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Councilmember Andrew Lewis is running for re-election to the Seattle City Council from District 7. Lewis was first elected to the seat in 2019 and previously served as an assistant city attorney, where he worked on the Seattle Human Rights Commission. He also serves as the president of the Seattle Metropolitan Park District where he has worked to create jobs, ensure the cleanliness of public green space, and advance environmental goals for the city.
In his first term on the council, Lewis prioritized funding affordable housing programs, ensuring community safety, and achieving greater climate protections to make Seattle a healthier place for all of us. He secured funding to fully renovate the Queen Anne Community Center and expanded the JustCARE program, which offers outreach, shelter, and wrap-around services to Seattleites without housing. In this race, he is running on a progressive platform to expand crisis support services, invest in social and transitional housing options, and improve the city’s public transit infrastructure to reduce both traffic and greenhouse gas emissions.
Lewis has earned an impressive list of endorsements from elected officials and key community leaders and is the most progressive choice in this race. Vote Andrew Lewis for Seattle City Council from District 7.
Last updated: 2023-07-17
Councilmember Andrew Lewis is running for re-election to the Seattle City Council from District 7. Lewis was first elected to the seat in 2019 and previously served as an assistant city attorney, where he worked on the Seattle Human Rights Commission. He also serves as the president of the Seattle Metropolitan Park District where he has worked to create jobs, ensure the cleanliness of public green space, and advance environmental goals for the city.
In his first term on the council, Lewis prioritized funding affordable housing programs, ensuring community safety, and achieving greater climate protections to make Seattle a healthier place for all of us. He secured funding to fully renovate the Queen Anne Community Center and expanded the JustCARE program, which offers outreach, shelter, and wrap-around services to Seattleites without housing. In this race, he is running on a progressive platform to expand crisis support services, invest in social and transitional housing options, and improve the city’s public transit infrastructure to reduce both traffic and greenhouse gas emissions.
Lewis has earned an impressive list of endorsements from elected officials and key community leaders and is the most progressive choice in this race. Vote Andrew Lewis for Seattle City Council from District 7.
Councilmember Andrew Lewis is running for re-election to the Seattle City Council from District 7. Lewis was first elected to the seat in 2019 and previously served as an assistant city attorney, where he worked on the Seattle Human Rights Commission. He also serves as the president of the Seattle Metropolitan Park District where he has worked to create jobs, ensure the cleanliness of public green space, and advance environmental goals for the city.
In his first term on the council, Lewis prioritized funding affordable housing programs, ensuring community safety, and achieving greater climate protections to make Seattle a healthier place for all of us. He secured funding to fully renovate the Queen Anne Community Center and expanded the JustCARE program, which offers outreach, shelter, and wrap-around services to Seattleites without housing. In this race, he is running on a progressive platform to expand crisis support services, invest in social and transitional housing options, and improve the city’s public transit infrastructure to reduce both traffic and greenhouse gas emissions.
Lewis has earned an impressive list of endorsements from elected officials and key community leaders and is the most progressive choice in this race. Vote Andrew Lewis for Seattle City Council from District 7.
Jorge Barón is running to bring a holistic vision of equity, justice, and prosperity for all to King County.
As the executive director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP), Barón has dedicated the last 15 years to helping to establish the civil rights division in the Attorney General's office and fighting the Trump administration's deportation policies and family separation. He has been frequently recognized for this work, including receiving the MLK Medal of Distinguished Service from the King County Council in 2018 and being named one of the Most Influential Seattleites in Seattle Magazine in 2017.
Barón plans to use his executive nonprofit experience to better coordinate organizations around the region on housing and other issues. He believes the county should address disparities in our communities, from providing resources to communities most challenged by the effects of climate change to ensuring that everyone can access public transit.
A racial justice and equity focus is strongly interwoven in Barón's proposals. In our interview, he noted that a large portion of the county's budget - about 70 percent - is invested in “justice and safety," which is actually the criminal legal system. This is investing resources in a system that generates outcomes we do not want, namely, mass incarceration. Barón suggested increasing the percentage of the general fund that goes toward improving behavioral health programs and increasing diversionary and community-based restorative justice initiatives. As a member of the Joint Legislative Task Force on the Use of Deadly Force in Community Policing, he agrees with Reyneveld and Poppe on increasing police oversight and accountability.
Given his particular experience, Barón is probably the most distinct candidate in this race. The accomplishment of which he is most proud is rallying 63 organizations across the state to provide funds for asylum seekers, including legal assistance and expansion of services. Barón is a great choice if you are looking for an experienced nonprofit leader who will bring new perspectives to the King County Council with a record of coalition building and effective advocacy.
Last updated: 2023-07-14
Jorge Barón is running to bring a holistic vision of equity, justice, and prosperity for all to King County.
As the executive director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP), Barón has dedicated the last 15 years to helping to establish the civil rights division in the Attorney General's office and fighting the Trump administration's deportation policies and family separation. He has been frequently recognized for this work, including receiving the MLK Medal of Distinguished Service from the King County Council in 2018 and being named one of the Most Influential Seattleites in Seattle Magazine in 2017.
Barón plans to use his executive nonprofit experience to better coordinate organizations around the region on housing and other issues. He believes the county should address disparities in our communities, from providing resources to communities most challenged by the effects of climate change to ensuring that everyone can access public transit.
A racial justice and equity focus is strongly interwoven in Barón's proposals. In our interview, he noted that a large portion of the county's budget - about 70 percent - is invested in “justice and safety," which is actually the criminal legal system. This is investing resources in a system that generates outcomes we do not want, namely, mass incarceration. Barón suggested increasing the percentage of the general fund that goes toward improving behavioral health programs and increasing diversionary and community-based restorative justice initiatives. As a member of the Joint Legislative Task Force on the Use of Deadly Force in Community Policing, he agrees with Reyneveld and Poppe on increasing police oversight and accountability.
Given his particular experience, Barón is probably the most distinct candidate in this race. The accomplishment of which he is most proud is rallying 63 organizations across the state to provide funds for asylum seekers, including legal assistance and expansion of services. Barón is a great choice if you are looking for an experienced nonprofit leader who will bring new perspectives to the King County Council with a record of coalition building and effective advocacy.
Jorge Barón is running to bring a holistic vision of equity, justice, and prosperity for all to King County.
As the executive director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP), Barón has dedicated the last 15 years to helping to establish the civil rights division in the Attorney General's office and fighting the Trump administration's deportation policies and family separation. He has been frequently recognized for this work, including receiving the MLK Medal of Distinguished Service from the King County Council in 2018 and being named one of the Most Influential Seattleites in Seattle Magazine in 2017.
Barón plans to use his executive nonprofit experience to better coordinate organizations around the region on housing and other issues. He believes the county should address disparities in our communities, from providing resources to communities most challenged by the effects of climate change to ensuring that everyone can access public transit.
A racial justice and equity focus is strongly interwoven in Barón's proposals. In our interview, he noted that a large portion of the county's budget - about 70 percent - is invested in “justice and safety," which is actually the criminal legal system. This is investing resources in a system that generates outcomes we do not want, namely, mass incarceration. Barón suggested increasing the percentage of the general fund that goes toward improving behavioral health programs and increasing diversionary and community-based restorative justice initiatives. As a member of the Joint Legislative Task Force on the Use of Deadly Force in Community Policing, he agrees with Reyneveld and Poppe on increasing police oversight and accountability.
Given his particular experience, Barón is probably the most distinct candidate in this race. The accomplishment of which he is most proud is rallying 63 organizations across the state to provide funds for asylum seekers, including legal assistance and expansion of services. Barón is a great choice if you are looking for an experienced nonprofit leader who will bring new perspectives to the King County Council with a record of coalition building and effective advocacy.
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 the environment and public health.
Reyneveld has worked to help families and children across 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 experience in government and her long track record of 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 for the county 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 multi-family homes to affordable housing.
Reyneveld spoke to community safety as an upstream endeavor. 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 guaranteed basic income to help residents thrive.
Reyneveld's longtime experience in Democratic politics, community organizations, and legal advocacy distinguish her in this race.
Last updated: 2023-07-12
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 the environment and public health.
Reyneveld has worked to help families and children across 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 experience in government and her long track record of 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 for the county 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 multi-family homes to affordable housing.
Reyneveld spoke to community safety as an upstream endeavor. 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 guaranteed basic income to help residents thrive.
Reyneveld's longtime experience in Democratic politics, community organizations, and legal advocacy distinguish her in this race.
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 the environment and public health.
Reyneveld has worked to help families and children across 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 experience in government and her long track record of 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 for the county 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 multi-family homes to affordable housing.
Reyneveld spoke to community safety as an upstream endeavor. 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 guaranteed basic income to help residents thrive.
Reyneveld's longtime experience in Democratic politics, community organizations, and legal advocacy distinguish her in this race.
King County Budget Manager Becka Johnson Poppe is running to put her budgetary skills and experience to work for the King County Council. She has worked as the UW Director of Policy, Planning & State Operations and as a Budget & Policy Manager with King County. Like Reyneveld, Poppe has held many volunteer roles in the community as well, including as director on the board of youth homelessness advocacy organization YouthCare and serving as a precinct committee officer with the 36th District Democrats.
Poppe's top three priorities are the environment, equity, and the economy. In our interview with Poppe, she spoke in depth about her work to help oversee half of King County’s $16 billion budget to meet ambitious equity and climate goals. She also said that she would oppose criminalizing homelessness, instead advocating for the houseless as one of the many types of people left behind in the region's uneven prosperity boom. Poppe supports social housing and providing support for first-time homebuyers through a housing levy.
Like Baron and Reyneveld, Poppe agreed that the county should seek more mental and behavioral health infrastructure and investments in community courts and other criminal legal alternatives. She said her biggest accomplishment was the development of the county's first-ever Climate Equity Bond, which brought $20 million to frontline communities.
Poppe emphasized the environment during her interview. Her plan includes additional investment in accessible, emissions-free transportation like electrifying and expanding the county’s bus and vehicle fleet, providing more green spaces, and working on climate justice in communities most impacted by climate change. She was the only candidate to mention fare-free Metro, both as a way to curb spending on fare enforcement and encourage more riders. Poppe is a good choice If you're looking for a candidate with experience managing large budgets who will prioritize environmental issues.
Last updated: 2023-07-25
King County Budget Manager Becka Johnson Poppe is running to put her budgetary skills and experience to work for the King County Council. She has worked as the UW Director of Policy, Planning & State Operations and as a Budget & Policy Manager with King County. Like Reyneveld, Poppe has held many volunteer roles in the community as well, including as director on the board of youth homelessness advocacy organization YouthCare and serving as a precinct committee officer with the 36th District Democrats.
Poppe's top three priorities are the environment, equity, and the economy. In our interview with Poppe, she spoke in depth about her work to help oversee half of King County’s $16 billion budget to meet ambitious equity and climate goals. She also said that she would oppose criminalizing homelessness, instead advocating for the houseless as one of the many types of people left behind in the region's uneven prosperity boom. Poppe supports social housing and providing support for first-time homebuyers through a housing levy.
Like Baron and Reyneveld, Poppe agreed that the county should seek more mental and behavioral health infrastructure and investments in community courts and other criminal legal alternatives. She said her biggest accomplishment was the development of the county's first-ever Climate Equity Bond, which brought $20 million to frontline communities.
Poppe emphasized the environment during her interview. Her plan includes additional investment in accessible, emissions-free transportation like electrifying and expanding the county’s bus and vehicle fleet, providing more green spaces, and working on climate justice in communities most impacted by climate change. She was the only candidate to mention fare-free Metro, both as a way to curb spending on fare enforcement and encourage more riders. Poppe is a good choice If you're looking for a candidate with experience managing large budgets who will prioritize environmental issues.
King County Budget Manager Becka Johnson Poppe is running to put her budgetary skills and experience to work for the King County Council. She has worked as the UW Director of Policy, Planning & State Operations and as a Budget & Policy Manager with King County. Like Reyneveld, Poppe has held many volunteer roles in the community as well, including as director on the board of youth homelessness advocacy organization YouthCare and serving as a precinct committee officer with the 36th District Democrats.
Poppe's top three priorities are the environment, equity, and the economy. In our interview with Poppe, she spoke in depth about her work to help oversee half of King County’s $16 billion budget to meet ambitious equity and climate goals. She also said that she would oppose criminalizing homelessness, instead advocating for the houseless as one of the many types of people left behind in the region's uneven prosperity boom. Poppe supports social housing and providing support for first-time homebuyers through a housing levy.
Like Baron and Reyneveld, Poppe agreed that the county should seek more mental and behavioral health infrastructure and investments in community courts and other criminal legal alternatives. She said her biggest accomplishment was the development of the county's first-ever Climate Equity Bond, which brought $20 million to frontline communities.
Poppe emphasized the environment during her interview. Her plan includes additional investment in accessible, emissions-free transportation like electrifying and expanding the county’s bus and vehicle fleet, providing more green spaces, and working on climate justice in communities most impacted by climate change. She was the only candidate to mention fare-free Metro, both as a way to curb spending on fare enforcement and encourage more riders. Poppe is a good choice If you're looking for a candidate with experience managing large budgets who will prioritize environmental issues.
Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda is now running for King County Council from District 8. She was first elected to the Seattle City Council in 2017. Mosqueda 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 worker's rights and children's healthcare. Among other community roles, she also served on the board of Fuse Washington, which publishes this guide.
Mosqueda has distinguished herself as a progressive leader on the Seattle City Council. She sponsored the Jumpstart Seattle legislation, which funds affordable housing through a tax on high earners at large corporations. In addition, she supported efforts to expand paid sick leave and establish minimum wages for gig and other workers who have often been left behind in our economy. 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.
Last updated: 2023-07-14
Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda is now running for King County Council from District 8. She was first elected to the Seattle City Council in 2017. Mosqueda 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 worker's rights and children's healthcare. Among other community roles, she also served on the board of Fuse Washington, which publishes this guide.
