The Washington Bus Endorsements

Jackie Dexter is a moderate Democrat running for Whatcom County Council in District 5. She works as an aquaculturist with Drayton Harbor Oyster Farms and lives on her family farm where she raises chickens and cattle. She serves on the Whatcom County Marine Resource Committee and is active with the Blaine Elementary PTO.

Dexter is committed to finding ways to balance the needs of the maritime, agriculture, and refinery industries, which all provide many good jobs in Whatcom County. As the mother of two children in public schools, she wants to expand access to childcare and improve early childhood development opportunities for all families. 

Dexter is challenging Republican Ben Elenbaas in District 5. Outside of the council, he works in the agricultural industry. Last year, Elenbaas ran as a Republican for state Senate and lost in the primary, earning only 19 percent of the vote. Even though working Washingtonians are struggling to pay bills and afford health care, Elenbaas prioritizes industry and corporations, especially oil interests in the region. Elenbaas is also poor at collaborating with his colleagues and often sticks to GOP talking points instead of working together to find solutions that work for everyone.

Dexter has earned impressive endorsements in this race because she understands the community's needs and will work together with her colleagues to get things done. Jackie Dexter is the clear choice for Whatcom County Council from District 5.
 

Progressive campaign organizer Jace Cotton is running for the at-large seat on the Bellingham City Council. This seat is open after Councilmember Kristina Michele Martens decided to run for mayor. 

Cotton was a campaign manager with the Whatcom County Democrats for the last two years, playing a key role in winning all seven priority races. He is now the Campaign Director of Community First Whatcom, which has placed two initiatives on this year's November ballot. One initiative would raise the minimum wage by $2 and the other would increase protections for renters. Previously, he graduated from Western Washington University and worked as a paraeducator in local public schools. 

Cotton is running to advance economic justice in Bellingham. He wants to support low-wage workers and seniors who are struggling with the rapidly increasing cost of living. 

Cotton's opponent is financial advisor Russ Whidbee, who is running for city council once again on a more moderate platform. Previously, he served on the board of the Bellingham Technical College Foundation and worked with the Kulshan Community Land Trust.

Whidbee's campaign is focused on housing affordability, public safety, and homelessness. He states that his focus would be on seeking out grants and public and private partnerships with banks and developers to increase affordable housing. However, he seems unwilling to support the kind of zoning changes needed to bring more housing options and density to our community. He also says he wants to "reimagine" public safety for Bellingham and acknowledges systemic racism in law enforcement. However, his specific policy proposals - like body cameras and de-escalation training - should represent the bare minimum and have largely been implemented already.

Cotton has earned a very impressive slate of endorsements for a first-time candidate and is running a strong campaign. We recommend Jace Cotton for Bellingham City Council, At-Large.  

Educator and conservation activist Eamonn Collins is running for Bellingham City Council from Ward #1. Collins teaches high school chemistry and physics to students at Lummi Nation School. He is the trustee with the Kulshan Community Land Trust where he advocates for affordable homeownership and environmental sustainability. Prior to moving to Whatcom County five years ago, Collins was a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) focused on education issues.

Collins believes the current Bellingham City Council is not approaching the city's challenges with the urgency they require. During our interview, he cited his experience at the Kulshan Land Trust trying to build more dense housing and being frustrated by the lack of support and responsiveness from the current council. If elected, he pledged to repeal current zoning laws that prevent more homes from being built and eliminate setbacks, parking minimums, and height caps for affordable housing projects.

Collins also cited climate change as the second issue that "keeps him up at night." From a local perspective, he wants to focus on the 32 percent of emissions that come from transportation by implementing the city's bike plan and creating more walkable neighborhoods so families aren't dependent on cars. 

Collins is a good choice for voters looking for a more outspoken progressive voice who would bring an organizer's approach to the Bellingham City Council from Ward #1. 
 

Longtime community activist and organizer Liz Darrow is now running for Bellingham City Council from Ward 3. Darrow works as a freelance video editor and has been the Technical Director of the Cascadia International Women's Film Festival for the last six years. She was a founding member of the city’s Immigration Advisory Board, worked as a legislative advocate for Community to Community Development, and is the elected co-chair for the Lettered Streets Neighborhood Association. In particular, she has advocated for the rights of farmworkers and immigrants, both in Whatcom County and in Olympia, including helping pass legislation in 2021 that made agricultural workers eligible for overtime pay.

