King County

Attorney and nonprofit founder Girmay Zahilay is running unopposed for re-election for King County Council, District 2. 

In his first four-year term, Zahilay has been a standout progressive on the council, focusing on equitable development, preventing gun violence, and fighting for justice at the county level. He has pushed for more funding and opportunities for Skyway, an unincorporated part of the county with the highest proportion of Black people of any community in the state that also faces immense disinvestment, childhood poverty, and a low median income. Zahilay has worked to increase funding for Metro transit, open a tiny home village, fund $5 million in affordable housing, and $10 million in seed funding for a community center. Finally, he played a lead role in amending the county charter to appoint the sheriff, as well as giving more investigational power to the county on cases of police brutality. 

Zahilay has earned your vote for King County Council.  

Assistant Attorney General Sarah Reyneveld is running to bring her experience in government and policy advocacy to the King County Council. In her current role, she oversees a team that leads on protecting environmental and public health. 

Reyneveld has worked to help families and children through many volunteer roles, including as a board member of Washington’s Paramount Duty, an organization that advocates for more education funding, and as chair of the Women’s Advisory Board, which makes recommendations to the county for child care access and affordability. Reyneveld has also been a King County Democrats and 36th District Democrats executive board member, and vice chair of the Washington Conservation Action board of directors.

In our interview with Reyneveld, she pointed to her longtime advocacy as a sign of her readiness to hit the ground running on her three top priorities: equitable economic recovery, the environment, and housing. With an anticipated budget shortfall looming for the county, she emphasized the need for more progressive revenue to help build 17,000 additional units of housing every year to keep up with population growth. She also mentioned the possibility of a dedicated countywide housing levy, which would create a funding source to build more diverse housing options, from multifamily homes to affordable housing.

Reyneveld spoke about the need for prevention and helping meet people's needs to improve community safety. She believes that incarceration is not the answer for people struggling with addiction and other health issues. Scaling up gun violence prevention programs and addiction treatment hubs are two policies she would advocate for on the council, and she would also consider policies like a guaranteed basic income to help residents thrive. 

Reyneveld's longtime experience in Democratic politics, community organizations, and legal advocacy distinguish her in this race.  

Claudia Balducci is running unopposed for re-election to the King County Council from District 6. 

First elected in 2015, Balducci previously served as the mayor of Bellevue during her 12 years on the Bellevue City Council. She is also the founder and chair of the Regional Affordable Housing Committee and a board member of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority. 

Balducci is running on a platform of affordable housing, updating transportation options, and ensuring climate justice. A few of the policies that she and the council worked on this term include putting a fully serviced shelter on the Eastside for people experiencing homelessness, improving and electrifying buses, and passing gun violence prevention policies. Balducci spearheaded a successful effort to create a Sound Transit "starter line" to connect Bellevue and Redmond while work continues on the East Link Extension to Seattle.

Balducci is one of the brightest and most effective progressive leaders in our region. She has earned your vote for re-election to the King County Council.  

Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda is running for King County Council, District 8. Mosqueda was first elected to the Seattle City Council in 2017 and has proved a consistent and progressive policymaker. She previously worked at the Washington State Department of Health, Children’s Alliance, Community Health Plan of Washington, and the Washington State Labor Council, with a focus on workers' rights and childrens' healthcare. Among other community roles, she also served on the board of Fuse Washington, which publishes this guide. Mosqueda is a proud third-generation Mexican-American who would become the first Latina ever to serve on the King County Council if elected.

Mosqueda has distinguished herself as a progressive leader on the Seattle City Council. She championed the Jumpstart Seattle legislation, which funds affordable housing, childcare, and climate resilience through a tax on high earners and wealthy corporations. Mosqueda also helped secure paid sick leave and fair wage protections for working people that are often exploited by their employers - like gig drivers, domestic workers, and hotel workers. Her current goal is passing the 2023 Housing Levy, which will be on the ballot for Seattle voters this November and would provide funding for crucial affordable housing, childcare services, and communal and cultural spaces that are disappearing from the city.

If elected to the county council, Mosqueda hopes to use her experience to address new and pressing issues in the county. Some of her priorities include finding locations for the six new county behavioral health centers, building workforce housing outside of Seattle, increasing apprenticeship programs, and more. 

Mosqueda is the clear choice for King County Council from District 8. 
 

Cheryl Rakes is running to retain Position 1 on the Auburn City Council. She was appointed to the seat in January of this year after Councilmember Chris Stearns was elected to the state House in 2022. 

As the executive director of the Downtown Auburn Cooperative, unsurprisingly, she stated that revitalizing downtown was her top priority when she was appointed. As a candidate, she seeks to advance local entrepreneurship and support workforce development programs.

Rakes states that she will work to improve public safety through community policing, like neighborhood watch programs, and would also invest in crime prevention. She also says she will address homelessness, though there's no mention of investing in more affordable housing, a key component of making sure that people don't fall into or remain houseless. 

Rakes faces a challenge from consultant Lisa Stirgus, who has worked in the financial industry for over 20 years and is now running for city council on a motto of clean and safe streets. She's running on a moderate angle that aims to support police officers, connect people to city resources, and support businesses. Stirgus does not have organizational endorsements as of mid-October. 

Rakes has been endorsed by several of the local district Democrats as well as five of her fellow council members. Rakes is the best choice for Auburn City Council, Position 1. 
 

Deputy Mayor James Jeyaraj is running for another term in Position 3 on the Auburn City Council. Jeyaraj made history as Auburn’s first Indian-American immigrant to serve on the city council when he joined in 2020. In his professional life, Jeyaraj has worked in the aerospace industry, and he serves in the community as a member of the city's Parks and Recreation Board as well as for the nonprofit Lighthouse for the Blind.

On the council, one of Jeyaraj's progressive accomplishments was bringing forward a resolution to affirm abortion access in Auburn after Roe v. Wade was overturned. Jeyaraj’s campaign priorities this year include creating more living-wage jobs, more affordable housing options, and progress on community safety. He has earned overwhelming support in this race from key progressive leaders, unions, and political organizations.

Former KIRO news reporter Tracy Taylor Turner is challenging Jeyaraj in this race. Taylor Turner currently serves as the vice president of the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation and works in communications for Kent’s municipal government. Her platform is not very detailed as of mid- October, focusing primarily on more policing in our neighborhoods and more governmental support for businesses and development. Her individual endorsements listed on her Facebook come largely from conservative elected officials, including House Republican Leader Rep. Drew Stokesbary.

Jeyaraj is the best choice for Auburn City Council, Position 3.
 

Incumbent Robyn Mulenga is running for re-election to Auburn City Council, Position 5. Before joining the council in 2020, Mulenga served as the District 2 director for the Auburn School Board where she advocated for both racial equity policies and funding for two new elementary schools and six replacement schools. Outside of public service, she works as a program analyst for the Federal Aviation Administration.

Mulenga previously ran for this seat with a platform focused on bringing Auburn’s diverse stakeholders together to make the city a better place to live, work, start businesses and families, and call home. In office, she voted against an ordinance that would have criminalized homelessness and brought more people into our overpopulated incarceration system, and instead, she focused on generating more public revenue to connect those struggling the most with the resources they need. Mulenga also reduced barriers to creating more affordable housing to help people keep a roof over their heads. Though she has not released a campaign platform in this election, it is clear that Mulenga has progressive priorities and a successful track record of executing community policy plans.

Clinton Taylor is the other candidate in this race. He is the CEO and founder of a financial mentorship program, a board member of the Auburn Public School Foundation, and an army veteran. If elected, he wants to address the housing crisis, increase law enforcement budgets, cut funding from public services, and create more jobs. Unfortunately, Taylor recently posted a video on Facebook saying "the Bible said that homosexuality is an abomination", and when asked about it later, he responded with "What did I say that was wrong?" Taylor's harshly anti-LGBTQ views have no place in public service and only further divide our community against one another. 