Mosqueda has distinguished herself as a progressive leader on the Seattle City Council. She sponsored the Jumpstart Seattle legislation, which funds affordable housing through a tax on high earners at large corporations. In addition, she supported efforts to expand paid sick leave and establish minimum wages for gig and other workers who have often been left behind in our economy. 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.
Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda is now running for King County Council from District 8. She was first elected to the Seattle City Council in 2017. Mosqueda 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 worker's rights and children's healthcare. Among other community roles, she also served on the board of Fuse Washington, which publishes this guide.
Mosqueda has distinguished herself as a progressive leader on the Seattle City Council. She sponsored the Jumpstart Seattle legislation, which funds affordable housing through a tax on high earners at large corporations. In addition, she supported efforts to expand paid sick leave and establish minimum wages for gig and other workers who have often been left behind in our economy. 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.
Sofia Aragon is the other progressive running for King County Council, District 8. Aragon became the first Filipino immigrant to be named mayor of Burien and has served on the Burien City Council since 2020. She is a registered nurse and the executive director of the Washington Center for Nursing. As an attorney, she advocated for healthcare for all and workplace safety in Washington.
Under her mayorship, Burien became the first city in Washington to issue a proclamation against anti-Asian hate and passed a slate of tenant protection laws. She also voted to renew Burien's affordable housing program, although she voted against the initial proposal that would have expanded and improved it.
One notable difference between Aragon and her opponent Mosqueda is their view on policing. Aragon blames efforts to defund the police for Burien's struggles with crime. Although Aragon supports health and social services for people experiencing homelessness, her pledge to "assure an adequate police presence" indicates a more punitive approach to public safety than Mosqueda's.
Disappointingly, Aragon was part of a 4-3 majority on the Burien City Council that removed the Burien Planning Commission chair, Charles Schaefer, for his outreach to people experiencing homelessness in the community. This event generated significant backlash, including the resignation of 11 other members of boards and commissions. At the time of the vote, the City Council had failed to act on King County's offer of $1 million and 35 pallet shelters to create a sanctioned encampment. While Aragon has many good policy positions, her behavior during this recent event should be a major concern for progressive voters.
Also running in this race is perennial candidate Goodspaceguy, who is not running a serious campaign.
Last updated: 2023-07-13
Sofia Aragon is the other progressive running for King County Council, District 8. Aragon became the first Filipino immigrant to be named mayor of Burien and has served on the Burien City Council since 2020. She is a registered nurse and the executive director of the Washington Center for Nursing. As an attorney, she advocated for healthcare for all and workplace safety in Washington.
Under her mayorship, Burien became the first city in Washington to issue a proclamation against anti-Asian hate and passed a slate of tenant protection laws. She also voted to renew Burien's affordable housing program, although she voted against the initial proposal that would have expanded and improved it.
One notable difference between Aragon and her opponent Mosqueda is their view on policing. Aragon blames efforts to defund the police for Burien's struggles with crime. Although Aragon supports health and social services for people experiencing homelessness, her pledge to "assure an adequate police presence" indicates a more punitive approach to public safety than Mosqueda's.
Disappointingly, Aragon was part of a 4-3 majority on the Burien City Council that removed the Burien Planning Commission chair, Charles Schaefer, for his outreach to people experiencing homelessness in the community. This event generated significant backlash, including the resignation of 11 other members of boards and commissions. At the time of the vote, the City Council had failed to act on King County's offer of $1 million and 35 pallet shelters to create a sanctioned encampment. While Aragon has many good policy positions, her behavior during this recent event should be a major concern for progressive voters.
Also running in this race is perennial candidate Goodspaceguy, who is not running a serious campaign.
Maren Costa is the leading progressive candidate running to replace Lisa Herbold on the Seattle City Council from District 1. A former Amazon principal designer, Costa advocated for a climate action plan at Amazon that eventually became their official Climate Pledge. In 2020, Costa was illegally fired from the company after sending out an email to rally her coworkers around poor warehouse conditions for workers. With the backing of an open letter from nine U.S. senators, including Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, Costa won her case against Amazon and continued advocating for workers and her community.
Costa is now running to bring her tenacity and experience in management to city hall. In our interview with Costa, she spoke about the importance of raising more money to maintain services as the city faces a $100 million budget shortfall. Her proposals, including a vacancy tax, were squarely aimed at making the wealthiest pay what they owe to our communities.
Costa wants to look out for working people and make Seattle more livable for all. She spoke to a desire to improve affordability by allowing more mixed-use developments and “four floors and corner stores” in neighborhoods. She believes well-designed, denser neighborhoods are critical as the state faces a severe housing shortage, making living here hard for teachers, nurses, and other working professionals. On homelessness, Costa wants the city to take a housing-first approach, working on getting people into secure housing instead of criminalizing them for sleeping outside. On public safety, Costa offers a vision that funds gun violence prevention, community policing, and alternative response models.
Costa's experience managing million-dollar budgets and successfully advocating for corporate climate action makes her stand out as a progressive among the top candidates in the district. That experience plus an impressive set of endorsements make her the best choice for Seattle City Council in District 1.
Last updated: 2023-07-13
Maren Costa is the leading progressive candidate running to replace Lisa Herbold on the Seattle City Council from District 1. A former Amazon principal designer, Costa advocated for a climate action plan at Amazon that eventually became their official Climate Pledge. In 2020, Costa was illegally fired from the company after sending out an email to rally her coworkers around poor warehouse conditions for workers. With the backing of an open letter from nine U.S. senators, including Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, Costa won her case against Amazon and continued advocating for workers and her community.
Costa is now running to bring her tenacity and experience in management to city hall. In our interview with Costa, she spoke about the importance of raising more money to maintain services as the city faces a $100 million budget shortfall. Her proposals, including a vacancy tax, were squarely aimed at making the wealthiest pay what they owe to our communities.
Costa wants to look out for working people and make Seattle more livable for all. She spoke to a desire to improve affordability by allowing more mixed-use developments and “four floors and corner stores” in neighborhoods. She believes well-designed, denser neighborhoods are critical as the state faces a severe housing shortage, making living here hard for teachers, nurses, and other working professionals. On homelessness, Costa wants the city to take a housing-first approach, working on getting people into secure housing instead of criminalizing them for sleeping outside. On public safety, Costa offers a vision that funds gun violence prevention, community policing, and alternative response models.
Costa's experience managing million-dollar budgets and successfully advocating for corporate climate action makes her stand out as a progressive among the top candidates in the district. That experience plus an impressive set of endorsements make her the best choice for Seattle City Council in District 1.
Maren Costa is the leading progressive candidate running to replace Lisa Herbold on the Seattle City Council from District 1. A former Amazon principal designer, Costa advocated for a climate action plan at Amazon that eventually became their official Climate Pledge. In 2020, Costa was illegally fired from the company after sending out an email to rally her coworkers around poor warehouse conditions for workers. With the backing of an open letter from nine U.S. senators, including Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, Costa won her case against Amazon and continued advocating for workers and her community.
Costa is now running to bring her tenacity and experience in management to city hall. In our interview with Costa, she spoke about the importance of raising more money to maintain services as the city faces a $100 million budget shortfall. Her proposals, including a vacancy tax, were squarely aimed at making the wealthiest pay what they owe to our communities.
Costa wants to look out for working people and make Seattle more livable for all. She spoke to a desire to improve affordability by allowing more mixed-use developments and “four floors and corner stores” in neighborhoods. She believes well-designed, denser neighborhoods are critical as the state faces a severe housing shortage, making living here hard for teachers, nurses, and other working professionals. On homelessness, Costa wants the city to take a housing-first approach, working on getting people into secure housing instead of criminalizing them for sleeping outside. On public safety, Costa offers a vision that funds gun violence prevention, community policing, and alternative response models.
Costa's experience managing million-dollar budgets and successfully advocating for corporate climate action makes her stand out as a progressive among the top candidates in the district. That experience plus an impressive set of endorsements make her the best choice for Seattle City Council in District 1.
There are 7 other candidates in the crowded race for city council from District 1 this year: Preston Anderson, Rob Saka, Phil Tavel, Jean Iannelli Craciun, Stephen Brown, Mia Jacobson, and Lucy Barefoot.
Preston Anderson is an Army veteran and former medic who currently works as a clinical social worker for Puget Sound Health Care. He also serves as the membership chair of the Chief Sealth High School PTSA. But in our interview with Anderson, we were disappointed in his ideas to tackle the affordability crisis. For example, when asked where the city should build more affordable housing, Anderson suggested annexing White Center. In addition, he would not give interviewers a direct answer on whether or not he supports sweeps of homeless encampments.
Sociologist Jean Iannelli Craciun is the founder of the Diversity Center of Seattle Washington, a diversity, equity, and inclusion organization. Her campaign priorities include revitalizing Pioneer Square through small businesses, though she isn't specific on how. Her housing platform is a bit more robust. Craciun wants to expand housing by increasing accessory dwelling units (ADUs), for example, and believes there should be mandatory wage increases for homelessness service providers to keep those workers themselves out of poverty. She does not say how she would pay for such services and is a "maybe" on increasing existing taxes on big corporations like the Jumpstart tax, as well as a "maybe" on increasing or decreasing the police budget or the number of police officers.
Air Force veteran and cybersecurity lawyer Rob Saka is running, in his words, to center progressive values and common sense. He formerly served on the county's charter review commission, which helped moved the county sheriff from an elected position to an appointed one. However, Saka's campaign is somewhat low on specific details that make it unclear exactly how he would vote if elected to the council. In his interview with the Stranger, he said that the city needs more police officers, but declined to say how many or how the city could increase the number of unarmed officers, which he has proposed. Saka was a no on increasing the JumpStart tax on businesses grossing over $8 million to pay for affordable housing and rent control, but a yes on continuing sweeps of the homeless according to The Seattle Times.
Voters may remember Phil Tavel from his 2015 and 2021 runs for Seattle City Council, including his visits to conservative talk radio shows to repeat tired myths about how getting tough on unsheltered people would uplift them out of homelessness. Amazon and other big businesses dropped $1.5 million, including hundreds of thousands in Tavel's race to secure corporate-friendly candidates, though he ended up losing by 11 points in the general election. Tavel is again running a divisive campaign where he point-blank refuses the multitude of research that shows that homelessness is an issue of affordable housing and promises that he can create a single organization for all services and shelters to dispense care.
Mia Jacobson also has yet to raise any funds, and her campaign website is focused on changing how government works to center on public opinion. She would open up committee meeting minutes, proposals, policies, and agendas to digital public comment 24 hours a day, for example, and require all elected representatives to answer every non-destructive public comment. In probably the most surprisingly set of Seattle Times questionnaire answers, Jacobson answered 'Maybe' to everything - maybe to more or less police funding, maybe to upzoning, maybe to investing in substance abuse treatment for people in public housing.
Stephen Brown is the president and founder of Eltana Bagels. Unfortunately, his approach to homelessness focuses on sweeps, which are costly, cruel, and simply move people to different parts of the city while doing little to actually solve the homelessness crisis.
Lucy Barefoot has yet to publish a website or release a detailed campaign platform as of mid-July.
Last updated: 2023-07-13
There are 7 other candidates in the crowded race for city council from District 1 this year: Preston Anderson, Rob Saka, Phil Tavel, Jean Iannelli Craciun, Stephen Brown, Mia Jacobson, and Lucy Barefoot.
Preston Anderson is an Army veteran and former medic who currently works as a clinical social worker for Puget Sound Health Care. He also serves as the membership chair of the Chief Sealth High School PTSA. But in our interview with Anderson, we were disappointed in his ideas to tackle the affordability crisis. For example, when asked where the city should build more affordable housing, Anderson suggested annexing White Center. In addition, he would not give interviewers a direct answer on whether or not he supports sweeps of homeless encampments.
Sociologist Jean Iannelli Craciun is the founder of the Diversity Center of Seattle Washington, a diversity, equity, and inclusion organization. Her campaign priorities include revitalizing Pioneer Square through small businesses, though she isn't specific on how. Her housing platform is a bit more robust. Craciun wants to expand housing by increasing accessory dwelling units (ADUs), for example, and believes there should be mandatory wage increases for homelessness service providers to keep those workers themselves out of poverty. She does not say how she would pay for such services and is a "maybe" on increasing existing taxes on big corporations like the Jumpstart tax, as well as a "maybe" on increasing or decreasing the police budget or the number of police officers.
Air Force veteran and cybersecurity lawyer Rob Saka is running, in his words, to center progressive values and common sense. He formerly served on the county's charter review commission, which helped moved the county sheriff from an elected position to an appointed one. However, Saka's campaign is somewhat low on specific details that make it unclear exactly how he would vote if elected to the council. In his interview with the Stranger, he said that the city needs more police officers, but declined to say how many or how the city could increase the number of unarmed officers, which he has proposed. Saka was a no on increasing the JumpStart tax on businesses grossing over $8 million to pay for affordable housing and rent control, but a yes on continuing sweeps of the homeless according to The Seattle Times.
Voters may remember Phil Tavel from his 2015 and 2021 runs for Seattle City Council, including his visits to conservative talk radio shows to repeat tired myths about how getting tough on unsheltered people would uplift them out of homelessness. Amazon and other big businesses dropped $1.5 million, including hundreds of thousands in Tavel's race to secure corporate-friendly candidates, though he ended up losing by 11 points in the general election. Tavel is again running a divisive campaign where he point-blank refuses the multitude of research that shows that homelessness is an issue of affordable housing and promises that he can create a single organization for all services and shelters to dispense care.