Darrow is running for council to bring more responsive, action-oriented leadership to the city council. During our interview, she expressed her frustration with the council's lack of accessibility for most residents. She believes city leaders should be more present in the community to hear residents' concerns and better communicate about the council's work.

Darrow helped write an ambitious proposal called "The Big Lift" that includes ideas about how the city could improve homelessness services and expand tiny home shelter villages. She wants Bellingham and Whatcom County to be more aggressive in pursuing state funding and private partnerships to build some of the 50,000 units of housing she believes they need to build. On climate, Darrow would push the city to adopt a climate resiliency plan and eliminate all transit fares. However, she criticized the mayor's proposed climate action fund for being too focused on electric cars, which are financially out of reach for many residents.

Darrow is a good choice for Ward 3 if you're looking for a progressive organizer on the council who will be very active and visible in the community. 

Cydney Moore is seeking re-election to Burien City Council, Position 2. Prior to winning her seat in 2020, Moore served as a lead organizer for ACLU Burien People Power and was a board member of the Burien Arts Association.

During her time as a council member, Moore passed a groundbreaking slate of renters' rights protections, upheld pandemic eviction moratoriums and hazard pay, and increased funding for mental health supports, food banks, and rent/utility assistance. She has additionally supported a new public safety model that integrates behavioral health experts alongside police.

Moore has proven to be a vocal proponent of public health and housing for all, even when controversial. Though eventually outvoted, she was one of the three council members who voted to renew and expand Burien's main affordable housing program.

She has recently been in the spotlight for helping to notify encampment residents of their right to shelter in a nearby city-owned lot ahead of a highly-publicized sweep. Burien made headlines this year for forcing people in the encampment to relocate three times, without being able to provide the bare minimum resources that would give them access to shelter beds. Although she did her outreach as a private citizen along with former Burien Planning Commission chair Charles Schaefer, Moore spoke about how the displacement highlights the need for more resources for people experiencing homelessness. Though outvoted, Moore was part of the minority of council members who wanted to accept King County's $1 million offer to support these residents, and voted against further criminalizing people who have been forced to turn to the streets for shelter.

Moore's advocacy for her unhoused constituents stands in sharp contrast to many of the other council members, who responded to Moore and Schaefer's outreach to the encampment by removing Schaefer from his position. This event generated significant backlash, including the resignation of 11 other members of city boards and commissions.

Linda Akey is challenging Moore for Position 2. She is the owner of a small business that assists nonprofits and is the current chair of the Burien Business and Economic Development Partnership. She moved to Burien from Colorado in 2019.

Although her platform states her support for housing and services for Burien residents experiencing homelessness, her approach to issues of safety overall centers the needs businesses over people. Akey was also more supportive of a controversial sweep that displaced residents camping in front of Burien City Hall and was recorded on video questioning the group that was doing outreach to campers in front of her condominium (a group that included the incumbent Cydney Moore). Her statements on the encampment demonize people experiencing homelessness instead of offering real solutions to help residents find a warm, safe place to live. 

Cydney Moore has been a standout progressive voice on Burien's City Council, and deserves your vote for Position 2.
 

Patricia Hudson is a human resources professional with SEIU 775, a home care workers' union. She states that her experience as a working single mother has shaped her view of what it takes to make Burien a more affordable and livable place for all. Her human resources work has given her experience in a variety of fields, including education, transportation, healthcare, and human services. She has also served on multiple community boards.

Hudson is running to represent working people, advocate for living wages, secure more affordable housing, and fund green public infrastructure. In particular, she wants to add more green spaces and bike lanes so that Burien can become an even better place to walk or bike. After the recent controversies between the city council and various volunteer boards, Hudson will work to bring people back together and rebuild trust across the community.

As a council member, Hudson would re-examine what "safety" means to the diverse population of Burien. She would focus on addressing peoples' unmet needs and continuing the community policing alternatives that keep people out of the criminal legal system. Her platform acknowledges that Burien's well-being starts with providing an affordable home for all, increasing mental and behavioral health support, and making sure everyone can get a fair return on their work.

Hudson is the best choice for new progressive leadership in Burien.
 

Former deputy mayor Krystal Marx is running for Burien City Council, Position 6, which is currently held by Sofia Aragon. She previously served on the council from 2017 through 2021. She is the former executive director of Seattle Pride and previously worked for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Washington. Currently, she is the vice president of business operations for the Seattle Seawolves rugby team. 

