, he emphasized his readiness to jump into the county's biggest issues as a public servant focused on equity. He wants to address the history of redlining by changing building laws to make it easier to build affordable housing. He noted that the region's growth is outpacing infrastructure and he would prioritize planning housing around clean energy and transportation needs if elected.
Franco stated that some funding from the law enforcement system could be better used to provide mental health and child care services. Drawing on his Army experience, he believes that police should not be armed like soldiers and that demilitarization of the police should be a priority.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Chris Franco is an Army veteran who serves on the leadership team in the Office of Equity and Social Justice of the King County Executive. He also serves as co-chair of the county's Latinx Affinity Group and on the county's anti-racism Core Team, which develops policy and budget priorities based on feedback from organizations and communities of color.
In our interview with Franco, he emphasized his readiness to jump into the county's biggest issues as a public servant focused on equity. He wants to address the history of redlining by changing building laws to make it easier to build affordable housing. He noted that the region's growth is outpacing infrastructure and he would prioritize planning housing around clean energy and transportation needs if elected.
Franco stated that some funding from the law enforcement system could be better used to provide mental health and child care services. Drawing on his Army experience, he believes that police should not be armed like soldiers and that demilitarization of the police should be a priority.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Endorsed By: M. L. King County Labor Council, AFL-CIO
,
The Stranger
,
Teamsters Joint Council 28
,
UFCW 3000
,
Alliance for Gun Responsibility
Chris Franco is an Army veteran who serves on the leadership team in the Office of Equity and Social Justice of the King County Executive. He also serves as co-chair of the county's Latinx Affinity Group and on the county's anti-racism Core Team, which develops policy and budget priorities based on feedback from organizations and communities of color.
In our interview with Franco, he emphasized his readiness to jump into the county's biggest issues as a public servant focused on equity. He wants to address the history of redlining by changing building laws to make it easier to build affordable housing. He noted that the region's growth is outpacing infrastructure and he would prioritize planning housing around clean energy and transportation needs if elected.
Franco stated that some funding from the law enforcement system could be better used to provide mental health and child care services. Drawing on his Army experience, he believes that police should not be armed like soldiers and that demilitarization of the police should be a priority.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Endorsed By: M. L. King County Labor Council, AFL-CIO
,
The Stranger
,
Teamsters Joint Council 28
,
UFCW 3000
,
Alliance for Gun Responsibility
Ubax Gardheere came to King County as a refugee 25 years ago and has since spent her time organizing for better housing, health, and sustainability outcomes for all. She currently works as the director of Seattle's Equitable Development Initiative (EDI). The project was established in 2016 as a community-led way to support and fund equitable work in Black and brown neighborhoods facing displacement. Some of their funded projects include transitional and affordable housing, programming for youth, seniors, and refugees, local gardens, and the redevelopment of cultural centers. She was also previously a program director at Puget Sound Sage, where she focused her efforts on community-based planning and bringing racial justice to policymaking.
In our interview, Gardheere stated that she wants to increase community land trusts, which would create more permanently affordable housing and protect property from speculation and bidding wars on the open market. Hand-in-hand with these policies, she would advocate for more parks and open space development, as well as green infrastructure, to help neighborhoods mitigate the effects of climate change. Finally, she believes that a criminal justice system focusing on putting people in jail has damaged our communities, and would increase investments to address issues like food scarcity and community-based alternatives to policing.
Gardheere has the experience of managing a team that has moved over $50 million into marginalized communities, empowering them to make decisions that are right for their unique needs. Her demonstrated experience organizing inside communities and in government, along with the collaborative model that she has fostered, speaks well of her potential as a King County Council member.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Ubax Gardheere came to King County as a refugee 25 years ago and has since spent her time organizing for better housing, health, and sustainability outcomes for all. She currently works as the director of Seattle's Equitable Development Initiative (EDI). The project was established in 2016 as a community-led way to support and fund equitable work in Black and brown neighborhoods facing displacement. Some of their funded projects include transitional and affordable housing, programming for youth, seniors, and refugees, local gardens, and the redevelopment of cultural centers. She was also previously a program director at Puget Sound Sage, where she focused her efforts on community-based planning and bringing racial justice to policymaking.
In our interview, Gardheere stated that she wants to increase community land trusts, which would create more permanently affordable housing and protect property from speculation and bidding wars on the open market. Hand-in-hand with these policies, she would advocate for more parks and open space development, as well as green infrastructure, to help neighborhoods mitigate the effects of climate change. Finally, she believes that a criminal justice system focusing on putting people in jail has damaged our communities, and would increase investments to address issues like food scarcity and community-based alternatives to policing.
Gardheere has the experience of managing a team that has moved over $50 million into marginalized communities, empowering them to make decisions that are right for their unique needs. Her demonstrated experience organizing inside communities and in government, along with the collaborative model that she has fostered, speaks well of her potential as a King County Council member.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Ubax Gardheere came to King County as a refugee 25 years ago and has since spent her time organizing for better housing, health, and sustainability outcomes for all. She currently works as the director of Seattle's Equitable Development Initiative (EDI). The project was established in 2016 as a community-led way to support and fund equitable work in Black and brown neighborhoods facing displacement. Some of their funded projects include transitional and affordable housing, programming for youth, seniors, and refugees, local gardens, and the redevelopment of cultural centers. She was also previously a program director at Puget Sound Sage, where she focused her efforts on community-based planning and bringing racial justice to policymaking.