Mia Jacobson also has yet to raise any funds, and her campaign website is focused on changing how government works to center on public opinion. She would open up committee meeting minutes, proposals, policies, and agendas to digital public comment 24 hours a day, for example, and require all elected representatives to answer every non-destructive public comment. In probably the most surprisingly set of Seattle Times questionnaire answers, Jacobson answered 'Maybe' to everything - maybe to more or less police funding, maybe to upzoning, maybe to investing in substance abuse treatment for people in public housing.
Stephen Brown is the president and founder of Eltana Bagels. Unfortunately, his approach to homelessness focuses on sweeps, which are costly, cruel, and simply move people to different parts of the city while doing little to actually solve the homelessness crisis.
Lucy Barefoot has yet to publish a website or release a detailed campaign platform as of mid-July.
Community organizer and incumbent Councilmember Tammy Morales is running for her second term serving District 2 on the Seattle City Council. Morales was first elected in 2019 and has been a vocal progressive advocate for this diverse district. Previously, she worked with the Rainier Beach Action Coalition to advocate for affordable housing, food security, and other pressing community needs. Beyond the city council, Morales has also served as a legislative director and city budget analyst.
In her current role, Morales has pushed for safe and walkable streets, corporate accountability, social and other affordable housing measures, and climate crisis emergency responses such as extreme heat and smoke shelters. She is running to build on her previous term to advocate for Green New Deal funding and environmental protections that will keep Seattle a healthy place to live for generations to come. If re-elected, Morales will continue to champion affordable housing policies, neighborhood revitalization investments, and tenant rights. She has received an extensive and diverse list of endorsements in this race including from fellow city council members and other local progressives.
Morales has the practical track record and the progressive vision necessary to advocate for District 2 on the Seattle City Council. She has earned your vote for re-election.
Last updated: 2023-07-17
Community organizer and incumbent Councilmember Tammy Morales is running for her second term serving District 2 on the Seattle City Council. Morales was first elected in 2019 and has been a vocal progressive advocate for this diverse district. Previously, she worked with the Rainier Beach Action Coalition to advocate for affordable housing, food security, and other pressing community needs. Beyond the city council, Morales has also served as a legislative director and city budget analyst.
In her current role, Morales has pushed for safe and walkable streets, corporate accountability, social and other affordable housing measures, and climate crisis emergency responses such as extreme heat and smoke shelters. She is running to build on her previous term to advocate for Green New Deal funding and environmental protections that will keep Seattle a healthy place to live for generations to come. If re-elected, Morales will continue to champion affordable housing policies, neighborhood revitalization investments, and tenant rights. She has received an extensive and diverse list of endorsements in this race including from fellow city council members and other local progressives.
Morales has the practical track record and the progressive vision necessary to advocate for District 2 on the Seattle City Council. She has earned your vote for re-election.
Community organizer and incumbent Councilmember Tammy Morales is running for her second term serving District 2 on the Seattle City Council. Morales was first elected in 2019 and has been a vocal progressive advocate for this diverse district. Previously, she worked with the Rainier Beach Action Coalition to advocate for affordable housing, food security, and other pressing community needs. Beyond the city council, Morales has also served as a legislative director and city budget analyst.
In her current role, Morales has pushed for safe and walkable streets, corporate accountability, social and other affordable housing measures, and climate crisis emergency responses such as extreme heat and smoke shelters. She is running to build on her previous term to advocate for Green New Deal funding and environmental protections that will keep Seattle a healthy place to live for generations to come. If re-elected, Morales will continue to champion affordable housing policies, neighborhood revitalization investments, and tenant rights. She has received an extensive and diverse list of endorsements in this race including from fellow city council members and other local progressives.
Morales has the practical track record and the progressive vision necessary to advocate for District 2 on the Seattle City Council. She has earned your vote for re-election.
Chinatown-International District (CID) small business owner Tanya Woo is the leading challenger to Morales for Seattle City Council from District 2. Her family ran the Mon Hei Bakery and later renovated the historic Louisa Hotel to have 84 units of workforce housing.
Woo is now running for Seattle City Council to give a voice to CID residents who don't feel heard by elected leaders. She would focus on improving public safety, expanding community outreach in more languages, and protecting what she calls "one of the most endangered neighborhoods" because of gentrification.
Also in this race is Green Party chair Margaret Elisabeth, who is running to bring a very progressive slate of policies to city hall. Elisabeth was a national delegate of the Lavender Green Caucus (LGBTQIA+) and is currently co-chair and media spokesperson for the caucus. They are also chair of the steering committee for the U.S. Green Party.
Elisabeth states that with a background in green activism, including "leave no trace" music and art festivals and community wellness services, they are ready to lead the city into prosperity. This includes setting a living wage of $25 per hour, citywide single-payer health care for every resident of Seattle, and universal funding for schools. Unfortunately, these proposals would likely be extremely cost-prohibitive given that the city is already facing a roughly $100 million budget gap.
Last updated: 2023-07-13
Chinatown-International District (CID) small business owner Tanya Woo is the leading challenger to Morales for Seattle City Council from District 2. Her family ran the Mon Hei Bakery and later renovated the historic Louisa Hotel to have 84 units of workforce housing.
Woo is now running for Seattle City Council to give a voice to CID residents who don't feel heard by elected leaders. She would focus on improving public safety, expanding community outreach in more languages, and protecting what she calls "one of the most endangered neighborhoods" because of gentrification.
Also in this race is Green Party chair Margaret Elisabeth, who is running to bring a very progressive slate of policies to city hall. Elisabeth was a national delegate of the Lavender Green Caucus (LGBTQIA+) and is currently co-chair and media spokesperson for the caucus. They are also chair of the steering committee for the U.S. Green Party.
Elisabeth states that with a background in green activism, including "leave no trace" music and art festivals and community wellness services, they are ready to lead the city into prosperity. This includes setting a living wage of $25 per hour, citywide single-payer health care for every resident of Seattle, and universal funding for schools. Unfortunately, these proposals would likely be extremely cost-prohibitive given that the city is already facing a roughly $100 million budget gap.
The race for Seattle City Council in District 3, vacated by retiring council member Kshama Sawant, features two candidates with progressive values. Alex Hudson brings extensive policy experience working on housing, transit, and transportation issues across the region, while Hollingsworth has deep roots in District 3 and would be a strong advocate for her community. With at least four new members on the City Council next year, we believe Hudson's extensive knowledge and experience with Seattle's top policy challenges would be a particularly valuable addition. We lean toward Hudson because of her significantly broader endorsements and policymaking background.
Alex Hudson is running to strengthen the fundamentals of city life through improved transit and housing. Since 2018, she has served as Executive Director of the Transportation Choices Coalition, where she successfully advocated for $5 billion in investments in transportation and transit in the 2022 state legislative session, including ushering in free rides for all youth in Washington. Hudson currently serves on Puget Sound Regional Council Transportation Policy Board and the board of the Freeway Park Association and has also led the First Hill Improvement Association.
In our interview with Hudson, she offered her perspective as a renter and presented a detailed vision for the city that she hopes would alleviate the housing crisis. In comparison to Hollingsworth, Hudson was very specific in our interview about policies that she believes will affect housing across the entire city, not just the district. As a board member of Bellwether Housing, the largest affordable housing provider in King County, Hudson spoke to how they needed two years to get through permitting, licensing, and review to build housing - not fast enough, in her opinion. Hudson opposes the urban village model and exclusionary zoning, two policies that limit housing and stifle affordable and middle housing, like duplexes, in wealthier neighborhoods. She supports a municipal capital gains tax to invest more in affordable housing and implement the social housing authority to kickstart social, publicly-owned housing in Seattle.
On community safety and policing, Hudson believes that after one of the greatest civil rights protests of our time, the city has dropped the ball on how to continue to make our communities safe for all. Like Hollingsworth, Hudson sees value in covering some of the basics - making sure street lights work and parks are full of programs and opportunities. In addition, she wants to ensure that armed officers are showing up only on appropriate calls and that fare enforcement is restricted so that people don't end up in the criminal legal system over a bus fare. Hudson also wants to see further investment in a functioning 911 alternative responder. It is worth noting here that both Hudson and Hollingsworth answered 'maybe' to The Seattle Times' questionnaire about conducting sweeps and raising the JumpStart tax on big corporations to cover Seattle's budget shortfall of about $100 million.
Hudson would be an excellent choice for voters seeking a highly knowledgeable and experienced leader in transportation and housing issues.
Last updated: 2023-07-20
Alex Hudson is running to strengthen the fundamentals of city life through improved transit and housing. Since 2018, she has served as Executive Director of the Transportation Choices Coalition, where she successfully advocated for $5 billion in investments in transportation and transit in the 2022 state legislative session, including ushering in free rides for all youth in Washington. Hudson currently serves on Puget Sound Regional Council Transportation Policy Board and the board of the Freeway Park Association and has also led the First Hill Improvement Association.
In our interview with Hudson, she offered her perspective as a renter and presented a detailed vision for the city that she hopes would alleviate the housing crisis. In comparison to Hollingsworth, Hudson was very specific in our interview about policies that she believes will affect housing across the entire city, not just the district. As a board member of Bellwether Housing, the largest affordable housing provider in King County, Hudson spoke to how they needed two years to get through permitting, licensing, and review to build housing - not fast enough, in her opinion. Hudson opposes the urban village model and exclusionary zoning, two policies that limit housing and stifle affordable and middle housing, like duplexes, in wealthier neighborhoods. She supports a municipal capital gains tax to invest more in affordable housing and implement the social housing authority to kickstart social, publicly-owned housing in Seattle.
On community safety and policing, Hudson believes that after one of the greatest civil rights protests of our time, the city has dropped the ball on how to continue to make our communities safe for all. Like Hollingsworth, Hudson sees value in covering some of the basics - making sure street lights work and parks are full of programs and opportunities. In addition, she wants to ensure that armed officers are showing up only on appropriate calls and that fare enforcement is restricted so that people don't end up in the criminal legal system over a bus fare. Hudson also wants to see further investment in a functioning 911 alternative responder. It is worth noting here that both Hudson and Hollingsworth answered 'maybe' to The Seattle Times' questionnaire about conducting sweeps and raising the JumpStart tax on big corporations to cover Seattle's budget shortfall of about $100 million.
Hudson would be an excellent choice for voters seeking a highly knowledgeable and experienced leader in transportation and housing issues.
Alex Hudson is running to strengthen the fundamentals of city life through improved transit and housing. Since 2018, she has served as Executive Director of the Transportation Choices Coalition, where she successfully advocated for $5 billion in investments in transportation and transit in the 2022 state legislative session, including ushering in free rides for all youth in Washington. Hudson currently serves on Puget Sound Regional Council Transportation Policy Board and the board of the Freeway Park Association and has also led the First Hill Improvement Association.
In our interview with Hudson, she offered her perspective as a renter and presented a detailed vision for the city that she hopes would alleviate the housing crisis. In comparison to Hollingsworth, Hudson was very specific in our interview about policies that she believes will affect housing across the entire city, not just the district. As a board member of Bellwether Housing, the largest affordable housing provider in King County, Hudson spoke to how they needed two years to get through permitting, licensing, and review to build housing - not fast enough, in her opinion. Hudson opposes the urban village model and exclusionary zoning, two policies that limit housing and stifle affordable and middle housing, like duplexes, in wealthier neighborhoods. She supports a municipal capital gains tax to invest more in affordable housing and implement the social housing authority to kickstart social, publicly-owned housing in Seattle.
On community safety and policing, Hudson believes that after one of the greatest civil rights protests of our time, the city has dropped the ball on how to continue to make our communities safe for all. Like Hollingsworth, Hudson sees value in covering some of the basics - making sure street lights work and parks are full of programs and opportunities. In addition, she wants to ensure that armed officers are showing up only on appropriate calls and that fare enforcement is restricted so that people don't end up in the criminal legal system over a bus fare. Hudson also wants to see further investment in a functioning 911 alternative responder. It is worth noting here that both Hudson and Hollingsworth answered 'maybe' to The Seattle Times' questionnaire about conducting sweeps and raising the JumpStart tax on big corporations to cover Seattle's budget shortfall of about $100 million.
Hudson would be an excellent choice for voters seeking a highly knowledgeable and experienced leader in transportation and housing issues.
Joy Hollingsworth is running to put a spotlight on improving the lives of all residents of District 3. She is a small business owner, former assistant women's basketball coach at Seattle University, and former Girls Program Director at Seattle’s A PLUS Youth Program. Hollingsworth is currently part of the Food Access Network at Northwest Harvest. She has invested much of her time in community and agriculture. Her family owns and operates one of the few Black-owned cannabis production farms in the state.
In our interview with Hollingsworth, she pointed to her lifelong history and knowledge of the district as a strength. Though she does not have extensive policy experience, she would bring a wealth of community knowledge and priorities to the seat. For example, she spoke about how Black-owned businesses in the Central District had long been overlooked. She would push for greater investments from Seattle’s Business Improvement Areas and Office of Economic Development. She pointed out that the 98118 zip code in Rainier Valley only had one food bank, which hampered residents' ability to put food on the table in difficult times. She would also seek more youth enrichment programs and equitable placement of parks and green spaces by looking for opportunities for both in the district.
Compared to Hudson's campaign, Hollingsworth's is more locally focused, with a desire to improve youth activities and parks specifically in the district. When it comes to policing, she stated that police should make more of an effort to meet the community, a stance we feel could use more detail. She also supports Mayor Harrell's plan to hire 400 more cops, which will likely prove challenging during a nationwide shortage of officers and would do little to address the root causes of crime.
Hollingsworth would be an excellent choice for voters looking for a candidate with strong community ties who would be a powerful advocate for District 3 at city hall.
Last updated: 2023-07-20
Joy Hollingsworth is running to put a spotlight on improving the lives of all residents of District 3. She is a small business owner, former assistant women's basketball coach at Seattle University, and former Girls Program Director at Seattle’s A PLUS Youth Program. Hollingsworth is currently part of the Food Access Network at Northwest Harvest. She has invested much of her time in community and agriculture. Her family owns and operates one of the few Black-owned cannabis production farms in the state.