During her previous term, Marx was a consistent progressive voice on the council. She takes a housing-first approach to homelessness, which prioritizes getting people in crisis into stable housing, and has worked to pass a range of tenant protections to keep people in their homes. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Marx voted in favor of $5 per hour hazard pay for frontline workers like grocery store employees. She also voted in favor of expanding affordable housing in downtown Burien that includes units designated for Burien residents and veterans.

Marx is running against small business owner Alex Andrade. Andrade runs the printing business Citlali Creativo and serves on the board of Discover Burien. she is running on a more conservative platform focused on policing and homelessness. Andrade recently told the B-Town Blog that she would support criminalizing people experiencing homelessness and repeatedly said she wanted to give police more power to enforce this law. Not surprisingly, she's been endorsed by some of the incumbents on the Burien City Council who have taken a hardline approach to criminalizing people who have been forced to turn to the streets for shelter. 

Marx has earned sweeping endorsements from our partner organizations, which is a reflection of her progressive values and positive vision for Burien. Marx is the clear choice for Burien City Council, Position 6. 
 

Progressive Elizabeth Greninger is running for SeaTac City Council, Position 3. With more than 15 years of social work experience, Greninger has helped people who have faced domestic violence, sexual assault, and housing instability. 

Greninger has a comprehensive plan to deliver safe, affordable, and accessible housing to all SeaTac residents. For example, she would make it easier for homeowners to convert or build accessory dwelling units on their properties. Along with advocating for higher minimum wages, Greninger also wants to ensure SeaTac uses union contracts whenever possible. If elected, she would expand local initiatives helping women, queer people, and people of color start their own businesses.

Greninger also has the most complete vision for protecting the environment and residents’ well-being. She advocates protecting the North SeaTac Park and preventing it from being developed by the Port of Seattle. Moreover, she would expand farmer’s markets and leverage the recently passed Crisis Care Levy to build behavioral health resources in the city. Finally, Greninger is focused on reducing air traffic noise pollution and aviation emissions. Overall, her policies would lead to a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for SeaTac.

Greninger is challenging incumbent Peter Kwon, who has been a council member since 2016. Kwon was the deputy mayor of SeaTac from 2020 to 2022. Professionally, he is a systems engineer, president of the Asian Pacific American Municipal Officials, and founder of the Neighborhood Locking Mailbox Program. 

Kwon focuses his campaign on his non-partisanship. His main priority during his tenure has been reducing SeaTac’s debt position while trying to not cut services. SeaTac has been successful in this aim as it now has a budget surplus without a reduction in city services. Another priority for Kwon was the adoption of a lockable mailbox program in SeaTac to address rising mail theft. Recently, Kwon has also initiated talks with the Port of Seattle to acquire the 220-acre North SeaTac park.

Unfortunately, Kwon has also been quoted as stating that SeaTac already has "enough" affordable housing, which disregards the pressing need for accessible and affordable housing options in our community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kwon voted to ban the effective strategy by King County to convert unused hotels into housing with on-site services within SeaTac, leaving people without shelter in a time of crisis.

Elizabeth Greninger's progressive values and impressive record of community service make her the choice for SeaTac City Council, Position 3.
 

James Lovell is running for SeaTac City Council, Position 5 which is currently held by retiring council member Takele Gobena. Lovell is a human services professional who worked in a number of sectors and boasts ample community leadership experience. He is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and has volunteered with the urban Native community in King County. Lovell is also involved with the Highline School District's Native Family Advisory Committee and serves on the King County Children & Youth Advisory Board. He has participated in local community efforts like clean-ups, emergency refugee resettlement support, and more.

Lovell is running on a progressive platform to make the city safe, enjoyable, and accessible to all. One of his top priorities is addressing the housing crisis so that every SeaTac resident has access to a roof over their head and the resources they need. He will do this by providing emergency shelter needs as well as instituting policies to increase housing affordability for everyone. If elected, Lovell also wants to improve local infrastructure like walkways and roads, uplift local small businesses to diversify the economy, and support SeaTac’s immigrant community.

Lovell is running against Brian Millican, who works in case management for an insurance company as well as holding the president role at a local auto repair shop. Millican has only shared a thin platform as of early October that fails to mention any campaign priorities other than supporting business. He does not offer any progressive ideas for SeaTac.

James Lovell is the best choice in this race and deserves your vote for SeaTac City Council, Position 5.
 

Damiana Merryweather is running for SeaTac City Council, Position 7, which is currently held by retiring council member Erin Sitterly. Merryweather works for the Greater Burien Area Urban Farmers Group in administration and is the operations lead and CFO of a local restaurant group. She also serves as a commissioner on the SeaTac Planning Commission.