Mulenga is the clear choice in this race to bring tested progressive leadership to the Auburn City Council in Position 5.
 

Hanan Amer is running for Auburn City Council, Position 7. The seat is currently held by Bob Baggett who is not seeking a third term on the council. Amer has a background in chemistry and works at a local aerospace company. She dedicates much of her free time to public service and has served on the city’s diversity council and on the planning commission. Amer also volunteers with the Girl Scouts.

Amer is running an optimistic, inclusive campaign to make Auburn a safe place to live and work for all. If elected, she wants to focus on social equity, environmental stewardship, community safety, and quality municipal leadership. In this race, Amer has earned endorsements from local unions, Democratic groups, and community leaders across multiple levels of government.

The other candidate in this race is Brian Lott, an administrative executive for a local food technology company. Though he says he disagrees with partisan politics, Lott is running on a conservative platform. He offers an uncompassionate and ineffective approach to the housing crisis and wants to use public funds to further militarize our police instead of investing in alternatives.

Auburn residents deserve a council member focused on community solutions instead of divisive policies. Hanan Amer is the clear choice in this race for Auburn City Council, Position 7.
 

Incumbent and progressive advocate John Stokes is running for another term in Position 1 on the Bellevue City Council. He has a long track record in public service. Before joining the council in 2012, Stokes served on both the Parks & Community Services Board and Eastgate/I-90 Citizen Advisory Committee, and he co-founded a nonprofit focused on providing resources, support, and opportunities for children to set them up for happy and healthy lives.

In office, Stokes has been a staunch voice for affordability in Bellevue. He led the Downtown Livability Initiative to allow the development of Bellevue’s vibrant downtown. Additionally, Stokes' dedication to parks and green spaces promotes a healthier, greener Bellevue, benefiting both residents and the planet. 

Throughout his tenure, Stokes has supported community safety efforts to ensure Bellevue remains a great place to live and raise a family. In this race, he has earned impressive endorsements, including from the King County Democrats and the Bellevue Firefighters. 

Business owner Paul Clark is the other candidate in this race. Clark has served on both the Civil Service Commission and Parks and Community Services Board. He is running on a typical conservative agenda this year that includes opposing policies that would reduce the cost of housing in Bellevue. He also would have made it harder to build more permanent supportive housing in Bellevue, which is necessary to alleviate long-term homelessness. Like fellow conservative candidate Betsi Hummer, Clark took a maximum donation from billionaire developer Kemper Freeman along with other prominent Republicans. 

We recommend John Stokes for Bellevue City Council because of his progressive track record and experience in community leadership. 

Mo Malakoutian is running for Bellevue City Council, Position 3, to replace Jeremy Barksdale, who chose not to run for re-election. Malakoutian received his undergraduate degree and MBA from the University of Washington. He now works at Amazon coaching and training employees, particularly those in warehouse and delivery roles, for higher-level positions. He also works part-time as an assistant professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UW. 

Malakoutian has been active in the local community for many years. He is currently the chair of the Bellevue Planning Commission, where he has both worked on the city's plans for sustainable growth and helped develop guidelines for housing and facilities to support people experiencing homelessness. 

Malakoutian's top campaign priority is affordable housing. He wants to use his experience in civil engineering and on the planning commission to build more homes, reduce the cost of housing, and prevent seniors from being priced out of their homes. He would also work with partners in nearby jurisdictions to ensure we continue to address homelessness through a regional response. Malakoutian is also committed to acting on climate change and supports improving transportation and transit options throughout Bellevue. 

His opponent is Alex Tsimerman, who is best known for verbally abusing city council members at public hearings. He is an outspoken Trump supporter who regularly compares Democrats to Nazis and uses racial slurs during public meetings. Tsimerman has no place in elected office.

Malakoutian is a strong first-time candidate for office with extensive professional and community experience that will serve him well on the council. We recommend Mo Malakoutian for Bellevue City Council, Position 3.
 

Incumbent council member Janice Zahn is running for a second term on the Bellevue City Council in Position 5. She is the chief engineer for the Port of Seattle and serves on the city of Bellevue's Transportation Commission. Zahn emigrated from Hong Kong as a child and has dedicated her adult life to stewarding public infrastructure and services. 

Zahn serves with a strong vision for a safe, accessible, and more affordable Bellevue. Zahn states that community safety has always been a top priority for her. She worked to secure funding to ensure Bellevue has the public safety and mental health resources necessary to address the complex challenges facing our growing city. 

If re-elected, she wants to continue making strides in improving our transportation system, increasing affordable housing options, and planning to serve generations of residents to come. Zahn has consistently supported investments in public green spaces like the Downtown Park and has worked to protect our tree canopy, preserving Bellevue’s environment for a high quality of life. Zahn would also focus on the communication between the council and the community to build stronger relationships and increase understanding of municipal government. Zahn's strong community focus and efforts to keep our neighborhoods safe have earned her the sole endorsement of the Bellevue Firefighters. 

Also in this race is Betsi Hummer, who previously worked in sales and marketing for a lumber company. She also served for three terms on the East Bellevue Community Council. Unfortunately, Hummer opposes policy changes that would make housing more affordable in Bellevue. Without these long overdue reforms, spiraling housing costs will continue to displace our seniors and prevent young people from buying their first homes. Hummer accepted the maximum campaign donation from billionaire developer Kemper Freeman, who has been a longtime opponent of light rail in Bellevue, and she has been endorsed by other prominent Republicans. 

Janice Zahn has been a thoughtful and strategic leader for Bellevue who is always willing to listen to the needs of the community. Zahn is the clear choice for Bellevue City Council, Position 5.
 

Dave Hamilton is running for Bellevue City Council, Position 7, to replace conservative Jennifer Robertson, who is not seeking re-election. 

Until late 2022, Hamilton was the CEO of Delivery Express, which specialized in health care and retail shipping and logistics. Hamilton is a longtime Eastside resident who is active in the community. He is currently serving his second term on the Bellevue Parks & Community Services Board and previously served on the board of The Sophia Way, which provides support for women experiencing homelessness. 

Hamilton is running for Bellevue City Council to improve housing affordability, keep our communities safe, and protect our parks and green spaces. He fully supports building more homes and increasing density in neighborhoods like Wilburton and Bel-Red. He wants his six kids to have the same opportunity he did to afford a home in Bellevue. Hamilton would work closely with King County and neighboring cities to ensure Bellevue is contributing toward a regional solution to homelessness. 

Hamilton has received some criticism from the left for his occasional support for conservative candidates like Reagan Dunn and Jared Nieuwenhuis. However, he has largely supported Democrats and progressives in the past and said he "will represent a change" on the city council from the conservative incumbent.

His opponent is Bill Hirt, a perennial, single-issue candidate who is fixated on blocking light rail, which is scheduled to begin service in Bellevue next spring. Hirt is not a credible candidate for office. 

Hamilton has earned a bipartisan slate of endorsements from organizations and elected officials, including all six Democrats that represent Bellevue in the state Legislature. Dave Hamilton is the clear choice in the race for Bellevue City Council, Position 7.  

Mayor and incumbent council member Mason Thompson is running for another term for Bothell City Council, Position 2. Prior to joining the council in 2020, Thompson worked in account management for a number of companies and he has served on the city’s parks and recreation board.

In office, Thompson has worked to implement a progressive vision of efficiency in both public services and city planning. He believes this approach can create a more livable, accessible, and climate-friendly Bothell. Some of his accomplishments on the council include leading RADAR (a bridge between law enforcement and mental health services), pedestrianizing Main Street, tripling human services funding, and securing Bothell’s first federal grant for the Bothell-Everett Highway. Now, Thompson is running to make strides in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, to build diverse housing options to meet a variety of needs, and to invest in public spaces like Main Street and parks. 