In our interview with Hollingsworth, she pointed to her lifelong history and knowledge of the district as a strength. Though she does not have extensive policy experience, she would bring a wealth of community knowledge and priorities to the seat. For example, she spoke about how Black-owned businesses in the Central District had long been overlooked. She would push for greater investments from Seattle’s Business Improvement Areas and Office of Economic Development. She pointed out that the 98118 zip code in Rainier Valley only had one food bank, which hampered residents' ability to put food on the table in difficult times. She would also seek more youth enrichment programs and equitable placement of parks and green spaces by looking for opportunities for both in the district.
Compared to Hudson's campaign, Hollingsworth's is more locally focused, with a desire to improve youth activities and parks specifically in the district. When it comes to policing, she stated that police should make more of an effort to meet the community, a stance we feel could use more detail. She also supports Mayor Harrell's plan to hire 400 more cops, which will likely prove challenging during a nationwide shortage of officers and would do little to address the root causes of crime.
Hollingsworth would be an excellent choice for voters looking for a candidate with strong community ties who would be a powerful advocate for District 3 at city hall.
Joy Hollingsworth is running to put a spotlight on improving the lives of all residents of District 3. She is a small business owner, former assistant women's basketball coach at Seattle University, and former Girls Program Director at Seattle’s A PLUS Youth Program. Hollingsworth is currently part of the Food Access Network at Northwest Harvest. She has invested much of her time in community and agriculture. Her family owns and operates one of the few Black-owned cannabis production farms in the state.
In our interview with Hollingsworth, she pointed to her lifelong history and knowledge of the district as a strength. Though she does not have extensive policy experience, she would bring a wealth of community knowledge and priorities to the seat. For example, she spoke about how Black-owned businesses in the Central District had long been overlooked. She would push for greater investments from Seattle’s Business Improvement Areas and Office of Economic Development. She pointed out that the 98118 zip code in Rainier Valley only had one food bank, which hampered residents' ability to put food on the table in difficult times. She would also seek more youth enrichment programs and equitable placement of parks and green spaces by looking for opportunities for both in the district.
Compared to Hudson's campaign, Hollingsworth's is more locally focused, with a desire to improve youth activities and parks specifically in the district. When it comes to policing, she stated that police should make more of an effort to meet the community, a stance we feel could use more detail. She also supports Mayor Harrell's plan to hire 400 more cops, which will likely prove challenging during a nationwide shortage of officers and would do little to address the root causes of crime.
Hollingsworth would be an excellent choice for voters looking for a candidate with strong community ties who would be a powerful advocate for District 3 at city hall.
There are six other candidates in the race for Seattle City Council from District 3. Andrew Ashiofu's name may be familiar to voters, as he ran last year for state Legislature. He serves as the chair of the Washington State Stonewall Democrats, co-chair of the Seattle LGBTQ Commission, and board member for People Of Color Against AIDS Network (POCAAN) and Gay City. He has also served on the King County HIV Planning Council, the Harborview Madison Clinic Community Advisory Board, and the Washington State Department of Health COVID Vaccine Implementation Council.
In our interview with Ashiofu, he described how being HIV-positive and formerly unhoused has motivated him to fight for the most vulnerable of the district. He stated that the city needs to reduce the timeline to build housing and that a housing-first policy would alleviate the issues of people needing to live on the streets. While he shared many similar progressive views as his opponents, Ashiofu mentioned a few unique specifics - adding sanitation centers that the houseless could use, as well as harm reduction centers and more civilian investigators to police oversight.
Deputy prosecuting attorney Efrain Hudnell works for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s office. There are several positives about Hudnell's platform, including investing in alternatives to policing, supporting more therapeutic courts instead of jail time, and shifting away from surface parking lots to promote more commercial and residential housing.
The biggest problem with Hudnell's record is that he joined the right-wing Federalist Society in 2017 as a law student at Seattle University. The organization is centered around conservative lawyers and is viewed as a pipeline for conservative Supreme Court justices, including Roberts, Alito, and Gorsuch, the latter appointed in the very year Hudnell chose to join. Hudnell left the organization in the Spring of 2018, stating that a paid trip to see Clarence Thomas opened his eyes to the group's privileged, conservative agenda.
Democratic socialist candidate Ry Armstrong is a queer artist and climate activist running to be the first openly queer candidate to represent District 3 (Ashiofu and Hollingsworth are also LGBTQ+), as well as the first openly nonbinary council member. They have high ambitions for the city, including establishing Seattle as a “right to shelter” and carbon-neutral city.
Their community experience includes serving as executive director of a small LGBTQ-focused nonprofit. While some of Armstrong's plans are interesting, like taxing corporations for carbon emission pollution, others are questionable, like asking the federal government to donate a retired battleship to retrofit into thousands of units of housing. Other ideas with uncertain prospects for funding include a mandate that Seattle provide shelter to anyone who needs it through a hotline and if the city cannot, it would be liable to fine itself. Though not easily funded, much of Armstrong's agenda is progressive, including seeking more affordable housing, rent control, alternatives to traditional policing, and more. For their ambitious agenda, they've been endorsed by the Seattle Green Party, King County Young Democrats, Green Party Washington, and Moms Demand Action among other organizations.
Like Armstrong, cannabis producer Alex Cooley has good intentions in seeking alternatives to filling up our jails with people struggling with addiction and wanting to expand housing. But his desire to legalize all drugs and dedicate one million square feet to the unhoused in the form of a state park are likely nonstarters for public policy.
Shobhit Agarwal describes himself as a first-generation gay immigrant from India who serves on the board for Trikone NW, a South Asian LGBTQ group. He wants to see more racially diverse police officers and to expand low-income housing through social housing, though this initiative will likely need additional funding to kickstart it, and Agarwal makes no mention of raising revenue for this or other programs. He also adds that he wants to "compartmentalize" homelessness, though he offers no details as to what that means.
Public defender Bobby Goodwin is running to erase graffiti, stamp out ticket scalping, increase prosecutions, and increase mental health care access.
Neither Goodwin nor Agarwal has significant organizational endorsements or political experience.
Last updated: 2023-07-25
There are six other candidates in the race for Seattle City Council from District 3. Andrew Ashiofu's name may be familiar to voters, as he ran last year for state Legislature. He serves as the chair of the Washington State Stonewall Democrats, co-chair of the Seattle LGBTQ Commission, and board member for People Of Color Against AIDS Network (POCAAN) and Gay City. He has also served on the King County HIV Planning Council, the Harborview Madison Clinic Community Advisory Board, and the Washington State Department of Health COVID Vaccine Implementation Council.
In our interview with Ashiofu, he described how being HIV-positive and formerly unhoused has motivated him to fight for the most vulnerable of the district. He stated that the city needs to reduce the timeline to build housing and that a housing-first policy would alleviate the issues of people needing to live on the streets. While he shared many similar progressive views as his opponents, Ashiofu mentioned a few unique specifics - adding sanitation centers that the houseless could use, as well as harm reduction centers and more civilian investigators to police oversight.
Deputy prosecuting attorney Efrain Hudnell works for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s office. There are several positives about Hudnell's platform, including investing in alternatives to policing, supporting more therapeutic courts instead of jail time, and shifting away from surface parking lots to promote more commercial and residential housing.
The biggest problem with Hudnell's record is that he joined the right-wing Federalist Society in 2017 as a law student at Seattle University. The organization is centered around conservative lawyers and is viewed as a pipeline for conservative Supreme Court justices, including Roberts, Alito, and Gorsuch, the latter appointed in the very year Hudnell chose to join. Hudnell left the organization in the Spring of 2018, stating that a paid trip to see Clarence Thomas opened his eyes to the group's privileged, conservative agenda.
Democratic socialist candidate Ry Armstrong is a queer artist and climate activist running to be the first openly queer candidate to represent District 3 (Ashiofu and Hollingsworth are also LGBTQ+), as well as the first openly nonbinary council member. They have high ambitions for the city, including establishing Seattle as a “right to shelter” and carbon-neutral city.
Their community experience includes serving as executive director of a small LGBTQ-focused nonprofit. While some of Armstrong's plans are interesting, like taxing corporations for carbon emission pollution, others are questionable, like asking the federal government to donate a retired battleship to retrofit into thousands of units of housing. Other ideas with uncertain prospects for funding include a mandate that Seattle provide shelter to anyone who needs it through a hotline and if the city cannot, it would be liable to fine itself. Though not easily funded, much of Armstrong's agenda is progressive, including seeking more affordable housing, rent control, alternatives to traditional policing, and more. For their ambitious agenda, they've been endorsed by the Seattle Green Party, King County Young Democrats, Green Party Washington, and Moms Demand Action among other organizations.
Like Armstrong, cannabis producer Alex Cooley has good intentions in seeking alternatives to filling up our jails with people struggling with addiction and wanting to expand housing. But his desire to legalize all drugs and dedicate one million square feet to the unhoused in the form of a state park are likely nonstarters for public policy.
Shobhit Agarwal describes himself as a first-generation gay immigrant from India who serves on the board for Trikone NW, a South Asian LGBTQ group. He wants to see more racially diverse police officers and to expand low-income housing through social housing, though this initiative will likely need additional funding to kickstart it, and Agarwal makes no mention of raising revenue for this or other programs. He also adds that he wants to "compartmentalize" homelessness, though he offers no details as to what that means.
Public defender Bobby Goodwin is running to erase graffiti, stamp out ticket scalping, increase prosecutions, and increase mental health care access.
Neither Goodwin nor Agarwal has significant organizational endorsements or political experience.
Ron Davis is running for Seattle City Council, District 4 as an outspoken progressive advocate for affordable housing, community safety, and more. Davis served on the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association and has been a board member at Futurewise, which advocates for sustainability and livable communities. In our interview with Davis, he emphasized that he's running to be the opposite of retiring incumbent council member Alex Pedersen, who stood in the way of many progressive policies, including efforts to build more "missing middle" housing.
Davis would focus on housing supply, subsidizing housing so that everyone has more affordable access, and increasing stability for renters. Many policies are on the table for Davis to achieve this, including prohibiting rent price gouging, funding social housing, expanding mid-rise housing, ensuring the "right to return" for people displaced by developers, and offering square footage and height bonuses. Davis is also rigorously pro-science when it comes to treating homelessness as a housing problem. He points out that many challenging and displacing life events like domestic abuse, addiction, and job loss are less catastrophic when people can afford rent and stay off the streets. Aside from the many housing policies above, Davis would push to build 3,500 permanent supportive housing units.
Davis is one of the few candidates - not just in the district, but citywide - to acknowledge that even Seattle's own police don't think they can hire 400 more officers during a nationwide shortage. Rather than lowering standards on hires and pouring more money into bonuses, he wants to see aggressive expansion into alternatives to policing for people in crisis. Other top priorities for Davis are worker's rights, including subsidized childcare, closing minimum wage loopholes, and more.
Vote for Ron Davis for progressive change on the Seattle City Council from District 4.
Last updated: 2023-07-13
Ron Davis is running for Seattle City Council, District 4 as an outspoken progressive advocate for affordable housing, community safety, and more. Davis served on the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association and has been a board member at Futurewise, which advocates for sustainability and livable communities. In our interview with Davis, he emphasized that he's running to be the opposite of retiring incumbent council member Alex Pedersen, who stood in the way of many progressive policies, including efforts to build more "missing middle" housing.
Davis would focus on housing supply, subsidizing housing so that everyone has more affordable access, and increasing stability for renters. Many policies are on the table for Davis to achieve this, including prohibiting rent price gouging, funding social housing, expanding mid-rise housing, ensuring the "right to return" for people displaced by developers, and offering square footage and height bonuses. Davis is also rigorously pro-science when it comes to treating homelessness as a housing problem. He points out that many challenging and displacing life events like domestic abuse, addiction, and job loss are less catastrophic when people can afford rent and stay off the streets. Aside from the many housing policies above, Davis would push to build 3,500 permanent supportive housing units.
Davis is one of the few candidates - not just in the district, but citywide - to acknowledge that even Seattle's own police don't think they can hire 400 more officers during a nationwide shortage. Rather than lowering standards on hires and pouring more money into bonuses, he wants to see aggressive expansion into alternatives to policing for people in crisis. Other top priorities for Davis are worker's rights, including subsidized childcare, closing minimum wage loopholes, and more.
Vote for Ron Davis for progressive change on the Seattle City Council from District 4.
Ron Davis is running for Seattle City Council, District 4 as an outspoken progressive advocate for affordable housing, community safety, and more. Davis served on the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association and has been a board member at Futurewise, which advocates for sustainability and livable communities. In our interview with Davis, he emphasized that he's running to be the opposite of retiring incumbent council member Alex Pedersen, who stood in the way of many progressive policies, including efforts to build more "missing middle" housing.
Davis would focus on housing supply, subsidizing housing so that everyone has more affordable access, and increasing stability for renters. Many policies are on the table for Davis to achieve this, including prohibiting rent price gouging, funding social housing, expanding mid-rise housing, ensuring the "right to return" for people displaced by developers, and offering square footage and height bonuses. Davis is also rigorously pro-science when it comes to treating homelessness as a housing problem. He points out that many challenging and displacing life events like domestic abuse, addiction, and job loss are less catastrophic when people can afford rent and stay off the streets. Aside from the many housing policies above, Davis would push to build 3,500 permanent supportive housing units.
Davis is one of the few candidates - not just in the district, but citywide - to acknowledge that even Seattle's own police don't think they can hire 400 more officers during a nationwide shortage. Rather than lowering standards on hires and pouring more money into bonuses, he wants to see aggressive expansion into alternatives to policing for people in crisis. Other top priorities for Davis are worker's rights, including subsidized childcare, closing minimum wage loopholes, and more.
Vote for Ron Davis for progressive change on the Seattle City Council from District 4.