Merryweather is running to bring her operations leadership, business savvy, and community vision to the school board. If elected, she wants to improve public safety by working with different stakeholders like community organizations, law enforcement, and residents. Merryweather also wants to work on housing affordability, especially for SeaTac’s working families, traffic and speed safety on the roads, and community/airport relations. In this race, Merryweather has earned an impressive list of endorsements including local elected officials, progressive organizations, and some unions.

The other candidate in this race is Joe Vinson, who works as a maintenance manager. Vinson’s top priorities for office include public safety, housing affordability, and climate protection. He wants to bring a combined data-driven and community-focused approach to the council in order to make SeaTac a safe city full of opportunity and unity.

We recommend Damiana Merryweather for Seatac City Council, Position 7 because of her strong endorsements from our partners and other progressive organizations.
 

Lisa Brown is a former state representative, senate majority leader, and chancellor of Washington State University Spokane. She has also served as the Washington State Director of Commerce. Brown has spent many years advocating for and volunteering in Spokane, including organizing the first Take Back the Night rally to bring awareness to victims of domestic violence.

She wants to use her experience to see the city invest in improving the quality of life for all residents. According to Brown, one of the most pressing issues is balancing the city's budget crisis while making sure that residents have the opportunity to safely live, work, and play in Spokane.

A keystone of her campaign is increasing affordable housing to help the many residents who are struggling to find shelter or stay in their homes with housing cost increases. Some of the strategies she wants to implement include making sure that the city has fully applied for available affordable housing funds from the federal and state government, and expanding "missing middle housing," or the mid-cost housing that many professionals like teachers or firefighters need to stay in the community. Brown wants to improve community safety by investing in proven strategies like expanding mental health services, offering job apprenticeships, and building more affordable housing.

Brown is running against incumbent and former news anchor Nadine Woodward, whose conservative platform includes prioritizing her big-dollar donors and trying to make us fear those turning to cars and tents for shelter while she makes it impossible for many of us to afford any place to live.

Like many conservative incumbents running this year, Woodward has taken the stance that public safety has declined under her watch. But in this year’s budget, police have again received the most funding, with 32 percent going to police, compared to 4 percent for libraries or just 2 percent going to housing and human services. At the same time, Woodward has refused to authorize an investigation into Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl's relationship with wealthy downtown business owners with whom he shared non-public information to attack his political opponents, potentially a violation of state and local law. 

On top of this, Woodard faced calls for her resignation and widespread condemnation for her decision this August to join far-right former state representative Matt Shea at an event. A state House investigation deemed Shea a domestic terrorist for provoking a civil war, intimidating political opponents, and writing violent religious manifestos. Despite this clear record, Woodard accepted his blessing and endorsement as she stood with him onstage at the event.

Spokane has had conservative mayors for the last twelve years and Brown offers the chance to transform city and local government in Spokane. Vote for Lisa Brown for a more compassionate and affordable Spokane. 

Spokane City Councilmember Betsy Wilkerson is running for council president to unite the city in a vision of collaboration and equity. She was appointed to the city council to replace Breean Beggs when he became council president in 2020. Only the second Black woman to ever serve on the council, if Wilkerson is elected this year she would become the first-ever Black president of the Spokane City Council. 

Wilkerson is no stranger to serving the community. She is the former president of the Women Helping Women Fund and the Junior League of Spokane. Currently, Wilkerson is the board president for the Carl Maxey Center and runs Moore's Boarding Home Assisted Living.

In our local questionnaire and interview with Wilkerson, the councilmember said she was most excited to make it easier and more affordable to build homes. That means fast-tracking permits, encouraging remodels instead of tear-downs to lower pollution, and making zoning reforms. She spoke about how homeownership builds wealth, and amid the housing crisis wants to encourage homeownership for families of color with more accessible down payment assistance and educational programs to address racial disparities.

Her positions in support of keeping everyone in our community safe, boosting resources for alleviating homelessness, and providing a safety net demonstrate she is a candidate who will ensure that we all thrive. Wilkerson's many progressive endorsements demonstrate her solid record in the community and on the council as a capable and collaborative leader. 

Her opponent is Republican Kim Plese, who ran for Spokane County Commissioner in 2022 and lost to Democrat Chris Jordan. This year, the former printing company owner is running for this nonpartisan position on a familiar platform. Plese was motivated to run in part because she's disappointed that the current council has supported statewide police accountability measures. Plese also states that she will work with regional partners to build more housing - an effort already underway through the regional homelessness coalition.