Fellow city council member James McNeal, who currently serves in Position 4, is challenging Thompson in this race. McNeal spent nearly three decades in the construction industry and served as the former president of an organization dedicated to preserving the Wayne Golf Course. He joined the council in 2016 and is running in this race without a detailed platform, updated social media, or a campaign website as of mid-October.

Thompson has been an exceptional leader for Bothell and has helped make the city a hub of innovation for the entire region. Mason Thompson has earned your vote for Bothell City Council, Position 2. 
 

Carston Curd is a natural resources planner and licensed geologist running to bring a progressive and sustainable vision to the Bothell City Council in Position 4. He currently serves as vice chair of the Bothell Planning Commission, Sound Transit Community Oversight Panel, and third vice chair for the First Legislative District Democrats. Curd is also a volunteer for a number of grassroots and community initiatives within the Northshore area.

Curd is an advocate for green spaces and educates the community on complex topics that impact the solutions to the lack of affordable homes. As a progressive environmental advocate, his platform priorities include increasing the number of affordable homes, making transit accessible, and building resilience to urban flooding. As a current public servant in Snohomish County, Curd brings valuable experience and has garnered the support of many local leaders including Bothell Mayor Mason Thompson.

Curd's opponent is retired engineer Mark Swanson. Swanson has stated in local interviews that he's "not actively campaigning," though he made it through the primary election. Unfortunately, he has no website available with policy proposals, though he denies there is an affordable housing crisis in Bothell, despite much evidence to the contrary. Much of his platform seems to be anti-growth, and in a League of Women Voters forum he stated that he will curb growth in the city by preventing the building of affordable and family apartments in the area.

Carston Curd will work to fight climate change, improve housing affordability, and expand transit access in Bothell. He is the best choice for Bothell City Council, Position 4.  

Incumbent Amanda Dodd is running for re-election to Position 6 on the Bothell City Council. Dodd first joined the council in October 2022 when she was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Davina Duerr’s resignation. Before that, Dodd served on the city’s planning commission, to which she was appointed in 2020. Outside of government service, she works for Salesforce in account management and volunteers her time as a board member for the Snohomish County Transportation Coalition.

Dodd is running to make Bothell a welcoming, affordable, and vibrant place to live. If retained, her priorities include growing a strong small business community, creating more attainable housing options, and investing in environmental protections to safeguard Bothell’s ecosystem for generations to come. Her progressive vision for the city has already earned her an impressive array of endorsements in this race.

Former city council member and veteran Thomas Agnew is challenging Dodd. Last year, Agnew was considered alongside Dodd for the council appointment. His platform is not very detailed as of mid- October, focusing primarily on more policing in our neighborhoods and preserving car parking over making streets safer. In past elections, Agnew has run on a more conservative platform, advocating for cutting some critical community funding while directing more money to police and making some infrastructure investments.

Amanda Dodd is the best choice in this race and deserves your vote for Bothell City Council, Position 6. 

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. 
 

Yoshiko Grace Matsui is running unopposed for Des Moines City Council, Position 6. Matsui is a longtime public servant - she has served as board president of King County Water District, ensuring that Des Moines’ water services are up-to-date. She is the director of the Des Moines Farmers Market and a volunteer at the Des Moines Area Food Bank. Matsui currently works with the city of Seattle, doing human resources recruiting and running public safety exams for firefighters.

Matsui's priorities for the council are aimed at elevating transparency and decision-making power for all communities in Des Moines. She has the endorsements of two local Democratic groups this year.

Matsui deserves your vote for Des Moines City Council, Position 6.
 

Incumbent Lydia Assefa-Dawson is running for re-election to Federal Way City Council, Position 1. Assefa-Dawson is a family self-sufficiency coordinator at King County Housing Authority and has also served as a financial educator at the YMCA for survivors of domestic violence. She was the first person of African descent to serve on the Federal Way City Council and has been a strong community leader in roles such as the co-chair of the Regional Law, Safety and Justice Committee and the vice president of the Ethiopian Community Center.

Assefa-Dawson does not have a working campaign website available as of mid-October, but she has spent her time on the council affirming the rights of LGBTQ+ residents for Pride Month, expanding housing options by making accessory dwelling units easier to build, and more. 

Conservative perennial candidate Mark Greene is running against Assefa-Dawson after multiple previous campaigns for lieutenant governor, state representative, county director of elections, and mayor. On X, formerly known as Twitter, he describes himself as a fan of far-right Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. He has complained about Federal Way City Council's proclamations in support of the Black and LGBTQ communities, asking "is there some crisis or something I didn't hear about?" While Greene's website is not working as of mid-October, his public statements and past campaigns make it clear he is not a progressive choice. 

Assefa-Dawson is the best choice for Federal Way City Council, Position 1. 

Roger Flygare is running for Federal Way City Council, Position 6. He has run eight times for various offices since 2010 including fire commissioner, state senator, and state representative. Though he does not have detailed policy information available, he aims to work regionally on homelessness, advocate for more affordable housing, and more. 

He is running against incumbent deputy mayor Susan Honda. First elected in 2011, Honda has spent her time on the council focusing on criminalizing homelessness by banning pushing shopping carts on sidewalks, an idea Honda brought to the council that passed 5-2 and will cost taxpayers $250,00 annually. It does nothing to solve the underlying causes of homelessness and punishes the poor by subjecting them to a $50 fine. She tends to vote more on the moderate-conservative side of the council. 

We lean toward Flygare because of his endorsements from unions and local Democrats. 

King County program manager Katherine Festa is running for Position 5 on the Federal Way City Council. A dedicated community advocate, Festa is the founding member and chair of the Native American Leadership Council and chair of Federal Way's Human Services Commission FUSION transitional housing. She's also the president of Soroptimist International of Federal Way. If elected, she'd be the first Native American to serve on the council in the city's history.

Festa wants to leverage her many years of advocacy and deep knowledge of what community members need to thrive on the council. In her work as a housing coordinator, she has helped people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live successfully in their communities. She wants to see more regional solutions to the issue of homelessness, protect parks and green spaces, and find funding for more local projects through the state. Festa has received an impressive slate of endorsements, including from labor unions, elected officials, the Native American Caucus of the Washington State Democrats, and more. 

Festa is challenging incumbent Jack Walsh, a former newspaper reporter who currently owns a local ice cream business. Walsh's last campaign in 2021 emphasized a refusal to consider investing in community safety alternatives as well as spreading damaging misinformation about people experiencing homelessness. His current politics are no more progressive than before, with Facebook posts asking constituents to push back against a legislative bill on gender-affirming and reproductive health care for youths. He also voted to pass an ordinance to ticket people $50 for pushing shopping carts, a measure unlikely to actually challenge the root causes of homelessness in the community.

Festa is the clear choice in the race for Federal Way City Council, Position 5.

Denise Yun is a nurse running for Federal Way City Council, Position 7. Her three-part platform includes public safety, homelessness, and economic development. With her experience as a mental health nurse and an addiction nurse, Yun says the city can do more to promote medical treatment and getting people back into homes and reunited with their families. As someone who is formerly homeless, Yun also wants to see a multifaceted approach to the problem that takes into account whether people are suffering from untreated mental health issues, affordability, or more, and make sure they can get the help they need. 

Yun's endorsements by many Democratic elected officials and progressive organizations, including local Democratic organizations, point toward the hope that she can turn around the conservative votes taken by the incumbent. 

Her opponent is current council member Linda Kochmar, who has served for nearly 20 years on the Federal Way City Council. She is the current council president and has also been mayor, deputy mayor, and a former Republican state representative. Kochmar ran and lost a campaign for state senate in 2022 on an agenda of overturning police accountability laws that passed in recent years. If Kochmar is re-elected, there's no reason to believe that she would not continue to be a conservative force on the city council. She opposed hazard pay for essential grocery store workers in 2021 and would likely continue to oppose efforts to meet the needs of the most economically vulnerable in the community. 