Davis faces several less progressive candidates in this race for Seattle City Council in District 4. Maritza Rivera works in Mayor Bruce Harrell's office as Deputy Director of the Department of Arts & Culture. Her number one campaign priority is public safety, in the form of getting 5-minute response times to 911 calls, taking "home and car break-ins seriously," and aggressively targeting people suffering from drug addiction. Like Ken Wilson, Rivera doesn't support rent control and wants the city to continue its expensive and inhumane sweeps of encampments. She has no firm stance on increasing revenue for the 400 additional officers she wants to hire, despite a projected city budget shortfall in the years to come.
Also in this race is civil engineer Ken Wilson, who is similarly focused on public safety. Like many candidates across the district this year, Wilson's top priority is more police. Amid a nationwide shortage of police, a serious budget shortfall for the years to come, and a lack of directive over what all these new officers would do beyond responding to 911 calls, we don't believe this is the most thoughtful public safety platform in District 4.
Voters should also review Wilson's stances from his run against Teresa Mosqueda in 2021. Two years ago, Wilson was not in support of rent control or regulations, stating that Section 8 and other financial assistance give renters enough control to individually provide themselves with their best housing situation. This of course excludes the many renters who don't have Section 8, and fails to adequately protect those who do. This year, Wilson says that the city should provide 18 to 24 months of transitional housing and a life-term plan with on-site professional support for people struggling with mental health issues. However, he also supports encampment sweeps, which have been proven to do immense harm and be a waste of taxpayer dollars. He also answered "maybe" to upzoning single-family housing in his Seattle Times questionnaire, which hardly fits his "pro-growth" strategy - more likely he is fine with upzoning already dense areas, as he mentions in his campaign bio, which forces growth in few neighborhoods and leaves wealthier tracts alone.
Technology professional George Artem supports using public school funding for private and charter schools. He also supports more militarized policing and a return to the failed "War on Drugs" that led to massive increases in incarceration. Artem is not a progressive choice in this race.
Last updated: 2023-07-13
Davis faces several less progressive candidates in this race for Seattle City Council in District 4. Maritza Rivera works in Mayor Bruce Harrell's office as Deputy Director of the Department of Arts & Culture. Her number one campaign priority is public safety, in the form of getting 5-minute response times to 911 calls, taking "home and car break-ins seriously," and aggressively targeting people suffering from drug addiction. Like Ken Wilson, Rivera doesn't support rent control and wants the city to continue its expensive and inhumane sweeps of encampments. She has no firm stance on increasing revenue for the 400 additional officers she wants to hire, despite a projected city budget shortfall in the years to come.
Also in this race is civil engineer Ken Wilson, who is similarly focused on public safety. Like many candidates across the district this year, Wilson's top priority is more police. Amid a nationwide shortage of police, a serious budget shortfall for the years to come, and a lack of directive over what all these new officers would do beyond responding to 911 calls, we don't believe this is the most thoughtful public safety platform in District 4.
Voters should also review Wilson's stances from his run against Teresa Mosqueda in 2021. Two years ago, Wilson was not in support of rent control or regulations, stating that Section 8 and other financial assistance give renters enough control to individually provide themselves with their best housing situation. This of course excludes the many renters who don't have Section 8, and fails to adequately protect those who do. This year, Wilson says that the city should provide 18 to 24 months of transitional housing and a life-term plan with on-site professional support for people struggling with mental health issues. However, he also supports encampment sweeps, which have been proven to do immense harm and be a waste of taxpayer dollars. He also answered "maybe" to upzoning single-family housing in his Seattle Times questionnaire, which hardly fits his "pro-growth" strategy - more likely he is fine with upzoning already dense areas, as he mentions in his campaign bio, which forces growth in few neighborhoods and leaves wealthier tracts alone.
Technology professional George Artem supports using public school funding for private and charter schools. He also supports more militarized policing and a return to the failed "War on Drugs" that led to massive increases in incarceration. Artem is not a progressive choice in this race.
There are several progressive candidates in this crowded race to replace Councilmember Debra Juarez, who is retiring. We recommend Nilu Jenks because of her strong platform and broad progressive endorsements.
Nilu Jenks is a community advocate entering the crowded race to represent District 5 on Seattle's City Council. Jenks is a board member of Roosevelt Alumni for Racial Equity, where she wrote the racial equity curriculum for Roosevelt High's after-school program. She also serves as the advocacy chair on John Rogers Elementary's PTA and volunteered to coach middle schoolers who were learning English. As a daughter of Iranian immigrants who were undocumented during her childhood, Jenks is motivated to improve life for immigrant families in a sanctuary city like Seattle.
Jenks' main area of advocacy has been gun safety. After the Parkland school shooting, she helped organize a gun buyback program and education campaign for gun owners in California, where she lived at the time.
When it comes to public safety more broadly, Jenks' vision includes safety for everyone - from kids walking and biking to school, to people who live in tents and cars. She supports funding programs like LEAD and CoLEAD that provide behavioral health and community support as an alternative to police. While she does not support the mayor's proposed goal of reaching 1,400 officers, she said in her interview that she would support 1,200. She reportedly said it was a mistake for the previous council to commit to defunding police by 50%.
When it comes to housing, Jenks thinks the current mandatory affordable housing model does not go far enough, as most landlords can choose to pay a fee instead of creating affordable units. Jenks wants to expand mandatory affordable housing into more neighborhoods and increase zoning and incentives for multi-family homes, which will provide more options for lower and mid-income families. She knocked on doors for the social housing initiative and says she is excited to hear about ideas for how to fund it with progressive revenue. She also mentioned racial justice when it comes to housing - proposing support to help people of color buy homes or afford childcare as a form of reparations.
Jenks is also passionate about protecting our climate. She wants to bring carbon-free electrification, higher standards for green buildings, and expanded public transit to our neighborhoods. Many of the changes in her climate plan will also make our neighborhoods more walkable, and give residents in Lake City and Bitter Lake an easier commute to the light rail.
Although some of the other candidates have slightly more ambitious plans for housing and police reform, Jenks has a strong platform and has earned the most progressive endorsements in this race. We recommend Nilu Jenks for Seattle City Council from District 5.
Last updated: 2023-07-14
Nilu Jenks is a community advocate entering the crowded race to represent District 5 on Seattle's City Council. Jenks is a board member of Roosevelt Alumni for Racial Equity, where she wrote the racial equity curriculum for Roosevelt High's after-school program. She also serves as the advocacy chair on John Rogers Elementary's PTA and volunteered to coach middle schoolers who were learning English. As a daughter of Iranian immigrants who were undocumented during her childhood, Jenks is motivated to improve life for immigrant families in a sanctuary city like Seattle.
Jenks' main area of advocacy has been gun safety. After the Parkland school shooting, she helped organize a gun buyback program and education campaign for gun owners in California, where she lived at the time.
When it comes to public safety more broadly, Jenks' vision includes safety for everyone - from kids walking and biking to school, to people who live in tents and cars. She supports funding programs like LEAD and CoLEAD that provide behavioral health and community support as an alternative to police. While she does not support the mayor's proposed goal of reaching 1,400 officers, she said in her interview that she would support 1,200. She reportedly said it was a mistake for the previous council to commit to defunding police by 50%.
When it comes to housing, Jenks thinks the current mandatory affordable housing model does not go far enough, as most landlords can choose to pay a fee instead of creating affordable units. Jenks wants to expand mandatory affordable housing into more neighborhoods and increase zoning and incentives for multi-family homes, which will provide more options for lower and mid-income families. She knocked on doors for the social housing initiative and says she is excited to hear about ideas for how to fund it with progressive revenue. She also mentioned racial justice when it comes to housing - proposing support to help people of color buy homes or afford childcare as a form of reparations.
Jenks is also passionate about protecting our climate. She wants to bring carbon-free electrification, higher standards for green buildings, and expanded public transit to our neighborhoods. Many of the changes in her climate plan will also make our neighborhoods more walkable, and give residents in Lake City and Bitter Lake an easier commute to the light rail.
Although some of the other candidates have slightly more ambitious plans for housing and police reform, Jenks has a strong platform and has earned the most progressive endorsements in this race. We recommend Nilu Jenks for Seattle City Council from District 5.
Nilu Jenks is a community advocate entering the crowded race to represent District 5 on Seattle's City Council. Jenks is a board member of Roosevelt Alumni for Racial Equity, where she wrote the racial equity curriculum for Roosevelt High's after-school program. She also serves as the advocacy chair on John Rogers Elementary's PTA and volunteered to coach middle schoolers who were learning English. As a daughter of Iranian immigrants who were undocumented during her childhood, Jenks is motivated to improve life for immigrant families in a sanctuary city like Seattle.
Jenks' main area of advocacy has been gun safety. After the Parkland school shooting, she helped organize a gun buyback program and education campaign for gun owners in California, where she lived at the time.
When it comes to public safety more broadly, Jenks' vision includes safety for everyone - from kids walking and biking to school, to people who live in tents and cars. She supports funding programs like LEAD and CoLEAD that provide behavioral health and community support as an alternative to police. While she does not support the mayor's proposed goal of reaching 1,400 officers, she said in her interview that she would support 1,200. She reportedly said it was a mistake for the previous council to commit to defunding police by 50%.
When it comes to housing, Jenks thinks the current mandatory affordable housing model does not go far enough, as most landlords can choose to pay a fee instead of creating affordable units. Jenks wants to expand mandatory affordable housing into more neighborhoods and increase zoning and incentives for multi-family homes, which will provide more options for lower and mid-income families. She knocked on doors for the social housing initiative and says she is excited to hear about ideas for how to fund it with progressive revenue. She also mentioned racial justice when it comes to housing - proposing support to help people of color buy homes or afford childcare as a form of reparations.
Jenks is also passionate about protecting our climate. She wants to bring carbon-free electrification, higher standards for green buildings, and expanded public transit to our neighborhoods. Many of the changes in her climate plan will also make our neighborhoods more walkable, and give residents in Lake City and Bitter Lake an easier commute to the light rail.
Although some of the other candidates have slightly more ambitious plans for housing and police reform, Jenks has a strong platform and has earned the most progressive endorsements in this race. We recommend Nilu Jenks for Seattle City Council from District 5.
ChrisTiana ObeySumner is a social equity consultant, educator, and advocate. They have worked in permanent supportive housing as a service coordinator and assessor, and currently run their own equity consulting firm. ObeySumner has held leadership positions in many organizations over the years, including as former co-chair of the Seattle Disabilities Commission and former co-chair of the Seattle Renter’s Commission.
Given their experience in community advocacy, it's no surprise that ObeySumner's top three priorities in their interview were disability justice, accountability and breaking down silos, and sustainable and collective infrastructure. They spoke about how as a social worker, they see many causes of homelessness, including domestic violence, increasing rents, lost wages, and caregiving. Therefore the city's homelessness response must be tailored to meet the needs of many - adopting a housing-first approach before providing job training, addiction treatment, or other social services.
ObeySumner believes that equitable policies must involve ceding power - not just transformative justice but reparative justice. To that end, they want to see communities of color be able to engage in participatory budgeting and have more say in community policy. On the issue of policing, ObeySumner believes that a greater emphasis on conflict resolution, de-escalation, supporting survivors of violence or crime, mental health crisis teams, and alternatives to calling 911 - advertised through QR codes on buses - would build more trust in law enforcement and provide more strategies for safety. To pay for these priorities, as well as a "complete streets" infrastructure update that would create more accessibility and safety for pedestrians, ObeySumner wants to potentially model a vacancy tax after Vancouver's 3 to 5 percent property value tax on properties that have been vacant for over a year. ObeySumner's endorsements include the Amalgamated Transit Union, the Seattle Green Party, and the Green Party of Washington.
Last updated: 2023-07-13
ChrisTiana ObeySumner is a social equity consultant, educator, and advocate. They have worked in permanent supportive housing as a service coordinator and assessor, and currently run their own equity consulting firm. ObeySumner has held leadership positions in many organizations over the years, including as former co-chair of the Seattle Disabilities Commission and former co-chair of the Seattle Renter’s Commission.
Given their experience in community advocacy, it's no surprise that ObeySumner's top three priorities in their interview were disability justice, accountability and breaking down silos, and sustainable and collective infrastructure. They spoke about how as a social worker, they see many causes of homelessness, including domestic violence, increasing rents, lost wages, and caregiving. Therefore the city's homelessness response must be tailored to meet the needs of many - adopting a housing-first approach before providing job training, addiction treatment, or other social services.
ObeySumner believes that equitable policies must involve ceding power - not just transformative justice but reparative justice. To that end, they want to see communities of color be able to engage in participatory budgeting and have more say in community policy. On the issue of policing, ObeySumner believes that a greater emphasis on conflict resolution, de-escalation, supporting survivors of violence or crime, mental health crisis teams, and alternatives to calling 911 - advertised through QR codes on buses - would build more trust in law enforcement and provide more strategies for safety. To pay for these priorities, as well as a "complete streets" infrastructure update that would create more accessibility and safety for pedestrians, ObeySumner wants to potentially model a vacancy tax after Vancouver's 3 to 5 percent property value tax on properties that have been vacant for over a year. ObeySumner's endorsements include the Amalgamated Transit Union, the Seattle Green Party, and the Green Party of Washington.
ChrisTiana ObeySumner is a social equity consultant, educator, and advocate. They have worked in permanent supportive housing as a service coordinator and assessor, and currently run their own equity consulting firm. ObeySumner has held leadership positions in many organizations over the years, including as former co-chair of the Seattle Disabilities Commission and former co-chair of the Seattle Renter’s Commission.
Given their experience in community advocacy, it's no surprise that ObeySumner's top three priorities in their interview were disability justice, accountability and breaking down silos, and sustainable and collective infrastructure. They spoke about how as a social worker, they see many causes of homelessness, including domestic violence, increasing rents, lost wages, and caregiving. Therefore the city's homelessness response must be tailored to meet the needs of many - adopting a housing-first approach before providing job training, addiction treatment, or other social services.
