City of Tacoma

Democrat Jamie Smith is challenging incumbent Paul Herrera for the Pierce County Council, District 2 seat. Smith has spent nearly two decades teaching high school at local public schools, and she works as a youth sports coach. Additionally, she serves as an elected executive board member with the Puyallup Education Association.

Smith has a progressive vision for a vibrant county with a strong community, a healthy economy, and a unique character. She wants to build bridges between law enforcement and mental health care professionals to create collaborative community safety. If elected, Smith would also build affordable housing so that people of all income levels can find a home, as well as invest in our school district to develop successful future generations and protect our local ecosystem. She has earned impressive support in this race, including from local city and county council members.

Republican incumbent Paul Herrera is running for another term on the county council. Herrera is an army veteran and served as a police sergeant for the Puyallup Tribe for more than two decades. In this campaign, he wants to bring his military and law enforcement expertise to the council. However, he places less emphasis on the things that we know keep our communities safe: affordable housing, health care, and good wages.

We recommend Jamie Smith in this race to bring community-focused progress to Pierce County Council in District 2.
 

Jeanette Twitty is the founder and partner of Homeward Bound, a program that provides life skills training for those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. She is also a member of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, and a board member of the Washington League of Minority Voters, among other roles. 

Though Twitty has much experience in community service and leadership, her vision for the port is somewhat lacking. She states that she's running to bring good jobs and prevent pollution, bring more equity and diversity to the port, and sustainably invest, but her campaign website lacks detail about what policies in particular she advocates for or would do to change things. Her campaign materials, similarly, say that she will maintain and enhance partnerships that are critical to the port's success and address the port's impact on local communities, though again no specifics are provided. She has been endorsed by Pierce County Democratic Central Committee but has not earned as much support as her opponent in this race.  

Attorney Kristin Ang is running for re-election for Port of Tacoma Commissioner, Position 5 to continue building a sustainable vision for industry at the port. She seeks to protect community health and the environment by reducing noise and air pollution, improving water quality, and increasing shore power technology. Ang opposes the port's property tax and supports pressing businesses to clean up their share of pollution, developing a comprehensive public engagement plan, and working with tribes, businesses, and local government to create shared agendas for the port.

Ang is running against Dave Bryant, a Navy veteran. Voters may find this matchup familiar - Bryant and Ang also ran against each other in 2019, with Ang winning by about 3 percent. This year, Bryant's campaign is similar to his last run. He wants to optimize the loading and offloading of goods with surface transportation, update the port's infrastructure, and use his knowledge of operating deep draft ships to make the port more competitive. However, he still lacks Ang's knowledge and experience when it comes to environmental conservation and creating clean energy jobs.

Ang has worked hard as a member of the port’s tribal liaison committee, diversity, equity, and inclusion committee, and as a board member of the Central Puget Sound Economic Development District and the Washington Council on International Trade. She has earned your vote for Port of Tacoma Commission, Position 5.
 

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. 
 

Deputy Mayor Kristina Walker is running for re-election for At-Large Position 8 on the Tacoma City Council. Prior to serving on the city council, Walker spent nine years as the executive director of Downtown on the Go, a Tacoma-based transportation advocacy organization that aims to encourage the use of biking, walking, and transit. 

During her first term in office, Walker has prioritized addressing racial disparities, expanding shelter options, and investing more in affordable housing. She supported the Home in Tacoma initiative to promote a greater range of housing options in more neighborhoods and reduce the cost of housing. She has also used her experience in transportation advocacy to improve access and keep our streets safe, including supporting legislation to lower the speed limit to 20 mph in residential areas. Unfortunately, Walker was part of a 6-3 majority on the city council that banned people without a home from sleeping outside near services. 

If re-elected, Walker would prioritize creating jobs, improving transportation access, and preserving local green spaces for all Tacoma residents. In addition, she is committed to reducing gun violence and improving public safety.

Walker faces a challenge this year from Todd Briske. Briske is a web developer who ran for state legislature last year against Speaker Laurie Jinkins as part of the Forward Party. He does not appear to have much community or political leadership experience. He states that he would focus on paving potholes, hiring more police officers, and building more shelter beds, though he doesn't say how he would accomplish this. 

Walker's track record on the council and strong support from our Progressive Voters Guide partners makes her the clear choice in this race.
 

John Hines is running unopposed for Tacoma City Council, District 1. He is the Instructional Facilitator for Academic Acceleration for Tacoma Public Schools and has served on the Tacoma Library Board and the board of the YWCA, among other community service roles. 

His campaign priorities this year include continuing a comprehensive approach to the homelessness crisis. This strategy includes connecting people with the resources they need, using deterrence and "hot spot" policing, and upgrading city infrastructure. Hines is endorsed by five of his fellow council members, Mayor Woodards, as well as several unions and county council members.
 