Yun is the best choice for Federal Way City Council, Position 7. 

Incumbent Zach Hall is running for another term in Position 2 on the Issaquah City Council. Hall made history as one of the youngest people to ever serve on Issaquah's city council when he was elected at the age of 25. Despite his relative youth, Hall has an extensive resume as a campaign manager and legislative assistant for our state representatives. 

His state level work has not distracted him from his dedication to his hometown, however. Hall has knocked on more than 10,000 doors in Issaquah while canvassing, keeping a notebook of community members' stories to guide his work. He represents Issaquah on the Cascade Water Alliance, a group of municipalities focused on preserving clean water supply on the eastside.

Hall has supported building 150 units of affordable rental homes near transit, introducing a community court program to connect people to resources instead of punishing them, and developing plans to protect the climate and improve transit options. Hall is running for re-election to continue his work to make Issaquah a place where everyone can get where they need to go, live in a home they can afford, and have clean water to drink.

Landon Halverson, a conservative Catholic school teacher, is challenging Hall for Position 2. Halverson is the vice-chair of the King County Republican Party. Predictably, his posts on social media echo Republican fear-mongering about crime. In contrast to the incumbent Hall, who helped provide relief to small businesses and set up vaccine clinics during the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Halverson loudly opposed the science-based public health guidelines 

Zach Hall is the clear choice for Issaquah City Council, Position 2.
 

Lindsey Walsh, a small business owner and the current Issaquah City Council president, is running to retain her seat. She is running on a progressive platform that prioritizes transportation, safety, and affordable living for all Issaquah families.

Walsh has an impressive track record in all of these areas. She has implemented traffic calming measures to create safer streets for people walking and rolling, contributed to Issaquah's master plan for increasing mobility, and funded planning for public transit, including the long-awaited light rail expansion. Her approach to public safety doesn't only focus on funding police, but also addresses the root causes of crime. She supported creating community courts and expanding the human services department from one to six staff members, including two behavioral health coordinators. She also wants to make home costs more affordable for Issaquah residents by expanding affordable housing, creating more housing for middle-income folks, and continuing to fund rental assistance.

Walsh is a mother of two children who attend Issaquah public schools. She recently voted in favor of rezoning city-owned land in Providence Heights to allow the construction of several new public schools. During the hotly debated decision-making process, Walsh was able to balance residents' calls for transparency with the real need for Issaquah kids to have uncrowded classrooms to learn in.

Mike Palm is challenging incumbent Lindsey Walsh, but has not published any campaign information nor raised any funds as of mid-October. His personal Facebook page is full of conservative articles that deny climate change and blame progressive policies like the clean fuel standard and police accountability measures for working peoples' struggles caused by corporate greed and union-busting.

Lindsey Walsh deserves your vote for re-election to Issaquah City Council, Position 4.
 

Victoria Hunt is running for re-election to Issaquah City Council, Position 6. She is a data scientist at Breakthrough Energy, where she leads research efforts on renewable energy and does climate analyses to help cities meet their climate plans. She was elected to the council in 2019 and holds a Ph.D. in ecology.

In office, Hunt has been a champion for environmental protection. During her two years as council president, she helped pass the city's climate action plan. She also advocated for the acquisition and preservation of the 46-acre Bergsma property, which was one of the few remaining unprotected areas in the Issaquah Alps. Hunt has been involved in advocating for ambitious climate action at the state level as well, supporting a bill to make the largest energy supplier in Washington transition to clean energy.

Hunt also has a good track record when it comes to affordable housing. She was the only council member to support all the recommendations from the Regional Coalition on Housing (ARCH) that would combat landlords' continued raising of rents in Issaquah. If re-elected, Hunt states that she would like to study and expand housing options so that people with lower or moderate incomes can find and keep their homes.

Her opponent is Sam Sheehan, a conservative welder and business owner. Sheehan does not have a campaign website nor has he raised any funds as of mid-October, but his voter's guide statement bemoans "individual liberties" being sidelined for the "greater good." His proposals would result in cuts to funding for roads, parks, and other services that benefit working people. 

Hunt clearly stands out in this race with her knowledge of environmental stewardship and sustainable development in Issaquah. Vote for Victoria Hunt for Issaquah City Council, Position 6.
 

Melanie O'Cain is running for re-election for Kenmore City Council, Position 1. O'Cain was first elected to the council in 2020 and was appointed deputy mayor in January 2022. She serves on the King County SeaShore Transportation Forum and the Water Resource Inventory Area #8 Salmon Recovery Council. Outside of public service, O’Cain works in accounting and records management for the Port of Seattle, where she has been for more than 20 years.

In office, O’Cain has been a strong leader on environmental protections and clean air, affordable housing, and emergency crisis response. She's proud of her work helping implement Kenmore's Climate Action Plan and for testing the asphalt plant over air quality concerns. Now, she is running to continue bringing a progressive, community-oriented response to the city’s challenges with transportation, housing, and the environment. In particular, she wants to work with voters to purchase the Lakepointe Property and turn it into an environmental innovation hub for the region with green space and mixed-use sustainable development. 

The other candidate in this race is Kara Macias, a project manager for a construction company. Macias is running on a more right-wing platform in this race with a focus on business and little mention of the most pressing issues that Kenmore residents face. She wants to protect local ecosystems but only in the service of commerce, development, and tourism.

Melanie O’Cain deserves another term on Kenmore City Council, Position 1 because of her unwavering track record and staunch, progressive endorsements. She is the clear choice in this race. 

Valerie Sasson is running for Kenmore City Council, Position 3. The seat is currently held by Angela Kugler, who is not seeking re-election. Sasson is a retired midwife who previously co-owned her own birth center serving Washington families and taught at Bastyr University. Additionally, Sasson was the director of the Midwives Association of Washington State board.

Sasson is running on a progressive platform to make Kenmore a thriving place for all. She lists affordable housing, efficient public transit, and a walkable town center as some of her top issues. If elected, Sasson wants to steward responsible growth that prioritizes equity and climate mitigation. In this race, Sasson has been endorsed by the outgoing Councilmember Kugler herself, as well as county and local Democrats, community leaders, and progressive organizations.

Sasson is facing Josh Kurcinka, a marketing and brand management professional. He has worked for a variety of large companies such as Amazon, Kellogg's, and Noom. Kurcinka is running on a vague platform to bring positive change to Kenmore through downtown growth and affordability. He also wants to engage the voice of residents but he lacks a background in community or elected leadership.

We recommend Valerie Sasson for Kenmore City Council, Position 3 because of her strong community support and progressive vision for the city.

Technology analyst Jon Culver is running for Kenmore City Council, Position 5. Culver is a small business owner, five-term Democratic precinct committee officer, former legislative PTA co-chair, and UFCW Local 400 union member. 

He has organized several local projects, including Pride art at city hall and a local fire proposition, earning him the endorsement of the local firefighters. He now wants to bring that energy to the city council with a focus on truly affordable housing, climate action, and more. He wants the council to carefully track emissions to meet goals, ensure safety for marginalized community members, and continue to empower residents to engage with city government. 

Culver is challenging local business owner David Baker, who is running for re-election to Position 5. He has been a council member since 2003 and has also served as mayor during that time. Baker also sits on numerous local and regional committees, including serving on the board of Sound Transit and as caucus chair for the King County Regional Transportation Committee.