ObeySumner believes that equitable policies must involve ceding power - not just transformative justice but reparative justice. To that end, they want to see communities of color be able to engage in participatory budgeting and have more say in community policy. On the issue of policing, ObeySumner believes that a greater emphasis on conflict resolution, de-escalation, supporting survivors of violence or crime, mental health crisis teams, and alternatives to calling 911 - advertised through QR codes on buses - would build more trust in law enforcement and provide more strategies for safety. To pay for these priorities, as well as a "complete streets" infrastructure update that would create more accessibility and safety for pedestrians, ObeySumner wants to potentially model a vacancy tax after Vancouver's 3 to 5 percent property value tax on properties that have been vacant for over a year. ObeySumner's endorsements include the Amalgamated Transit Union, the Seattle Green Party, and the Green Party of Washington.
Tye Reed is the operations director at Real Change News and the co-founder (and current co-chair) of the House Our Neighbors coalition. She is running on an exceptionally progressive platform that draws from her experience as a mutual aid organizer, a displaced renter herself, and a member of the Transit Riders Union.
Reed served as the campaign manager for Nicole Thomas-Kennedy’s unsuccessful bid for Seattle city attorney in 2021. She brings similar values to this campaign, prioritizing ending inhumane and ineffective encampment sweeps, rebalancing our tax code so that we all pay our share, increasing revenue, and making massive investments in public spaces and services for all Seattleites. In this crowded race, Reed has distinguished herself with her bold vision, years of community organizing experience, and keen attention to the needs of District 5’s most marginalized communities.
Last updated: 2023-07-13
Tye Reed is the operations director at Real Change News and the co-founder (and current co-chair) of the House Our Neighbors coalition. She is running on an exceptionally progressive platform that draws from her experience as a mutual aid organizer, a displaced renter herself, and a member of the Transit Riders Union.
Reed served as the campaign manager for Nicole Thomas-Kennedy’s unsuccessful bid for Seattle city attorney in 2021. She brings similar values to this campaign, prioritizing ending inhumane and ineffective encampment sweeps, rebalancing our tax code so that we all pay our share, increasing revenue, and making massive investments in public spaces and services for all Seattleites. In this crowded race, Reed has distinguished herself with her bold vision, years of community organizing experience, and keen attention to the needs of District 5’s most marginalized communities.
Tye Reed is the operations director at Real Change News and the co-founder (and current co-chair) of the House Our Neighbors coalition. She is running on an exceptionally progressive platform that draws from her experience as a mutual aid organizer, a displaced renter herself, and a member of the Transit Riders Union.
Reed served as the campaign manager for Nicole Thomas-Kennedy’s unsuccessful bid for Seattle city attorney in 2021. She brings similar values to this campaign, prioritizing ending inhumane and ineffective encampment sweeps, rebalancing our tax code so that we all pay our share, increasing revenue, and making massive investments in public spaces and services for all Seattleites. In this crowded race, Reed has distinguished herself with her bold vision, years of community organizing experience, and keen attention to the needs of District 5’s most marginalized communities.
Former King County Superior Court Judge Cathy Moore is another candidate in this crowded race. Moore has worked in public service for decades, including as a public defender, as chair of the Seattle Human Rights Commission, and as governor of the Washington State Bar Association. If elected, Moore would support the social housing implementation, improvements to bus services and other transit, and investments in public services such as on-demand substance use treatment and before-and-after school programs.
One area of differentiation between Moore and Jenks is over the comprehensive plan, which will be revised next year to guide the city’s growth and development over the next decade. Jenks supports the most ambitious proposal to build more housing, which would improve affordability and access to transit by adding 200,000 new homes across the city by 2044. Moore told our partners at The Urbanist that she prefers a somewhat more cautious approach that would add 120,000 homes over the next 20 years, which would still be a significant improvement over the status quo.
During her interview, we were somewhat disappointed with the lack of depth in Moore’s answers. In contrast, Jenks demonstrated she understands the challenges facing working families in the district and will advocate for their needs on the city council. For example, in our interviews, Jenks had a stronger proposal for preventing housing displacement, including committing to increasing tenant protections and incentivizing landlords to rent affordably.
While Moore has years of public service and shares many progressive values, we believe there are better choices to represent District 5 on the Seattle City Council.
Last updated: 2023-07-17
Former King County Superior Court Judge Cathy Moore is another candidate in this crowded race. Moore has worked in public service for decades, including as a public defender, as chair of the Seattle Human Rights Commission, and as governor of the Washington State Bar Association. If elected, Moore would support the social housing implementation, improvements to bus services and other transit, and investments in public services such as on-demand substance use treatment and before-and-after school programs.
One area of differentiation between Moore and Jenks is over the comprehensive plan, which will be revised next year to guide the city’s growth and development over the next decade. Jenks supports the most ambitious proposal to build more housing, which would improve affordability and access to transit by adding 200,000 new homes across the city by 2044. Moore told our partners at The Urbanist that she prefers a somewhat more cautious approach that would add 120,000 homes over the next 20 years, which would still be a significant improvement over the status quo.
During her interview, we were somewhat disappointed with the lack of depth in Moore’s answers. In contrast, Jenks demonstrated she understands the challenges facing working families in the district and will advocate for their needs on the city council. For example, in our interviews, Jenks had a stronger proposal for preventing housing displacement, including committing to increasing tenant protections and incentivizing landlords to rent affordably.
While Moore has years of public service and shares many progressive values, we believe there are better choices to represent District 5 on the Seattle City Council.
Former King County Superior Court Judge Cathy Moore is another candidate in this crowded race. Moore has worked in public service for decades, including as a public defender, as chair of the Seattle Human Rights Commission, and as governor of the Washington State Bar Association. If elected, Moore would support the social housing implementation, improvements to bus services and other transit, and investments in public services such as on-demand substance use treatment and before-and-after school programs.
One area of differentiation between Moore and Jenks is over the comprehensive plan, which will be revised next year to guide the city’s growth and development over the next decade. Jenks supports the most ambitious proposal to build more housing, which would improve affordability and access to transit by adding 200,000 new homes across the city by 2044. Moore told our partners at The Urbanist that she prefers a somewhat more cautious approach that would add 120,000 homes over the next 20 years, which would still be a significant improvement over the status quo.
During her interview, we were somewhat disappointed with the lack of depth in Moore’s answers. In contrast, Jenks demonstrated she understands the challenges facing working families in the district and will advocate for their needs on the city council. For example, in our interviews, Jenks had a stronger proposal for preventing housing displacement, including committing to increasing tenant protections and incentivizing landlords to rent affordably.
While Moore has years of public service and shares many progressive values, we believe there are better choices to represent District 5 on the Seattle City Council.
Last updated: 2023-07-17
Endorsed By: Alliance for Gun Responsibility
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Other Candidates
They are six more candidates competing for retiring Councilmember Debra Juarez's District 5 seat.
Shane Macomber is a payee coordinator at a behavioral health care service agency and a local real estate broker. Macomber also filed as a city council candidate in 2013. If elected, he wants to work on developing housing density around transit centers, improving job training and placement programs, expanding Seattle’s P-Patch programs to respond to food deserts, and investing in public infrastructure to improve livability and affordability for the growing Seattle population. However, when asked about his position on rent control, criminalizing addiction, and expanding the police staff, Macomber did not offer progressive solutions. Further, Macomber lacks elected and community leadership experience, and he has yet to receive endorsements from key progressive leaders and organizations in this race.
Justin Simmons has a long history in Seattle and its organizations. He is a four-term past president of the Metropolitan Democratic Club of Seattle and a past president of the Church Council of Greater Seattle. He served six years on the executive board of the 46th District Democrats, is an elected precinct committee officer in the 32nd Legislative District, has served on the Young Democrats of Washington Executive Board, and is a co-founder of the Progressive Democratic Caucuses of WA. Unfortunately, Simmons policy priorities include support for failed tactics like moving people experiencing homelessness from one area to another, and restricting more affordable types of homes from wealthy neighborhoods.
Lucca Murdoch Howard is an 18-year-old candidate who is currently a student at North Seattle College. He is also a board member of the Aurora Reimagined Coalition, an organization set on re-envisioning the corridor's function and purpose. As a passionate transit advocate, Howard wants the Department of Transportation to plant more trees, widen sidewalks, and more along the corridor, while soliciting further community input on the design. He also wants to see parks within 15 minutes of every Seattleite, and funding for the social housing initiative paid for by a vacancy tax.
Rebecca Williamson also ran for Seattle City Council in 2021, and like this year also raised no money nor published a campaign platform.
Last updated: 2023-07-13
They are six more candidates competing for retiring Councilmember Debra Juarez's District 5 seat.
Shane Macomber is a payee coordinator at a behavioral health care service agency and a local real estate broker. Macomber also filed as a city council candidate in 2013. If elected, he wants to work on developing housing density around transit centers, improving job training and placement programs, expanding Seattle’s P-Patch programs to respond to food deserts, and investing in public infrastructure to improve livability and affordability for the growing Seattle population. However, when asked about his position on rent control, criminalizing addiction, and expanding the police staff, Macomber did not offer progressive solutions. Further, Macomber lacks elected and community leadership experience, and he has yet to receive endorsements from key progressive leaders and organizations in this race.
Justin Simmons has a long history in Seattle and its organizations. He is a four-term past president of the Metropolitan Democratic Club of Seattle and a past president of the Church Council of Greater Seattle. He served six years on the executive board of the 46th District Democrats, is an elected precinct committee officer in the 32nd Legislative District, has served on the Young Democrats of Washington Executive Board, and is a co-founder of the Progressive Democratic Caucuses of WA. Unfortunately, Simmons policy priorities include support for failed tactics like moving people experiencing homelessness from one area to another, and restricting more affordable types of homes from wealthy neighborhoods.
Lucca Murdoch Howard is an 18-year-old candidate who is currently a student at North Seattle College. He is also a board member of the Aurora Reimagined Coalition, an organization set on re-envisioning the corridor's function and purpose. As a passionate transit advocate, Howard wants the Department of Transportation to plant more trees, widen sidewalks, and more along the corridor, while soliciting further community input on the design. He also wants to see parks within 15 minutes of every Seattleite, and funding for the social housing initiative paid for by a vacancy tax.
Rebecca Williamson also ran for Seattle City Council in 2021, and like this year also raised no money nor published a campaign platform.
Incumbent Dan Strauss is seeking re-election to the District 6 seat on the Seattle City Council. Strauss was first elected in 2019, and he previously served as a senior policy advisor to Councilmember Sally Bagshaw and worked for the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. Now, he is running for a second term to continue bringing community-focused leadership to District 6.
On the council, Strauss has prioritized creating more affordable housing options and strengthening tenant rights. With investments of $250 million in 2022, permanent supportive housing was purchased in Green Lake, Ballard, and Greenwood. As the land use chair, he also points to how he has cleared encampments without sweeps by connecting people to services. Unfortunately, Strauss recently voted in favor of allowing Republican City Attorney Ann Davison to prosecute people for drug use. In addition, Strauss disappointed many advocates by pushing for larger police budgets, which would increase the presence of militarized police in our communities instead of making us safer.
If re-elected, Strauss will continue to develop Ballard Commons Park as a community green space, support the local small business economy, and ensure corporations and the wealthy pay what they owe. While he has not been the progressive leader some had hoped for, all of his viable opponents would be a step backward for the district and the city overall. Strauss has earned the majority of endorsements from progressive leaders and organizations and is the clear choice for city council from District 6.
Last updated: 2023-07-17
Incumbent Dan Strauss is seeking re-election to the District 6 seat on the Seattle City Council. Strauss was first elected in 2019, and he previously served as a senior policy advisor to Councilmember Sally Bagshaw and worked for the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. Now, he is running for a second term to continue bringing community-focused leadership to District 6.
On the council, Strauss has prioritized creating more affordable housing options and strengthening tenant rights. With investments of $250 million in 2022, permanent supportive housing was purchased in Green Lake, Ballard, and Greenwood. As the land use chair, he also points to how he has cleared encampments without sweeps by connecting people to services. Unfortunately, Strauss recently voted in favor of allowing Republican City Attorney Ann Davison to prosecute people for drug use. In addition, Strauss disappointed many advocates by pushing for larger police budgets, which would increase the presence of militarized police in our communities instead of making us safer.
If re-elected, Strauss will continue to develop Ballard Commons Park as a community green space, support the local small business economy, and ensure corporations and the wealthy pay what they owe. While he has not been the progressive leader some had hoped for, all of his viable opponents would be a step backward for the district and the city overall. Strauss has earned the majority of endorsements from progressive leaders and organizations and is the clear choice for city council from District 6.
Incumbent Dan Strauss is seeking re-election to the District 6 seat on the Seattle City Council. Strauss was first elected in 2019, and he previously served as a senior policy advisor to Councilmember Sally Bagshaw and worked for the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. Now, he is running for a second term to continue bringing community-focused leadership to District 6.
On the council, Strauss has prioritized creating more affordable housing options and strengthening tenant rights. With investments of $250 million in 2022, permanent supportive housing was purchased in Green Lake, Ballard, and Greenwood. As the land use chair, he also points to how he has cleared encampments without sweeps by connecting people to services. Unfortunately, Strauss recently voted in favor of allowing Republican City Attorney Ann Davison to prosecute people for drug use. In addition, Strauss disappointed many advocates by pushing for larger police budgets, which would increase the presence of militarized police in our communities instead of making us safer.
If re-elected, Strauss will continue to develop Ballard Commons Park as a community green space, support the local small business economy, and ensure corporations and the wealthy pay what they owe. While he has not been the progressive leader some had hoped for, all of his viable opponents would be a step backward for the district and the city overall. Strauss has earned the majority of endorsements from progressive leaders and organizations and is the clear choice for city council from District 6.