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.
 

Myrah Lyle Ballentine is running for Position 3 on the Tacoma Civil Service Commission in this relatively low-information race. Ballentine works in administrative and student support at Tacoma Community College. She is also a board member and the secretary of the Tacoma Central Neighborhood Council, one of the city’s recognized community councils. Ballentine’s track record in community service has given her strong insight into the issues facing people who work, study, and live in Tacoma.

Like her opponent, Ballentine does not have appear to have a campaign website as of early October, but her campaign statement in the local voters' pamphlet emphasizes her community relationships and desire to improve the quality of life for all Tacoma residents. She stands apart from her opponent in this race because of key endorsements from the local Democrats and county union leadership.

Max J. Heller III, a security guard for the Tacoma Dome and Democratic precinct committee officer, is also running for the civil service commission. He has previously run for local and statewide seats and has volunteered with community services that help our unhoused neighbors. If elected, he wants to be a voice for workers.

In this low-information race, we believe Myrah Lyle Ballentine is the best choice because of her endorsements and community leadership experience.
 

Erasmo Ruiz is running for Bethel School Board from District 2. He has worked for the last four years as a social worker and mental health professional in the state foster care system. He is also a member of the Bethel School District Career and Technical Education General Advisory Committee. 

Ruiz is running to ensure every student has the resources they need to thrive. His top priority would be to advocate for more state and federal education funding to improve education without raising more regressive taxes. In addition, he wants to provide more support for teachers, improve student safety, and expand dual-language education programs. 

Ruiz is challenging longtime incumbent John Manning. Despite his many years on the board, Manning has not released a website or any campaign platform as of mid-October. Manning and other incumbents recently faced significant criticism from parents and bus drivers over major staffing shortages that have left kids stranded at bus stops. Manning blamed the crisis on the pandemic and didn't directly address drivers concerns about being overworked and underpaid, as well as frequent route changes that leave parents and drivers confused. In a public letter, bus drivers said the district's "leadership is floundering" and said parents should be concerned. 

Erasmo Ruiz is the clear choice for new leadership on the Bethel School Board from District 2. 
 

School board vice-president Korey Strozier is running unopposed for re-election to the Tacoma School Board in Director District 3. Strozier was first appointed to the school board in 2020 and retained by voters the following year. He is the director of King County Youthsource, a public program to help youth further their education and employment opportunities. 

Strozier is the only Black school board member currently, and he has been a strong advocate for disenfranchised students and equity in our school district. His accomplishments in office include leading the school district through the coronavirus pandemic and earning a statewide award for his work on developing anti-racist policy and closing opportunity gaps. Now, he is running on a community-responsive platform to bring more transparency and engagement to the school board as well as implementing financial literacy programs. If re-elected, Strozier will continue to ensure students from all backgrounds have the same opportunity for success in Tacoma schools. His re-election is supported by an impressive and long list of elected and community leaders.

Strozier has been a staunch progressive on the board, and he deserves your vote for another term in Tacoma School Board, Director District 3.
 

School board president Elizabeth Bonbright is running for another term for Tacoma School Board, Director Position 5. Bonbright originally joined the board by appointment in November 2019 and was retained by voters two years later. She spent her professional career in early childhood policy as an expert with over 30 years of experience. Bonbright served as the executive director of Child Care Aware of Washington for more than 20 years, improving the statewide child care resource and referral system. She currently volunteers with two PTAs and the Emergency Food Network.

Bonbright is running to continue serving the holistic needs of students in the district to ensure that graduates have had a strong education, social and emotional learning, and resources to grow into healthy adults with bright futures. She helped lead efforts to adopt an anti-racist policy within the district and is a strong advocate for policy to create equitable schools. Her top priorities in this race include investing in youth mental health resources, continuing to heighten academic quality, dismantling systemic racism, and ensuring student safety. Bonbright has earned a remarkable set of progressive and community endorsements in this race.

The candidate running as Brian'na Wolk (also known online as Brine Wolk and Brian Wolk) is challenging Bonbright on a very far-right platform. One of Wolk’s campaign websites is dedicated to the tired, conservative 'anti-woke' campaign which only serves to distract from the real issues facing our students and our district. Wolk has voiced some of the most extremist views in this election cycle, including advocating for installing misinformation in our students’ curriculums and circulating conspiracy theories about the district.

In this race, Wolk has claimed to be “a trans lesbian two-spirit indigenous woman of color.” Unfortunately, this appears to be a deeply offensive joke and not a reflection of Wolk’s identity and experiences. When asked about taking “the opportunity to create an identity that could move [Wolk] into a marginalized group” in an interview with The News Tribune, Wolk replied, “Why wouldn’t I do that?”

Elizabeth Bonbright is a strong advocate for students. She is the clear choice in this race for Tacoma School Board, Director Position 5.