Baker has had his share of controversies this term on the council. He was one of two council members who voted against tenant protections last year in a 5-2 vote. This legislation limited late fees to 1.5 percent of one month's rent and required landlords to provide between 120 and 180 days notice of rent hikes, dependent on the cost. He also made heated comments in a discussion of the purchase of a warehouse for a public works facility that was later determined to have significant community and cultural value. Baker stated, “I think it’s absolutely disgusting that the community has stooped to levels like this" during resident testimony about the importance of the site to them. He later apologized after his fellow council members and residents said his comments were irresponsible and devaluing, and even potentially worthy of a recall vote against him.

Culver has picked up a large number of endorsements, including from unions, environmental groups, local Democratic leaders, and more. He is the more progressive choice in this race. 

Incumbent Marli Larimer is running for re-election to Kent City Council, Position 1. Larimer was first appointed to the city council in 2018 and was later retained by voters. Outside of the council, she works for a customer experience consulting company. Larimer is also highly involved in the community, volunteering for a number of local organizations that range from the Evergreen City Ballet to her kids’ sports teams to the King County Affordable Housing Committee and more.

Larimer has distinguished herself as a progressive leader on the Kent City Council. If re-elected, she wants to continue engaging perspectives at all regional and state levels to bring innovative, effective solutions to the housing crisis in Kent. Larimer is also dedicated to uplifting workers through workforce development and expanding access to early-career opportunities in Kent Valley. She is proud that Kent is the nation’s 7th most diverse city and she wants to continue building policy that supports equity, public health, and cultural understanding. Larimer is also running to promote public safety and supports climate mitigation efforts, local ecosystem protections, and de-escalation training for local police.

In this race, Larimer is challenged by far-right candidate Jessie Ramsey, whose campaign slogan is “ABC” which he states stands for “Another Black Conservative.” Ramsey is a veteran and currently works as a security guard. His extreme conservative bent is evident in his campaign platform where he advocates for a return to the failed War-On-Drugs Era policing ideas and offers vindictive critiques of progressive leaders. Ramsey characterized the Black Lives Matter movement, which many Washingtonians of all backgrounds participated in, as a group of “urban terrorists.”

Kent residents deserve a representative on the council who will focus on bringing the community together with the resources we all need to thrive, rather than an elected leader who uses fear-mongering to divide us. With strong endorsements and a progressive track record, Marli Larimer is the clear choice for Kent City Council, Position 1. 

John Boyd is running for Kent City Council, Position 3. Boyd is a retired quality assurance inspector for Boeing and a Navy veteran. 

Boyd's campaign priorities include developing a comprehensive plan to address homelessness that involves wrap-around services, sustainable development, rebuilding trust in law enforcement, and responsible budget spending. He highlights his certification in chemical dependency and experience as a volunteer at Therapeutic Health Services as important for addressing some of the root causes of homelessness, like substance abuse. Boyd supports increasing access to mental health services and job training programs. 

His opponent is litigation paralegal Kelly Wiggans-Crawford. Despite stating that she will prioritize addressing the homelessness crisis and creating a safe community, Wiggans-Crawford has been an active advocate for Kent's punitive encampment bans. Wiggans-Crawford's campaign website lacks substantial plans to effectively tackle homelessness and other challenges confronting Kent, and in an interview with the Kent Reporter stated that she does not feel she needs to have the answers for community issues, but is excited to connect with those who do. This does not give us confidence that she will be ready to hit the ground running if elected. 

Boyd has picked up a large number of organizational endorsements, including from local Democratic organizations and unions. He is the best choice for Kent City Council, Position 3.
 

Incumbent Kelli Curtis is running for re-election to Kirkland City Council, Position 2, to which she was first elected in 2019. Before joining the council she worked for most of her career in the technology industry as a product manager for area companies such as Aldus and Starwave.

Curtis' campaign platform prioritizes close collaboration with neighbors, implementing sustainable planning strategies, cultivating inclusivity and belonging, building affordable homes, and expanding parks and natural spaces. During her time on the council, Curtis has supported the conversion of hotels into housing with on-site services, achieving success in these projects by bringing people together.

As chair of the Parks Exploratory Funding Committee, Curtis has spearheaded a ballot measure to create an indoor aquatics and recreation facility with pools, gymnasiums, fitness classes, and a community gathering space. Additional plans involve adding restrooms to selected parks, constructing new sports courts, expanding youth recreation programs, and acquiring green space for the development of Green Loop trail segments in northwest Kirkland.

Curtis faces a challenge from Catie Malik, an associate director of Finance at the UW School of Medicine. Her platform is vague, stating that the council has a "far-left extremist mindset," which is a wild misrepresentation of the city's current leaders. She says that she wants to preserve Kirkland's character, neighborhoods, and small businesses without offering policies or ways that she would seek to do so. Malik does not appear to have any elected or community leadership experience and does not have any organizational endorsements on her site as of mid-October. 

Kirkland has benefitted from Curtis's commitment to bringing community-minded leadership to the core of some of its most challenging issues. Kelli Curtis is the clear choice for Kirkland City Council, Position 2.
 

Moderate John Tymczyszyn is challenging conservative incumbent Toby Nixon for Kirkland City Council, Position 4. Tymczyszyn is a Navy veteran and an attorney at his own practice, focusing on criminal cases and civil rights. He has also served on the city’s Planning Commission since 2017, including as the chair, and was previously a prosecutor for the City of Everett. Tymczyszyn has also been a long-time advocate for veterans, offering some pro bono legal services to the community and serving on the board of the Washington State Veterans Bar Association.

Tymczyszyn is running on a platform to ensure that Kirkland remains an affordable and livable city in this time of growth and change. He wants to take a strategic, community-oriented approach to managing growth and utilize his law background in municipal policy. His goals include improving infrastructure, supporting local, small businesses, and problem-solving on public safety. However, he has been more skeptical of making zoning changes that would improve housing affordability in Kirkland. In this race, he has earned support from a number of local Democratic groups as well as some key elected leaders. 

Nixon is running for a fourth term on Kirkland’s city council. His campaign ideas and track record in the office reflect Republican stances that are out of touch with the needs of most Kirkland residents. In particular, Nixon is a longtime opponent of fighting climate change and protecting our green areas. Last year, he was one of only two votes against strengthening the city's tree code to protect and expand the city's tree canopy, which is especially important for a growing city. In July, Nixon was the only member of the council to oppose the levy that funds funds Kirkland's parks and green spaces to preserve them as places we can all enjoy. In mid-October, Nixon was a keynote speaker at an event held by Moms for Liberty, a far-right organization labeled as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

With no true progressive in this race, John Tymczyszyn's background in law and advocacy, his attention to community needs, and his Democratic endorsements make him the best choice for Kirkland City Council, Position 4.
 

Incumbent council member Amy Falcone is running for another term on the Kirkland City Council in Position 6. Falcone previously served as a founding member and co-chair of the Kirkland Human Services Commission before being elected to this seat in 2019. She was called to public service when she started advocating for safer sidewalks in her neighborhood. Now, she also serves as the PTO co-president at her daughter's middle school and on the City of Kirkland/Lake Washington School District Coordinating Committee.

Falcone focuses on both inclusivity and sustainability lenses in order to build a future for Kirkland that provides opportunities for everyone. She has been an advocate for community funding to support everyone’s needs preventatively before people face housing or food insecurity. If re-elected, she hopes to continue fostering collaboration and engaging resident voices, particularly those that have been historically silenced or ignored by city leadership. Falcone has earned a diverse set of endorsements in this race, including from the local Democrats, the state’s leading community organizations, and progressive elected officials.

Also in this race is "Ryan James" Turok who owns and operates a small art gallery. Turok is running without party affiliation or endorsements. He serves on the Greater Kirkland Chamber of Commerce and the board of the Bellevue Arts Museum. In this race, he has emphasized economic development, workforce housing, and neighborhood upgrades.

We recommend Amy Falcone in this race because of her clear vision for improving Kirkland and the impressive support her campaign has earned.
 

