City of Lakewood
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Welcome to Fuse Progressive Voters Guide to the 2023 Washington general 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. Please share this guide with your friends and family and remember to return your ballot by November 7!
Lakewood City Council
There are no good candidates running for Lakewood City Council, Position 4. Write in the progressive candidate of your choice.
Paul Wagemann is a retired military veteran, Republican precinct committee officer, and business owner who has run for a total of 12 different positions since 2007, most often as a Republican. In 2009, Wagemann was elected to fill a vacant position on the Clover Park School Board. He was censured after an investigation in June of 2022 for racial discrimination towards Superintendent Ron Banner, declaring that his behavior went against the Board's Policy and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Wagemann's platform priorities for Lakewood include making the city more business-friendly and addressing homelessness, though his website is inoperable as of mid-September so no further details are available.
The other candidate for Position 4 on the Lakewood City Council is Ryan Pearson, a civil engineer for Pierce County. Pearson currently serves on the Lakewood Planning Commission and describes himself as a "fiscally conservative moderate."
Pearson, like Wagemann, has no website as of mid-October, so no endorsements or detailed policy positions are available. His voter's pamphlet statement says he supports development that creates opportunities for residents to live close to employment hubs. However, he stokes fears by promising that we will feel safer if we just jail more people, and promises to "resist" progressive criminal justice reforms that the Legislature has passed.
While Pearson is a slightly better choice than the twice-censured Wagemann, neither is a progressive option.
There are no good candidates running for Lakewood City Council, Position 4. Write in the progressive candidate of your choice.
Paul Wagemann is a retired military veteran, Republican precinct committee officer, and business owner who has run for a total of 12 different positions since 2007, most often as a Republican. In 2009, Wagemann was elected to fill a vacant position on the Clover Park School Board. He was censured after an investigation in June of 2022 for racial discrimination towards Superintendent Ron Banner, declaring that his behavior went against the Board's Policy and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Wagemann's platform priorities for Lakewood include making the city more business-friendly and addressing homelessness, though his website is inoperable as of mid-September so no further details are available.
The other candidate for Position 4 on the Lakewood City Council is Ryan Pearson, a civil engineer for Pierce County. Pearson currently serves on the Lakewood Planning Commission and describes himself as a "fiscally conservative moderate."
Pearson, like Wagemann, has no website as of mid-October, so no endorsements or detailed policy positions are available. His voter's pamphlet statement says he supports development that creates opportunities for residents to live close to employment hubs. However, he stokes fears by promising that we will feel safer if we just jail more people, and promises to "resist" progressive criminal justice reforms that the Legislature has passed.
While Pearson is a slightly better choice than the twice-censured Wagemann, neither is a progressive option.
Clover Park School Board
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below school district races on your ballot.
Janet Caldwell is running for Clover Park School Board, Director, District 5. The seat is currently held by Paul Wagemann, who is facing evidence-based allegations that he both sexually harrassed a school employee and also made racist remarks at a school board meeting. Caldwell has been a public school educator in the Bethel School District for the past 29 years and currently serves as the Bethel Education Association president. She can relate to many district families as a longtime Lakewood resident, military spouse, and parent of district students.
Caldwell is running on an inclusive platform to improve education opportunities and resources for all Clover Park students. Her top priorities include ensuring that students are safe at school and attracting quality educators to Clover Park schools. She also wants to ensure public education is accessible to students of all learning needs. Caldwell has earned an impressive slate of endorsements from community leaders and local educators.
Caldwell’s opponent in this race is Noa Bunting, who is aligned with the far-right group Moms for Liberty. Bunting is a 24-year-old conservative whose campaign platform promotes the agenda of right-wing groups that want to ban books from school libraries, eliminate comprehensive sex education, and change school curriculums to match their political agenda. Our students deserve a quality education free from the politicization of a small group of far-right activists and candidates like Noa Bunting.
Janet Caldwell's decades of experience as an educator and strong community support make her the clear choice for Clover Park School Board, Director, District 5.
Last updated: 2023-10-17
Janet Caldwell is running for Clover Park School Board, Director, District 5. The seat is currently held by Paul Wagemann, who is facing evidence-based allegations that he both sexually harrassed a school employee and also made racist remarks at a school board meeting. Caldwell has been a public school educator in the Bethel School District for the past 29 years and currently serves as the Bethel Education Association president. She can relate to many district families as a longtime Lakewood resident, military spouse, and parent of district students.
Caldwell is running on an inclusive platform to improve education opportunities and resources for all Clover Park students. Her top priorities include ensuring that students are safe at school and attracting quality educators to Clover Park schools. She also wants to ensure public education is accessible to students of all learning needs. Caldwell has earned an impressive slate of endorsements from community leaders and local educators.
Caldwell’s opponent in this race is Noa Bunting, who is aligned with the far-right group Moms for Liberty. Bunting is a 24-year-old conservative whose campaign platform promotes the agenda of right-wing groups that want to ban books from school libraries, eliminate comprehensive sex education, and change school curriculums to match their political agenda. Our students deserve a quality education free from the politicization of a small group of far-right activists and candidates like Noa Bunting.
Janet Caldwell's decades of experience as an educator and strong community support make her the clear choice for Clover Park School Board, Director, District 5.
Last updated: 2023-10-17
Endorsed By: Washington Education Association
Janet Caldwell is running for Clover Park School Board, Director, District 5. The seat is currently held by Paul Wagemann, who is facing evidence-based allegations that he both sexually harrassed a school employee and also made racist remarks at a school board meeting. Caldwell has been a public school educator in the Bethel School District for the past 29 years and currently serves as the Bethel Education Association president. She can relate to many district families as a longtime Lakewood resident, military spouse, and parent of district students.
Caldwell is running on an inclusive platform to improve education opportunities and resources for all Clover Park students. Her top priorities include ensuring that students are safe at school and attracting quality educators to Clover Park schools. She also wants to ensure public education is accessible to students of all learning needs. Caldwell has earned an impressive slate of endorsements from community leaders and local educators.
Caldwell’s opponent in this race is Noa Bunting, who is aligned with the far-right group Moms for Liberty. Bunting is a 24-year-old conservative whose campaign platform promotes the agenda of right-wing groups that want to ban books from school libraries, eliminate comprehensive sex education, and change school curriculums to match their political agenda. Our students deserve a quality education free from the politicization of a small group of far-right activists and candidates like Noa Bunting.
Janet Caldwell's decades of experience as an educator and strong community support make her the clear choice for Clover Park School Board, Director, District 5.
Last updated: 2023-10-17
Endorsed By: Washington Education Association