In contrast to her opponent, Wilkerson defends the importance of having independent police oversight. She agrees with community members who have asked for this authority because the Spokane Police Department is allegedly the third deadliest police force in the country per population. Wilkerson wants to pair mental health responders with law enforcement in applicable calls and make sure that all in the city are treated fairly when dealing with police.

Betsy Wilkerson is the clear choice for Spokane City Council President.
 

Lindsey Shaw is running for Spokane City Council in District 1 to advocate for the residents of Northeast Spokane. Shaw served as chair of the Logan Neighborhood Council for five years and sees a chance in her candidacy to bring light to issues in District 1, like the North-South Freeway and the Children of the Sun Trail development, as well as making Spokane a better place to live for all across the city.

Shaw wants to usher in a citywide affordable childcare program to help families in the years of early childhood and boost the local economy. She states that low-barrier youth programs, young adult skill development, and other interventions are crucial for communities to thrive. On public safety, Shaw wants to see the city clean up neighborhoods, invest in substance abuse treatment and behavioral health programs, provide more affordable housing options so that no one is forced to live on the street, and make upstream investments before anyone is put into the criminal legal system.

Shaw is running against incumbent Michael Cathcart, who has served on the Spokane City Council since 2020. Previously, he was an aide for the far-right state Sen. Michael Baumgartner, who voters may remember for his anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion stances. As former executive director of the pro-business Better Spokane, Cathcart's campaign coffers and agenda are flooded with big developer money. He takes a conservative and hypocritical stance on issues like the possibility of a new jail, stating that "jail is going to make you a better criminal," but also advocating for building an expensive new one.

In the years since he lost his run for Spokane County Council, Cathcart has voted against a local Pride crosswalk and opposed a resolution that would prevent any Spokane city employee, including law enforcement, from aiding prosecution and investigations against abortion care providers or patients. Cathcart will continue to be an obstacle to progress on the council if re-elected.

Shaw's much stronger agenda and care for all residents of Spokane shows her commitment to the city, and she is the best choice for Spokane City Council, District 1. 

Paul Dillon is running for Spokane City Council, District 2 as an experienced and fearless advocate of opportunity for all in the city. 

There's no doubt about the breadth and depth of Dillon's experience working and volunteering for the residents of Spokane. He currently works as the vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho. Dillon is also the former Eastern Washington director for the YMCA Youth and Government Program and has served as a board member for the Center For Justice, Washington Bikes, and Pedals2People.

If elected, Dillon wants to raise the minimum wage to boost the local economy and support struggling families. As someone who once ran an environmental advocacy news site published by The Spokesman-Review, Dillon wants to revisit local laws on oil and train derailments to protect the environment. Also high on his priorities is to build new affordable housing units to alleviate rising housing costs for everyone in the community and fund transitional shelters and behavioral health rather than criminalizing homelessness. 

Dillon's community safety stance is more detailed and more progressive than his opponent's. He notes that due to racist incarceration policies, we have a system where African Americans, who are two percent of the population in Spokane, make up 14 percent of the jail population. He would invest in alternatives to incarceration, and use public health and behavioral health interventions instead of police where applicable, like sending unarmed officers or mental health responders. By fully funding the Office of Civil Rights and Equity, working to uplift working families, and promoting community safety, Dillon demonstrates his desire to lead from progressive values. 

His opponent is Katey Randall Treloar, who previously ran for Spokane School District Director in 2019. She is the founder of the program Bite To Go, which supplemented meals for hungry students. This year, she states that she will work on affordable housing, mental health, and addiction resources, but has yet to offer any details on her website about how she would tackle those issues if elected to city hall. 

In her previous run for school board, Treloar wanted to see armed officers put in schools and protested against COVID-19 safety protocols. She also opposed a supplemental school levy that aimed to provide resources for the district's children if the legislature didn't provide enough funding for schools. Treloar's previous campaign positions and lack of detail in her current campaign don't point to a progressive candidacy. 

Dillon's broad endorsements from labor, environmental organizations, and Democratic elected officials speak to the power of his campaign to make the city a better place to live for all. Vote Paul Dillon for Spokane City Council from District 2.
 

Former U.S. Army reserve medic Kitty Klitzke is running to bring her transportation expertise to the Spokane City Council. As the former chair of Spokane's Community Assembly Pedestrian, Transportation, and Traffic Committee and president of the Spokane Regional Food Policy Council, Klitzke has been deeply involved in the community. She also led Complete Streets Spokane, which successfully advocated for bike and pedestrian infrastructure requirements when planning and building streets.