There are five other candidates in the running for Seattle City Council from District 6. Pete Hanning owned Red Door in Fremont for twenty years and is currently the executive director for the Fremont Chamber of Commerce. Hanning's platform is one of the more conservative among the District 6 candidates. He agrees with Mayor Harrell's plan to hire 400 more police officers despite the city's $100 budget shortfall. In addition, Hanning does not want to increase revenue from large corporations through the Jumpstart tax. His questionnaire with The Seattle Times states that he does not want the city to raise any additional revenue at all, leaving voters to wonder how he intends to pay for proposed infrastructure revitalization on the West Seattle Bridge or continuing the expensive and inhumane practice of sweeping homeless encampments.
Seattle Fair Growth president Jon Lisbin is running for Seattle City Council for a third time. This year, he's focused on maintaining Seattle's tree canopy and advocating for a housing-first approach. But according to The Seattle Times' questionnaire, he's a 'maybe' on some of the most important issues facing the city - including building more housing in single-family neighborhoods and looking for more revenue to continue city services at the same level.
Lawyer Shea Wilson's campaign follows a familiar tune on public safety - a promise to hire yet more police officers, bringing the department total from 1,000 to 1,400. This near-impossible number comes amid a nationwide police shortage and an expected budget shortfall in the years to come.
Dale Kutzera's plan for homelessness is mandatory protective custody and kickstarting an entirely new social services department. He also believes that the city will be able to rise out of the critical need for more housing of all types, including affordable housing, while not touching single-family zoning, which has been deemed unrealistic by housing advocates.
Victoria Palmer's campaign has the fewest concrete details of candidates in the race. She focuses on her distaste for lockdowns during the pandemic and her stance on public safety contains the same repeated falsehoods about police funding as Wilson’s.
Last updated: 2023-07-12
There are five other candidates in the running for Seattle City Council from District 6. Pete Hanning owned Red Door in Fremont for twenty years and is currently the executive director for the Fremont Chamber of Commerce. Hanning's platform is one of the more conservative among the District 6 candidates. He agrees with Mayor Harrell's plan to hire 400 more police officers despite the city's $100 budget shortfall. In addition, Hanning does not want to increase revenue from large corporations through the Jumpstart tax. His questionnaire with The Seattle Times states that he does not want the city to raise any additional revenue at all, leaving voters to wonder how he intends to pay for proposed infrastructure revitalization on the West Seattle Bridge or continuing the expensive and inhumane practice of sweeping homeless encampments.
Seattle Fair Growth president Jon Lisbin is running for Seattle City Council for a third time. This year, he's focused on maintaining Seattle's tree canopy and advocating for a housing-first approach. But according to The Seattle Times' questionnaire, he's a 'maybe' on some of the most important issues facing the city - including building more housing in single-family neighborhoods and looking for more revenue to continue city services at the same level.
Lawyer Shea Wilson's campaign follows a familiar tune on public safety - a promise to hire yet more police officers, bringing the department total from 1,000 to 1,400. This near-impossible number comes amid a nationwide police shortage and an expected budget shortfall in the years to come.
Dale Kutzera's plan for homelessness is mandatory protective custody and kickstarting an entirely new social services department. He also believes that the city will be able to rise out of the critical need for more housing of all types, including affordable housing, while not touching single-family zoning, which has been deemed unrealistic by housing advocates.
Victoria Palmer's campaign has the fewest concrete details of candidates in the race. She focuses on her distaste for lockdowns during the pandemic and her stance on public safety contains the same repeated falsehoods about police funding as Wilson’s.
Councilmember Andrew Lewis is running for re-election to the Seattle City Council from District 7. Lewis was first elected to the seat in 2019 and previously served as an assistant city attorney, where he worked on the Seattle Human Rights Commission. He also serves as the president of the Seattle Metropolitan Park District where he has worked to create jobs, ensure the cleanliness of public green space, and advance environmental goals for the city.
In his first term on the council, Lewis prioritized funding affordable housing programs, ensuring community safety, and achieving greater climate protections to make Seattle a healthier place for all of us. He secured funding to fully renovate the Queen Anne Community Center and expanded the JustCARE program, which offers outreach, shelter, and wrap-around services to Seattleites without housing. In this race, he is running on a progressive platform to expand crisis support services, invest in social and transitional housing options, and improve the city’s public transit infrastructure to reduce both traffic and greenhouse gas emissions.
Lewis has earned an impressive list of endorsements from elected officials and key community leaders and is the most progressive choice in this race. Vote Andrew Lewis for Seattle City Council from District 7.
Last updated: 2023-07-17
Councilmember Andrew Lewis is running for re-election to the Seattle City Council from District 7. Lewis was first elected to the seat in 2019 and previously served as an assistant city attorney, where he worked on the Seattle Human Rights Commission. He also serves as the president of the Seattle Metropolitan Park District where he has worked to create jobs, ensure the cleanliness of public green space, and advance environmental goals for the city.
In his first term on the council, Lewis prioritized funding affordable housing programs, ensuring community safety, and achieving greater climate protections to make Seattle a healthier place for all of us. He secured funding to fully renovate the Queen Anne Community Center and expanded the JustCARE program, which offers outreach, shelter, and wrap-around services to Seattleites without housing. In this race, he is running on a progressive platform to expand crisis support services, invest in social and transitional housing options, and improve the city’s public transit infrastructure to reduce both traffic and greenhouse gas emissions.
Lewis has earned an impressive list of endorsements from elected officials and key community leaders and is the most progressive choice in this race. Vote Andrew Lewis for Seattle City Council from District 7.
Councilmember Andrew Lewis is running for re-election to the Seattle City Council from District 7. Lewis was first elected to the seat in 2019 and previously served as an assistant city attorney, where he worked on the Seattle Human Rights Commission. He also serves as the president of the Seattle Metropolitan Park District where he has worked to create jobs, ensure the cleanliness of public green space, and advance environmental goals for the city.
In his first term on the council, Lewis prioritized funding affordable housing programs, ensuring community safety, and achieving greater climate protections to make Seattle a healthier place for all of us. He secured funding to fully renovate the Queen Anne Community Center and expanded the JustCARE program, which offers outreach, shelter, and wrap-around services to Seattleites without housing. In this race, he is running on a progressive platform to expand crisis support services, invest in social and transitional housing options, and improve the city’s public transit infrastructure to reduce both traffic and greenhouse gas emissions.
Lewis has earned an impressive list of endorsements from elected officials and key community leaders and is the most progressive choice in this race. Vote Andrew Lewis for Seattle City Council from District 7.
Andrew Lewis faces five challengers in this race. Isabelle Kerner, a self-employed private investigator, unsuccessfully ran for the District 7 seat in 2019. In this campaign, Kerner has a vague platform that echoes some Republican talking points while failing to address real issues facing Seattle residents.
Also in this race is police officer Aaron Marshall, who wants to employ a right-wing approach to the addiction and housing affordability crises. His platform advocates for adding to police budgets by redirecting funding from critical community services that help Seattleites access the resources they need.
Olga Sagan, a successful bakery owner, is running on a mixed platform that advocates for cutting some key public services and increasing militarized policing in our community while also protecting tenant rights and implementing environmental policy.
Navy veteran Bob Kettle would ignore the public call for racial justice measures and community investments to instead invest even more in policing. If elected, Kettle would criminalize addiction and increase inhumane sweeps that don’t alleviate our housing crisis.
Finally, Wade Sowders, a software engineer at Amazon, is running to dramatically incentivize development in housing, transit, and social programs. However, his platform is not as progressive nor implementable as that of Lewis.
Last updated: 2023-07-05
Andrew Lewis faces five challengers in this race. Isabelle Kerner, a self-employed private investigator, unsuccessfully ran for the District 7 seat in 2019. In this campaign, Kerner has a vague platform that echoes some Republican talking points while failing to address real issues facing Seattle residents.
Also in this race is police officer Aaron Marshall, who wants to employ a right-wing approach to the addiction and housing affordability crises. His platform advocates for adding to police budgets by redirecting funding from critical community services that help Seattleites access the resources they need.
Olga Sagan, a successful bakery owner, is running on a mixed platform that advocates for cutting some key public services and increasing militarized policing in our community while also protecting tenant rights and implementing environmental policy.
Navy veteran Bob Kettle would ignore the public call for racial justice measures and community investments to instead invest even more in policing. If elected, Kettle would criminalize addiction and increase inhumane sweeps that don’t alleviate our housing crisis.
Finally, Wade Sowders, a software engineer at Amazon, is running to dramatically incentivize development in housing, transit, and social programs. However, his platform is not as progressive nor implementable as that of Lewis.
There are many concerning issues in Seattle Public Schools that need to be addressed in the years to come. There's a looming budget crisis, partially fueled by the recession and increasing costs. With a fatal shooting at Ingraham High School, declining enrollment, and a new education model to implement, Seattle voters have an opportunity to make a difference with their vote for school board director this year.
In times such as these, the school board would benefit from some stability and institutional knowledge. However, the unpaid and high-pressure position of school board director in Seattle has had high turnover, with most incumbents staying only one term. As of right now, the longest-serving incumbents on the ballot have been in office for four years.
No matter who is elected this year in school board positions, the board members must wrestle with difficult changes as they reckon with the budget, bringing special education and highly capable students into general education classrooms, and continuing work on equity.
Voters have two reasonable choices between Liza Rankin, the incumbent, and Debbie Carlsen, to be the District 1 Director on the Seattle School Board. Please read the full comparison below to find the candidate who best fits your values and priorities for Seattle schools.
There are many concerning issues in Seattle Public Schools that need to be addressed in the years to come. There's a looming budget crisis, partially fueled by the recession and increasing costs. With a fatal shooting at Ingraham High School, declining enrollment, and a new education model to implement, Seattle voters have an opportunity to make a difference with their vote for school board director this year.
In times such as these, the school board would benefit from some stability and institutional knowledge. However, the unpaid and high-pressure position of school board director in Seattle has had high turnover, with most incumbents staying only one term. As of right now, the longest-serving incumbents on the ballot have been in office for four years.
No matter who is elected this year in school board positions, the board members must wrestle with difficult changes as they reckon with the budget, bringing special education and highly capable students into general education classrooms, and continuing work on equity.
Voters have two reasonable choices between Liza Rankin, the incumbent, and Debbie Carlsen, to be the District 1 Director on the Seattle School Board. Please read the full comparison below to find the candidate who best fits your values and priorities for Seattle schools.
Incumbent Liza Rankin was elected in 2019 and took office shortly before the chaos of the pandemic hit our schools. Prior to her election, Rankin was a longtime community organizer and artist who had served on the PTA of her children's school as well as on the board of the Seattle Council PTSA and the advisory board at Sand Point Arts and Cultural Exchange at Magnuson Park, among other leadership roles. Rankin began her school activism by bringing food to teachers walking picket lines during the 2015 strike. She ran on a vision to support the school board's new Strategic Plan and ensure that every child has equitable access and opportunity to learn.
In our extensive interview with Rankin, she reiterated that the board had made excellent progress on those issues, including reducing disproportionate discipline against boys and students of color, banning isolation practices, and limiting restraints. She noted that progress had been made on inclusionary practices for students with disabilities, moving the city's public schools from the bottom quartile to the bottom half nationwide. Rankin is running again to continue this work, but also to address head-on the issues facing students and schools.
We found Rankin to be clear-eyed on the issue of the budget. She told us without equivocation that any one-time fixes have run out and expenditures are higher than state revenue provides. Rankin told us that in the last 8 years, 10 schools had opened, and a mismatch of schools open and students who actually attend mean the school closures are likely one of the ways to close the budget gap. For example, she stated that 15 elementary schools have fewer than 250 students and the district could save money on administration and provide better opportunities for students if they were added to larger schools.
Rankin noted that an upgrade to school lock security would be complete in Seattle Public Schools soon, and outside of that, Carlsen and Rankin were somewhat similar on school safety.
Rankin is a good choice if you're looking for someone with institutional knowledge to serve during a challenging time for our schools.
Last updated: 2023-07-17
Incumbent Liza Rankin was elected in 2019 and took office shortly before the chaos of the pandemic hit our schools. Prior to her election, Rankin was a longtime community organizer and artist who had served on the PTA of her children's school as well as on the board of the Seattle Council PTSA and the advisory board at Sand Point Arts and Cultural Exchange at Magnuson Park, among other leadership roles. Rankin began her school activism by bringing food to teachers walking picket lines during the 2015 strike. She ran on a vision to support the school board's new Strategic Plan and ensure that every child has equitable access and opportunity to learn.
In our extensive interview with Rankin, she reiterated that the board had made excellent progress on those issues, including reducing disproportionate discipline against boys and students of color, banning isolation practices, and limiting restraints. She noted that progress had been made on inclusionary practices for students with disabilities, moving the city's public schools from the bottom quartile to the bottom half nationwide. Rankin is running again to continue this work, but also to address head-on the issues facing students and schools.
We found Rankin to be clear-eyed on the issue of the budget. She told us without equivocation that any one-time fixes have run out and expenditures are higher than state revenue provides. Rankin told us that in the last 8 years, 10 schools had opened, and a mismatch of schools open and students who actually attend mean the school closures are likely one of the ways to close the budget gap. For example, she stated that 15 elementary schools have fewer than 250 students and the district could save money on administration and provide better opportunities for students if they were added to larger schools.
Rankin noted that an upgrade to school lock security would be complete in Seattle Public Schools soon, and outside of that, Carlsen and Rankin were somewhat similar on school safety.
Rankin is a good choice if you're looking for someone with institutional knowledge to serve during a challenging time for our schools.