In our interview, Gardheere stated that she wants to increase community land trusts, which would create more permanently affordable housing and protect property from speculation and bidding wars on the open market. Hand-in-hand with these policies, she would advocate for more parks and open space development, as well as green infrastructure, to help neighborhoods mitigate the effects of climate change. Finally, she believes that a criminal justice system focusing on putting people in jail has damaged our communities, and would increase investments to address issues like food scarcity and community-based alternatives to policing.
Gardheere has the experience of managing a team that has moved over $50 million into marginalized communities, empowering them to make decisions that are right for their unique needs. Her demonstrated experience organizing inside communities and in government, along with the collaborative model that she has fostered, speaks well of her potential as a King County Council member.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Other Candidates
Republican incumbent Reagan Dunn is running to retain his seat representing District 9 on the King County Council. Dunn has served on the council since he was appointed and later elected to the position in 2005. Before that, he worked as a federal prosecutor appointed by President George W. Bush and was the national coordinator of a Department of Justice program that increases policing in neighborhoods. Dunn challenged Bob Ferguson in the 2012 race for attorney general and lost.
On the council, Dunn has been a consistent voice opposing the progressive reforms proposed by the rest of the council. In March, Dunn was the lone vote against giving grocery store workers $4 per hour hazard pay for their work on the front lines of the pandemic. In addition, Dunn was a vocal opponent of streamlining homelessness services between Seattle and King County. However, he did propose spending $1 million of taxpayer money on bus tickets to send people experiencing homelessness to other states, another shortsighted proposal that fails to address the real issues. In this campaign, he has emphasized his prosecutorial background and longstanding support of law enforcement without talking about how to reform law enforcement or reinvest in community services.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Republican incumbent Reagan Dunn is running to retain his seat representing District 9 on the King County Council. Dunn has served on the council since he was appointed and later elected to the position in 2005. Before that, he worked as a federal prosecutor appointed by President George W. Bush and was the national coordinator of a Department of Justice program that increases policing in neighborhoods. Dunn challenged Bob Ferguson in the 2012 race for attorney general and lost.
On the council, Dunn has been a consistent voice opposing the progressive reforms proposed by the rest of the council. In March, Dunn was the lone vote against giving grocery store workers $4 per hour hazard pay for their work on the front lines of the pandemic. In addition, Dunn was a vocal opponent of streamlining homelessness services between Seattle and King County. However, he did propose spending $1 million of taxpayer money on bus tickets to send people experiencing homelessness to other states, another shortsighted proposal that fails to address the real issues. In this campaign, he has emphasized his prosecutorial background and longstanding support of law enforcement without talking about how to reform law enforcement or reinvest in community services.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Issaquah City Council
Russell Joe, a municipal relationship manager, is seeking to fill Position 5 on the Issaquah City Council, which was left vacant by Stacy Goodman. Joe is an attorney who has served as a prosecutor for Eastside cities as well as a former council member for the city of Issaquah from 2000 to 2007. Previously, Joe was the chief administrative officer of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington. While Joe hasn't released a detailed platform, he has earned the endorsements of local leaders.
Joe is facing Rose Zibrat and Jason Voiss. Zibrat, a software developer and Issaquah resident, boasts a very progressive platform that includes tenant rights, police reform, workers’ rights, public transportation, and social equity. She has never held elected office but notes herself as a volunteer in the King County voters' pamphlet.
Voiss is the vice president of his family’s construction company based in Issaquah. Voiss serves on both the Issaquah Planning Policy Commission and the city’s COVID Recovery Task Force. Like his challengers, Voiss does not have a campaign website and shares the least information about his platform.
In this low information race, we recommend Joe for Position 5 on the Issaquah City Council because of his support from elected officials.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Russell Joe, a municipal relationship manager, is seeking to fill Position 5 on the Issaquah City Council, which was left vacant by Stacy Goodman. Joe is an attorney who has served as a prosecutor for Eastside cities as well as a former council member for the city of Issaquah from 2000 to 2007. Previously, Joe was the chief administrative officer of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington. While Joe hasn't released a detailed platform, he has earned the endorsements of local leaders.
Joe is facing Rose Zibrat and Jason Voiss. Zibrat, a software developer and Issaquah resident, boasts a very progressive platform that includes tenant rights, police reform, workers’ rights, public transportation, and social equity. She has never held elected office but notes herself as a volunteer in the King County voters' pamphlet.
Voiss is the vice president of his family’s construction company based in Issaquah. Voiss serves on both the Issaquah Planning Policy Commission and the city’s COVID Recovery Task Force. Like his challengers, Voiss does not have a campaign website and shares the least information about his platform.
In this low information race, we recommend Joe for Position 5 on the Issaquah City Council because of his support from elected officials.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Russell Joe, a municipal relationship manager, is seeking to fill Position 5 on the Issaquah City Council, which was left vacant by Stacy Goodman. Joe is an attorney who has served as a prosecutor for Eastside cities as well as a former council member for the city of Issaquah from 2000 to 2007. Previously, Joe was the chief administrative officer of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington. While Joe hasn't released a detailed platform, he has earned the endorsements of local leaders.
Joe is facing Rose Zibrat and Jason Voiss. Zibrat, a software developer and Issaquah resident, boasts a very progressive platform that includes tenant rights, police reform, workers’ rights, public transportation, and social equity. She has never held elected office but notes herself as a volunteer in the King County voters' pamphlet.
Voiss is the vice president of his family’s construction company based in Issaquah. Voiss serves on both the Issaquah Planning Policy Commission and the city’s COVID Recovery Task Force. Like his challengers, Voiss does not have a campaign website and shares the least information about his platform.
In this low information race, we recommend Joe for Position 5 on the Issaquah City Council because of his support from elected officials.
Last updated: 2023-04-05