In our local interview, Klitzke had thoughtful progressive answers to many of the issues facing Spokane. She agreed that the police ombudsman should be granted the power to independently investigate community complaints, which voters overwhelmingly approved. She also believes that Spokane needs to stop incentivizing housing that is unaffordable and start incentivizing the development of vacant lots, buildings, and parking lots. On homelessness, she supports a housing-first approach that helps people find shelter and secure homes as well as needed services.

Running against Klitzke is former respiratory therapist Earl Moore, who states that she's running a nonpartisan campaign though she was awarded the 2022 Republican Hero award by the county Republican party. Moore joined a rally this May to defend Spokane Police Chief Meidl from an investigation about potentially inappropriate relationships with wealthy downtown business owners, including sharing non-public information and using the police budget to attack his political opponents. Moore was also one of a number of candidates who joined far-right former state representative Matt Shea at an event this August to receive his endorsement and blessing.  As of mid-October, Moore's campaign remains thin on details about what she would prioritize if elected. Aside from her dedication to always supporting police, Moore promises a regional approach to the housing crisis but includes nothing about how she would implement policies in the city to achieve more stable or affordable housing. 

Klitzke is an accomplished transportation advocate who is excited to take on the city's needs for long-term planning and vision. Kitty Klitzke is the clear choice for Spokane City Council in District 3.  

Olgy Diaz is running to retain the At-Large position on the Tacoma City Council. Appointed to the position in the summer of 2022, Diaz is the first Latina to serve on the council. Diaz has deep roots in advocating for the community, including with groups like OneAmerica and Planned Parenthood, in the state legislature, and alongside local candidates. Reflecting her commitment to protecting our clean air and water, she serves as the deputy legislative director for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and serves as the vice chair of the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition.

Diaz has hit the ground running as a council member. In her first year, she has passed ordinances to protect gender-affirming healthcare and the right to abortion. She is excited to continue work on the city's climate action plan, which has so far funded wildfire smoke filter fans for low-income households and a city litter crew, among other priorities. When it comes to community safety, Diaz supports the city's overhaul of police use-of-force policies, the body camera program, and a community trauma response team. She also supported investments directly in the community through more affordable and accessible homes and shelter, increasing the tree canopy, and more. Diaz's work has earned her a huge slate of endorsements, including from Tacoma City Council members, state representatives, and many progressive organizations. 

Diaz is being challenged from the right by Kristen Wynne, an event venue owner and former King County deputy prosecutor. She is running to represent the business community, in her words, and wants to make Tacoma more business-friendly. But her method of doing so has failed time and time again - by pouring more money into law enforcement to tackle the issues of public safety. 

Relying on police, penalties, and prisons to tackle the addiction crisis, lack of affordable housing, and dealing with people having mental health crises has yet to work here or elsewhere in the country. Wynne takes issue with the 30 vacant officer positions in the Tacoma Police Department, but this isn't just a local issue - cities across the state and nation have seen a deficit of qualified individuals seeking to become police officers. This is yet another reason that relying on traditional law enforcement is unlikely to solve issues of addiction, mental health, or homelessness.

Wynne is closely aligned with the downtown business community and would likely pull the council to the right if elected. Diaz has been a principled and proactive member of the Tacoma City Council, and she has earned her vote to continue her work on the council. 
 

Jamika Scott is running for Tacoma City Council in District 3 to replace Councilmember Keith Blocker, who is retiring. She was born and raised in Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood and has dedicated her career to organizing her community.

Scott has worked as a domestic violence advocate at YWCA Pierce County and mentored students with AmeriCorps at Peace Community Center. She is also a co-founder and organizer with the Tacoma Action Collective and a board member of the Tacoma Public Library Foundation and the Tacoma Arts Commission.

Scott is a community activist who is running to bring her lifetime of experience to the Tacoma City Council. If elected, she would prioritize improving community safety through alternatives to law enforcement. She wants to expand access to mental health advocates to respond to emergency calls instead of police. In addition, she supports utilizing a restorative justice model that attempts to repair the harm done instead of only punishing offenders. Scott has also endorsed the Tacoma For All campaign that would establish a tenant bill of rights for local renters.

We recommend Scott for Tacoma City Council in District 3 because of her broader support, very progressive campaign platform, and deep roots in the community.