Tom French is a Lake Forest Park city council member who is challenging incumbent Jeff Johnson for mayor. French is a consultant in the technology industry and an author who has served on the council since 2012. Two years ago, he became deputy mayor.

While in office, he championed banning single-use plastics, acquiring new land for parks, and introducing more speed limit setting and crosswalks. If elected, he would prioritize protecting the environment and city trees, making the city more safe for people walking and biking, and allowing more housing that is affordable and senior-friendly. He has supported efforts in the past to allow ADUs for downsizing seniors.

He is running against Jeff Johnson, who is in the race this year to keep his position as mayor of Lake Forest Park. Johnson was first elected to the city council in 2012, and has served as mayor for two terms. Outside of his political work, he is the owner of his family auto repair business.

Johnson is a conservative who was first inspired to run for office because of his opposition to Prop 1, which was a modest property tax increase that funds open spaces, sidewalks, and traffic calming infrastructure to help people stay safe while walking to schools and parks. 

If re-elected, Johnson would focus on building more culverts to prevent flooding, creating a waterfront park, and passing a levy to fund policing, sidewalk maintenance, and road calming. 

Although we like Johnson's efforts to protect the environment and create more safe, walkable neighborhoods, there are some drawbacks to his policy proposals. His levy combines funding basics like good sidewalks and public parks with unneeded funding for policing. He also wants to resist efforts by the state to require affordable housing near transit, continuing to keep neighborhoods that are zoned without options for working renters.

Although French, like Johnson, is also concerned about maintaining the "small town character" of Lake Forest Park with the expansion of Sound Transit and the development of the town center, he is more friendly towards housing options that working people can afford. He also has more progressive support than Johnson, including endorsements from the King County Democrats and First Legislative District Democrats. 

French is the best choice in this race.

Lorri Bodi is running unopposed to retain her seat in Position 2 on the Lake Forest Park City Council. Bodi is a former environmental attorney who oversaw conservation and habitat restoration efforts with national agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Bodi founded and co-directed the Northwest Office of American Rivers, and has remained involved in protecting our clean water and salmon populations since becoming a city council member.

Understandably, environment is high on Bodi's list of priorities. She voted in favor of Lake Forest Park's climate action plan, and has advocated for thriving streams, green spaces, and city trees. She was one of the city council members who reported concerns to Sound Transit about the environmental impact and harm to community caused by their expansion of routes.

Bodi has also been a champion for allowing housing options that seniors, young families, and lower income residents can afford. She supports middle housing options like ADUs and DADUs, and wants to introduce more affordable housing incentives to developers in the town center.

Bodi is also one of the most progressive city council members when it comes to public safety. She praised the city program that introduced mental health navigators to work alongside police, and supports new crisis response centers, and would prioritize community-based care over inflating police budgets.

Bodi has significant support from the progressive community, and is the best choice for Lake Forest Park residents who want an advocate for the environment and our schools.
 

Ellyn Saunders is a registered nurse and mother who is running for Lake Forest Park City Council, Position 4. Saunders is a community advocate who has been invested in environmental issues and volunteerism. 

If elected, Saunders would focus on creating safer roads and parks, protecting our clean air and water, and building affordable housing that will allow future generations to stay in the city.

She is running against Nigel Keiffer, an extremely conservative candidate who has run numerous times for various city council and commissioner positions. Keiffer is a retired civil engineer and property agent.

He has campaigned against Prop 1, which was a small property tax to fund parks, sidewalks, and traffic calming measures that protect pedestrians. Like most conservatives, he wants to cut public support programs, slash environmental regulations, and prioritize private property owners.

His campaign statements are full of racist dogwhistles, blaming antiracism efforts, LGBTQ+ people, and "woke" politicians for attacking American values in schools and work. Keiffer falls into the worrying trend of conservatives who want to ban books, censor our history, and make our kids' classrooms a political battleground.

Saunders has earned the support of progressive councilmembers and organizations in this race. She deserves your vote for Lake Forest Park City Council, Position 4.
 

Stephanie Angelis is an affordable housing landlord and real estate broker who is running for Lake Forest Park City Council, Position 6. Angelis got her degree in environmental studies from the University of Washington, where her research led to cleanup events and lawsuits against water polluters. Angelis' leadership experience in numerous neighborhood associations, housing advocacy spaces, and her local Democratic precinct have proven her dedication to serving residents of every income level and background.

Angelis has been inspired to activism by people experiencing homeless with whom she has built relationships through her work and volunteerism. She advocated for the opening of new shelters, a ban on no-cause evictions, and the prevention of inhumane sweeps of encampments.

It's no surprise that one of Angelis' top priorities is affordable housing. She wants to build sustainable housing that has a low impact on the environment as well as the city's character. Additionally, Angelis acknowledges and wants to reverse racist redlining in Lake Forest Park, to make the city a more welcoming and accessible place for Black and brown residents. Angelis also stands out from the crowd because she wants to fund new housing through progressive taxes that are mostly paid by the wealthiest rather than working people. In addition to housing, Angelis would focus on making roads and sidewalks accessible, protecting our parks, urban forest, and waterfront access, and advocating for low-income and disabled residents.

Also in the race for Lake Forest Park City Council is business owner Paula Goode. Goode is the owner of the Sheridan Market, a local coffee shop and music venue. She is also the co-founder of CORE, a citizens' group that advocates for Sound Transit to reduce impacts on the environment and community as they expand routes through Lake Forest Park. If elected, Goode would focus on addressing the budget shortfall, creating more affordable homes while maintaining the city's character, and maintaining tree cover in the city. 

Angelis has the support of more of the progressive community and would be a strong voice for racial equity, housing justice, and sustainability on the city council. She deserves your vote for Lake Forest Park City Council, Position 6. 

 

Moderate Wendy Weiker is running unopposed for re-election to Mercer Island City Council, Position 3. She has served in a multitude of community leadership roles, including as a board member of EarthShare, an active member of three PTAs on the island, and as a liaison to the Sound Cities Association. If re-elected, she will maintain her focus on public safety, protecting the community from gun violence, investing in infrastructure, and ensuring Mercer Island remains a great place to live and raise a family.

Moderate Craig Reynolds is running for re-election to the Mercer Island City Council, Position 5. Reynolds works as an actuary and believes his financial planning skills translate well to his work on the Mercer Island City Council. 

During his last term, Reynolds was proud to support the city's first climate action plan and worked to protect Mercer Island's parks and open spaces. He is running once again to focus on the city’s financial challenges as well as transportation, growth, and land use. 

Reynolds faces a challenge from planning commissioner Michael D. Curry. He is also focused on maintaining local parks but places a greater emphasis on crime in his campaign materials. Curry has not earned broad community endorsements, though he is supported by the King County Republican Party. 

We believe Craig Reynolds deserves your vote once again for Mercer Island City Council, Position 5, based on endorsements from our progressive partners and trusted community leaders.
 

Andrew Friedman is challenging council member Jacobsen for Mercer Island City Council, Position 7. Friedman owns a local bar and is a parent to three children in the school district.

Friedman loves the quality of life on Mercer Island, including local businesses, community events, and parks and greenspaces. He has a optimistic vision of progress in Mercer Island to improve on what makes the city great. If elected, Friedman wants to invest in infrastructure and public space. He also believes that the city can create affordable housing to ensure residents of all income levels have a place on Mercer Island.

Moderate incumbent Jake Jacobsen is running for a second term on the council after first joining in 2020. Jacobsen is the director and executive vice president of Osborne Construction Company where he has worked for nearly three decades. In this race, he is emphasizing the need to make Mercer Island resilient. He also wants to enhance public utilities, create a sustainability plan, and restrict funding for public services while providing more funding for law enforcement equipment. Jacobsen is not a progressive choice.

We recommend Andrew Friedman for Mercer Island City Council, Position 7 to bring community leadership to the council.

Public school teacher Sun Burford is running for Position 1 on the Newcastle City Council. Burford is very active in bringing the Newcastle community together. She helped to organize the city’s first official Lunar New Year celebration, serves on the Newcastle Arts Council, and works with Friends of Newcastle Library.

Burford, an immigrant and working mom, is running a hopeful and inclusive campaign to bring a brighter future to Newcastle. If elected, she wants to uplift residents and the local economy while building community safety. Burford wants to protect our senior neighbors from rising property taxes so that Newcastle residents can retire with security and dignity. Her commitment to working hard on behalf of Newcastle residents has earned her a long list of progressive endorsements in this race, including from progressive elected leaders, community organizations, and the local Democrats.

Len Trautman is the other candidate vying for retiring Councilmember Linda Newing’s seat. Trautman is a retired contractor and electrician running on a platform that is not progressive. His vision of safety excludes community investments that bring all residents the resources they need to thrive, and instead, he wants to funnel more money into policing. Trautman has refused to accept endorsements in this race.

Sun Burford is the clear choice in this race and deserves your vote for Newcastle City Council, Position 1.
 

Deputy Mayor Arian Sherlock is running for re-election to the Newcastle City Council, Position 2. She is a professional chef and served as the PTSA president for her kids' school.

Sherlock is running on a platform of housing affordability, public safety, and fiscal sustainability. After the passage of the state Missing Middle Housing bill, she is eager to work with staff, council members, and the public to find ways to incentivize more affordable housing in Newcastle. She states that she has a good working relationship with the police chief and wants to find ways to prioritize safety within budget constraints. She is interested in exploring an emergency medical services levy or a transportation levy to provide critical new funding.

Sherlock faces a challenge from Amanda W. Li, who is a clinical pharmacist. Li states in her voters' pamphlet that she wants to bring the community together and expand services to seniors. However, she has not released a campaign website nor is any additional information about her platform or priorities available.

Sherlock's track record of leadership and strong endorsements make her the clear choice for Newcastle City Council, Position 2. 

Small business owner Allison Sweeney is running for Newcastle City Council, Position 3. She has lived in Newcastle for 17 years and co-owns the Frosty Barrel ice cream shop. Sweeney is also active in the community, serving on the Newcastle Elementary PTSA Executive Board and founding two Girl Scout troops. 

Sweeney is running for city council to support local small businesses, strengthen community connections, and ensure everyone in Newcastle feels safe. She believes some of the city's unused $1 million in federal funding should be used to support local businesses still recovering from the pandemic. She also wants to fund traffic safety improvements to keep our neighborhoods safe. She supports reforms to make housing more affordable and would work to improve walkability in Newcastle. 

Sweeney is challenging incumbent Tom Griffin for Position 3. Griffin, a retired accountant, is running on nearly a single-issue platform around financial management. However, as of mid-October, he has not released a campaign plan for how he would approach any of the other important issues facing the city like affordability, transportation, cultural events, parks and green spaces, and public safety.

Sweeney's impressive list of local endorsements and her commitment to serving the community make her the clear choice for Newcastle City Council, Position 3. 
 

Chris Villasenor is running to retain Position 4 on the Newcastle City Council. He ran and lost in the primary in 2021 and was subsequently appointed to fill a vacancy by the King County Council. Prior to serving on the council, he served on the city's planning commission. Villasenor is the first person of color to serve on the Newcastle City Council. 

Villasenor is running for council focused on affordability, public safety, and supporting small businesses. He takes a human-first approach to policing and wants to ensure first responders have the training and equipment they need to protect our community. Unlike his opponent, Villasenor is committed to maintaining events like the Art Fair and the Lunar New Year Celebration that bring the community together.

Villasenor faces a challenge from business executive Steve Tallman. He is a frequent critic of the current city leadership, unleashing angry rants at council members about taxes. He touts his frequent posts on Nextdoor about public safety but fails to offer concrete plans for how he would keep the community safe. 

Villasenor has earned strong endorsements from community leaders and deserves your vote for Newcastle City Council, Position 4.

Osman Salahuddin is running for Position 1 on the Redmond City Council after Councilmember Varisha Khan declined to run for re-election. Salahuddin works as the communications and community engagement manager for King County Councilmember Sarah Perry. He is currently on the board of directors for the Muslim Association of Puget Sound and previously served as student body president at the University of Washington. 

Salahuddin is running to reduce the cost of housing in Redmond and ensure everyone feels safe in their community. If elected, he would improve neighborhood walkability and invest more in affordable housing solutions like the Together Center. In addition, he would work to modernize Redmond's building codes to encourage green construction and promote energy efficiency. 

Salahuddin is facing Nate Niederhausern in the general election. Niederhausern works in digital streaming and online learning for corporations. He is active with the Redmond LDS Boy Scout troops, particularly on environmental conservation. Niederhausern appears to be newer to politics. While he made it through the primary election himself, he had not voted in a primary in 15 years. In addition, he supported Republican Mitt Romney's 2012 campaign against President Obama. 

Salahuddin is the clear choice for Redmond City Council, Position 1.
 

Incumbent Councilmember Jessica Forsythe is running unopposed for re-election to Position 3 on the Redmond City Council. Before joining the council in 2019, she served on the executive committee of the League of Women Voters Seattle-King County and executive board for the 48th Legislative District Democrats. Forsythe has been exceptionally active in the community, co-founding the Seattle Symphony PRIDE contingent, joining campaigns for Washington’s most progressive initiatives, and participating in a global network to donate her creative skills where needed. Outside of public and community service, she serves as a creative director for her own studio, Little Hinka Design.

Forsythe brings an important voice to the council as a renter and younger elected official. Some of her greatest policy achievements in office have been equity-related; honoring Black history by recognizing Juneteenth, addressing islamophobia within the Redmond community, and working to uproot systemic racism through action and community engagement. Forsythe has four top priorities in this race including protecting the environment, supporting local small businesses, fostering a sense of community, and upgrading infrastructure. As Redmond grows, Forsythe is committed to making sure that the economic benefits of that growth are felt by all, not just a privileged few. She also believes that sustainable growth must take our climate and local ecosystem into account, and Forsythe wants to set green guidelines and promote LEED building standards. 

Forsythe has earned an impressive list of the most progressive leaders and organizations in Redmond and Washington broadly. We recommend her for another term on the Redmond City Council in Position 3.
 

Vanessa Kritzer is running unopposed to continue serving in Position 5 on the Redmond City Council. Kritzer was first elected in 2019 and now serves as council vice president. Outside of elected office, Kritzer is the executive director of the Washington Association of Land Trusts, which connects conservation efforts across Washington to protect local ecosystems for generations to come. She has also served in community leadership roles including as a student appointed by Governor Inslee to serve on the UW Board of Regents, as a board member of OneRedmond (the city’s chamber of commerce), and as the current vice chair of the WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council.

On the council, Kritzer has been a tireless progressive advocate. She established the city’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion-focused staff, advocated on behalf of the Redmond Senior and Community Center, and invested in public recreational spaces like parks, trails, and pickleball courts. Now, she is running on an inclusive platform to continue making investments that strengthen Redmond’s public services, infrastructure, and community identity. In this race, Kritzer is supported by a long list of progressive elected leaders, community organizations, and local unions.

Vanessa Kritzer has earned your vote for another term on the Redmond City Council in Position 5.

U.S. Navy veteran and insurance agent Angie Nuevacamina is running for Redmond City Council, Position 7. She serves on the Redmond Planning Commission and has been a committee member with the Boys & Girls Clubs of King County for the last 5 years. 

Nuevacamina is running to make housing more affordable, keep our communities safe, and improve transparency in local government. As a proponent of the "Nothing About Us Without Us" principle, she would ensure decisions in Redmond are made more equitably and every voice is heard. As Redmond continues to grow, she also wants to make the city more welcoming for all residents. 

Nuevacamina is facing incumbent David Carson. Carson, a software test lead, is a business-oriented candidate running to push for the completion of infrastructure projects in Redmond. Carson has an antagonistic approach to homelessness, stating that he wants to prosecute people found with shopping carts off-premises. He has been cited in the Washington Post and elsewhere stating that those suffering from addiction must hit "rock bottom" before seeking treatment.

Nuevacamina's lived experience and deep experience in the community makes her the clear choice for Redmond City Council, Position 7.
 

Incumbent Armondo Pavone is running for re-election for mayor of Renton. Pavone has been active with the Renton Chamber of Commerce and the Renton Hill Neighborhood Association and owns a restaurant in downtown Renton. 

As in his previous campaign, Pavone is prioritizing supporting police, fire, park, and other city services. He notes progress made on the affordable housing crisis, including opening mixed-use development Sunset Gardens, and the 8,000 housing units Renton has in the pipeline. Pavone also mentions many infrastructure improvement projects, such as sidewalks, wheelchair ramps, and the seismic retrofitting of the Bronson Way Bridge. 

His opponent is Kim Monroe Bass, who has yet to have a website as of mid-October. In the city council's minutes in 2021, she was listed as a leader of Renton's Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, an organization that strives for more public safety measures against gun violence. While Monroe Bass may have progressive values, her lack of available campaign materials makes it difficult to learn more about her platform and priorities.

Pavone is the best choice in this race. 

There are two dedicated candidates running for Renton City Council, Position 3. Incumbent and current council president Valerie O'Halloran was first elected in 2019. Like many city council members across the state, she found the position challenging but rewarding during the pandemic and is running to continue her work on climate change, community health, and more.

In our interview with O'Halloran, she stated that she first ran to bring climate action plans to the council, which she is proud to have accomplished with a 240-page plan for the city to reduce greenhouse emissions and prepare for potential climate disasters. 

Challenging O'Halloran this year is Erica Conway, who is running to bring her lived experience to city hall. Conway is a supervisor with King County Superior Court's criminal division. In our interview, she said she was motivated to run because she had begun to attend council meetings and felt that the city was not doing enough on affordable housing, gun safety, and more. Conway is serving her second term as elected vice president 2 for the Seattle King County NAACP and also sits on the Renton Police Chief's Community Council. 

While both candidates have spoken about the need for the city to continue addressing homelessness, one difference between their positions is the handling of the shelter opened in the former Red Lion Motel during the pandemic. The shelter was open from April 2020 to June 2022 and housed nearly 200 individuals. O'Halloran stated that she vote to close the facility because of extreme fire safety issues, a lack of safe evacuation for mobility-challenged residents, and a shortage of staff. Conway said that she would not have voted to close the shelter and that it was a shame that the building sits vacant today, while O'Halloran said that the building is uninhabitable from smoke and water damage. 

Moving forward, O'Halloran points to projects like the shelter at the Extended Stay as the way forward on transitional housing, which she says is successful because of a joint partnership with the county. If re-elected, she wants to continue expanding needed shelters that offer wraparound services as well as low-income housing.

Though we appreciate that Conway would bring a new perspective to city hall, her policy proposals weren't convincing enough for us to recommend her over the incumbent. For example, Conway wants to tackle police accountability by introducing children to their local police early in life, which wouldn't go far enough to ensure community safety. In addition, she was unsure about her positions on some critical policies, like how much additional housing the city needs or how the city might bring down the cost of housing.

O'Halloran has made some controversial choices in the past with which we disagree, including an endorsement of conservative King County Council member Reagan Dunn. However, we lean toward O'Halloran because of her track record as a highly engaged and detail-oriented member of the council. 
 

Incumbent Ryan McIrvin is running for re-election to Renton City Council, Position 4. McIrvin, who is serving his second term, works for the University of Washington in government relations. He has been a leader in bringing affordable housing options to East King County, serving on the King County Regional Affordable Housing Task Force and voting in favor of Renton’s five-year affordable housing action plan. Prior to being elected, he served as the vice-chair of the city of Renton's Human Services Advisory Committee. The culmination of McIrvin's experience has resulted in a council member who has been enthusiastic about improving rapid bus transit, making housing more affordable, conservation, and more.

Challenging McIrvin is Sanjeev Yonzon, a civil service commissioner of the Renton Regional Fire Authority, on his second run for Renton City Council. A former civil contractor with the U.S. military in Iraq, Yonzon states that his harrowing journey escaping civil war in Nepal has led him to a life of assisting others. He wants to represent those who are less fluent in English to show that they can improve the community, expand affordable housing, and improve traffic. 

McIrvin is the best choice for Renton City Council, Position 4.  

Ed Prince is running for re-election to Renton City Council, Position 5. Prince is executive director of the WA State Commission on African American Affairs, and is currently serving his third term on the council after a term as council president in 2019. Prince also serves on a multitude of other positions, including as president of the Sound Cities Association, on the board of directors for Sound Transit, and as vice-chair of the Growth Management Policy Board. 

Prince joined fellow councilmembers Carmen Rivera and Ryan McIrvin last year, along with local leaders across the region, in signing an open letter to end the reliance on the endless cycle of prosecution and incarceration, noting that public safety issues stem from long-term causes like lack of educational opportunity, behavioral health crises, and financial inequities. Some of the policies that Prince is proud to have worked on in his time on the council include an ordinance to prevent income discrimination for renters and the healthy housing ordinance. 

Prince's opponent is Marvin Rosete, who serves on the city's Municipal Arts Commission. Rosete is running again for a position on the council after a run in 2021. 

In his previous run, Rosete's campaign priorities, while not detailed, included funding parks, police, and roads. He stated that he would also focus on more responsive human services, but he was shown in the Spokane Spokesman-Review collecting signatures for an initiative to cut taxes on multi-billion-dollar corporations in 2018, the funds of which would have been used to help fund affordable housing programs. 

Rosete's website was recently updated to include campaign priorities, though a large portion of these issues seem to be pointing fingers of blame at Seattle or the state legislature for the city's issues. His Facebook page and campaign announcement say that he will support law enforcement, protect the Cedar River, and be proactive about community engagement, though he has no further policy details available at this time. 

Prince has been a solid council member and is the best choice in this race.  

Kim-Khanh Van is running for re-election to Renton City Council, Position 7, where she has served since 2020. After her family escaped Vietnam as refugees and settled in King County, she went on to earn her law degree and become an attorney. Van is now an active member of the community, volunteering with groups that serve veterans, protect the local environment, and provide legal aid to immigrants. She also is a board member of the PTA at Kennydale, where her child attends school, and is the co-founder of AAPI Against Hate.

Van has been a relatively progressive voice during her time on the city council. She supported allocating pandemic funding to homeownership programs, human services, and small businesses. She also advocated testing for toxic "forever chemicals" in our water systems and denounced the construction of an asphalt plant on the Cedar River. She was also 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.

Van has been an outspoken advocate for immigrants and communities of color and has earned impressive support from our partners in this race. 

Former Renton City Council member and Boeing engineer Randy Corman is challenging Kim-Khanh Van for Position 7. Corman retired from the council in 2021 after 24 years in office. Corman's platform has a few progressive goals, like building more affordable housing for people with middle incomes, supporting sustainable development, and expanding public transportation.

However, he also has concerning stances on some of the top issues affecting Renton today. Corman blames crime on the commonsense police accountability laws, despite evidence they make our community safer. He supports criminalizing homelessness and addiction in Renton rather than supporting proven solutions to our community's challenges. 

Kim-Khanh Van's strong endorsements and more progressive platform make her the clear choice for Renton City Council, Position 7.