Incumbent Liza Rankin was elected in 2019 and took office shortly before the chaos of the pandemic hit our schools. Prior to her election, Rankin was a longtime community organizer and artist who had served on the PTA of her children's school as well as on the board of the Seattle Council PTSA and the advisory board at Sand Point Arts and Cultural Exchange at Magnuson Park, among other leadership roles. Rankin began her school activism by bringing food to teachers walking picket lines during the 2015 strike. She ran on a vision to support the school board's new Strategic Plan and ensure that every child has equitable access and opportunity to learn.
In our extensive interview with Rankin, she reiterated that the board had made excellent progress on those issues, including reducing disproportionate discipline against boys and students of color, banning isolation practices, and limiting restraints. She noted that progress had been made on inclusionary practices for students with disabilities, moving the city's public schools from the bottom quartile to the bottom half nationwide. Rankin is running again to continue this work, but also to address head-on the issues facing students and schools.
We found Rankin to be clear-eyed on the issue of the budget. She told us without equivocation that any one-time fixes have run out and expenditures are higher than state revenue provides. Rankin told us that in the last 8 years, 10 schools had opened, and a mismatch of schools open and students who actually attend mean the school closures are likely one of the ways to close the budget gap. For example, she stated that 15 elementary schools have fewer than 250 students and the district could save money on administration and provide better opportunities for students if they were added to larger schools.
Rankin noted that an upgrade to school lock security would be complete in Seattle Public Schools soon, and outside of that, Carlsen and Rankin were somewhat similar on school safety.
Rankin is a good choice if you're looking for someone with institutional knowledge to serve during a challenging time for our schools.
Challenging Rankin this year is Debbie Carlsen, a consultant, former NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Washington Interim Policy Director, and co-founder and executive director of LGTBQ Allyship. She serves as advocacy chair of both the Olympic Hills Elementary PTA board and the 46th Democrats as a Co-Policy & Advocacy Chair, as well as fundraising chair for the National Women’s Political Caucus.
As a nonbinary person with a diverse family, Carlsen wants schools to be welcoming to all, especially in a climate of conservatives passing anti-LGTBQ laws. Though she does not have much detail available on her website, Carlsen lists transparency, family engagement, and representation in schools as her top three policy priorities. In her interview with the 36th Legislative District Democrats, she also emphasized robust special education and regaining the confidence of Seattle parents and families.
On the issue of the budget, Carlsen was hesitant to say that closures were inevitable. Closures in the past have been disastrous, she said, and more community meetings would need to happen in District 1 before she made a decision. She proposed a 15 percent cut to staff in the central office, though it seems very unlikely that this alone would cover a budget gap of this magnitude.
On school safety, Carlsen and Rankin were somewhat similar. Both agreed that students had been clear that more surveillance and policing in schools was not the way forward, and both felt that gun violence education and community lobbying for better gun violence legislation were needed. Carlsen felt that directors could and must do more to meet with community members and parents, especially right after the tragedy at Ingraham.
If voters are looking for an experienced advocate hoping to bring change and improve transparency for parents and students, Carlsen could be a good choice.
Last updated: 2023-07-13
Challenging Rankin this year is Debbie Carlsen, a consultant, former NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Washington Interim Policy Director, and co-founder and executive director of LGTBQ Allyship. She serves as advocacy chair of both the Olympic Hills Elementary PTA board and the 46th Democrats as a Co-Policy & Advocacy Chair, as well as fundraising chair for the National Women’s Political Caucus.
As a nonbinary person with a diverse family, Carlsen wants schools to be welcoming to all, especially in a climate of conservatives passing anti-LGTBQ laws. Though she does not have much detail available on her website, Carlsen lists transparency, family engagement, and representation in schools as her top three policy priorities. In her interview with the 36th Legislative District Democrats, she also emphasized robust special education and regaining the confidence of Seattle parents and families.
On the issue of the budget, Carlsen was hesitant to say that closures were inevitable. Closures in the past have been disastrous, she said, and more community meetings would need to happen in District 1 before she made a decision. She proposed a 15 percent cut to staff in the central office, though it seems very unlikely that this alone would cover a budget gap of this magnitude.
On school safety, Carlsen and Rankin were somewhat similar. Both agreed that students had been clear that more surveillance and policing in schools was not the way forward, and both felt that gun violence education and community lobbying for better gun violence legislation were needed. Carlsen felt that directors could and must do more to meet with community members and parents, especially right after the tragedy at Ingraham.
If voters are looking for an experienced advocate hoping to bring change and improve transparency for parents and students, Carlsen could be a good choice.
Challenging Rankin this year is Debbie Carlsen, a consultant, former NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Washington Interim Policy Director, and co-founder and executive director of LGTBQ Allyship. She serves as advocacy chair of both the Olympic Hills Elementary PTA board and the 46th Democrats as a Co-Policy & Advocacy Chair, as well as fundraising chair for the National Women’s Political Caucus.
As a nonbinary person with a diverse family, Carlsen wants schools to be welcoming to all, especially in a climate of conservatives passing anti-LGTBQ laws. Though she does not have much detail available on her website, Carlsen lists transparency, family engagement, and representation in schools as her top three policy priorities. In her interview with the 36th Legislative District Democrats, she also emphasized robust special education and regaining the confidence of Seattle parents and families.
On the issue of the budget, Carlsen was hesitant to say that closures were inevitable. Closures in the past have been disastrous, she said, and more community meetings would need to happen in District 1 before she made a decision. She proposed a 15 percent cut to staff in the central office, though it seems very unlikely that this alone would cover a budget gap of this magnitude.
On school safety, Carlsen and Rankin were somewhat similar. Both agreed that students had been clear that more surveillance and policing in schools was not the way forward, and both felt that gun violence education and community lobbying for better gun violence legislation were needed. Carlsen felt that directors could and must do more to meet with community members and parents, especially right after the tragedy at Ingraham.
If voters are looking for an experienced advocate hoping to bring change and improve transparency for parents and students, Carlsen could be a good choice.
Ph.D. Christie Robertson is running to bring inclusive and effective education standards to the district. When her oldest child was diagnosed with a disability, Robertson decided to become a member of the Seattle Special Education PTSA and has served on its executive board for two years. She also has a Ph.D. in Neurobiology and Behavior.
Like the other two candidates, Robertson is running to bring a renewed sense of accountability, oversight, and engagement to the school board. Because of her experience in special education advocacy, she has focused on promoting "restorative practices" and supporting the Universal Design for Learning initiative, which aims to use scientific insight into how people learn to create better educational outcomes. She wants to see students with disabilities spend more time in general education classrooms, which she believes will help reduce disparate outcomes for those students. Robertson is also aiming to reduce teacher turnover and improve students' mental health.
She has the strongest endorsements of any candidate in the race thus far, including the MLK Labor Council and the sole endorsements of the 46th and 43rd Legislative District Democrats. We recommend Robertson because of her endorsements and specific goals for inclusive teaching for all students.
Last updated: 2023-07-12
Ph.D. Christie Robertson is running to bring inclusive and effective education standards to the district. When her oldest child was diagnosed with a disability, Robertson decided to become a member of the Seattle Special Education PTSA and has served on its executive board for two years. She also has a Ph.D. in Neurobiology and Behavior.
Like the other two candidates, Robertson is running to bring a renewed sense of accountability, oversight, and engagement to the school board. Because of her experience in special education advocacy, she has focused on promoting "restorative practices" and supporting the Universal Design for Learning initiative, which aims to use scientific insight into how people learn to create better educational outcomes. She wants to see students with disabilities spend more time in general education classrooms, which she believes will help reduce disparate outcomes for those students. Robertson is also aiming to reduce teacher turnover and improve students' mental health.
She has the strongest endorsements of any candidate in the race thus far, including the MLK Labor Council and the sole endorsements of the 46th and 43rd Legislative District Democrats. We recommend Robertson because of her endorsements and specific goals for inclusive teaching for all students.
Ph.D. Christie Robertson is running to bring inclusive and effective education standards to the district. When her oldest child was diagnosed with a disability, Robertson decided to become a member of the Seattle Special Education PTSA and has served on its executive board for two years. She also has a Ph.D. in Neurobiology and Behavior.
Like the other two candidates, Robertson is running to bring a renewed sense of accountability, oversight, and engagement to the school board. Because of her experience in special education advocacy, she has focused on promoting "restorative practices" and supporting the Universal Design for Learning initiative, which aims to use scientific insight into how people learn to create better educational outcomes. She wants to see students with disabilities spend more time in general education classrooms, which she believes will help reduce disparate outcomes for those students. Robertson is also aiming to reduce teacher turnover and improve students' mental health.
She has the strongest endorsements of any candidate in the race thus far, including the MLK Labor Council and the sole endorsements of the 46th and 43rd Legislative District Democrats. We recommend Robertson because of her endorsements and specific goals for inclusive teaching for all students.
Google manager and parent of two Ben Gitenstein describes himself as a frustrated progressive who doesn't have all the answers but is willing to ask hard questions. His website details his concerns with Seattle Public Schools and its board, including budgets and the shooting at Ingraham High that left one student dead. Unfortunately, he does not yet offer potential solutions to these issues as of mid-July other than bringing in new voices, which will naturally happen as there are two retiring incumbents this year.
Gitenstein was the executive director of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance in the 2000s and has volunteered for school plays and fundraisers, but he does not appear to be actively involved in any school leadership positions like the PTA. His recommendation by The Seattle Times was based on what the editorial board describes as his urgency on school issues, "his appetite for real talk," and his distance from anyone who currently works with or in Seattle Public Schools. Based on local interviews, Gitenstein is definitely interested in fiscal oversight and addressing the enrollment drop, and voters looking for an outsider perspective might find a candidate in Gitenstein.
A parent of three Seattle Public Schools kids, independent documentary filmmaker Evan Briggs says she's running to bring meaningful change and big-picture thinking as a director for District 3. She has served as chair of the parent-teacher organization at her children’s elementary school and is currently the Sand Point Elementary PTA representative on the Magnuson Park Advisory Committee.
Briggs wants to see more mental health professionals in schools as well as stronger relationships with service organizations in the community. She also states that the board should have clearer communication with parents and allow insight and access into the budget for families. On the budget, Briggs has stated that she will look to pare down administrative and consulting contracts that don't affect student performance. She's endorsed by retiring school board director Chandra Hampson, progressive King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay, and Seattle School Board President Brandon Hersey.
We agree with Briggs' priorities, though we hope to see more detail from her campaign if she moves to the general election.
Last updated: 2023-09-11
Google manager and parent of two Ben Gitenstein describes himself as a frustrated progressive who doesn't have all the answers but is willing to ask hard questions. His website details his concerns with Seattle Public Schools and its board, including budgets and the shooting at Ingraham High that left one student dead. Unfortunately, he does not yet offer potential solutions to these issues as of mid-July other than bringing in new voices, which will naturally happen as there are two retiring incumbents this year.
Gitenstein was the executive director of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance in the 2000s and has volunteered for school plays and fundraisers, but he does not appear to be actively involved in any school leadership positions like the PTA. His recommendation by The Seattle Times was based on what the editorial board describes as his urgency on school issues, "his appetite for real talk," and his distance from anyone who currently works with or in Seattle Public Schools. Based on local interviews, Gitenstein is definitely interested in fiscal oversight and addressing the enrollment drop, and voters looking for an outsider perspective might find a candidate in Gitenstein.
A parent of three Seattle Public Schools kids, independent documentary filmmaker Evan Briggs says she's running to bring meaningful change and big-picture thinking as a director for District 3. She has served as chair of the parent-teacher organization at her children’s elementary school and is currently the Sand Point Elementary PTA representative on the Magnuson Park Advisory Committee.
Briggs wants to see more mental health professionals in schools as well as stronger relationships with service organizations in the community. She also states that the board should have clearer communication with parents and allow insight and access into the budget for families. On the budget, Briggs has stated that she will look to pare down administrative and consulting contracts that don't affect student performance. She's endorsed by retiring school board director Chandra Hampson, progressive King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay, and Seattle School Board President Brandon Hersey.
We agree with Briggs' priorities, though we hope to see more detail from her campaign if she moves to the general election.
Gina Topp is running for the open seat vacated by incumbent Leslie Harris, who isn't running for re-election. She is the chief legal counsel and policy advisor to King County Executive Dow Constantine and served on the boards of the 34th Legislative District Democrats and the Seattle Sports Complex Foundation.
Like other candidates for school board this year, Topp's platform listed on her website is somewhat vague. If elected, she aims to cultivate a safe and welcoming environment for all students, empower educators, and engage parents. In her interview with The Seattle Times, Topp stated that her plan for the budget crisis is to advocate for more money from the Legislature - an idea that incumbent Liza Rankin has said was unlikely to succeed because of the recent increase in funding already coming from the state.
Despite this, we believe that Topp has the strongest experience of the available candidates for this seat. She has two opponents on the primary ballot. Rosie McCarter describes herself as a neurodivergent, two-spirit mom of three, and a proud Cherokee and Joseph's band of Nez Perce. She states that as a parent ambassador and peer educator, she wants to tackle the district's budget crisis without making cuts to vital programs, though she does not say where cuts would be made or where additional revenue will come from. She also states that all students, regardless of income, should receive free meals, that systemic racism in schools must be addressed, and that the highly capable program needs fixes. However, she offers no additional information on her website about how she would accomplish this.
The other candidate is Maryanne Wood, who does not appear to have education advocacy experience. She states that her childhood on a dairy farm made her value hard work, and she has six grandchildren in the district. Wood's top message is "no to school closures," and she also says that she will "dial back the mega schools that are already planned at Alki, Rogers, and Montlake."
Topp's experience and progressive endorsements make her the best choice in District 1 for Seattle School Board Director.
Last updated: 2023-07-17
Gina Topp is running for the open seat vacated by incumbent Leslie Harris, who isn't running for re-election. She is the chief legal counsel and policy advisor to King County Executive Dow Constantine and served on the boards of the 34th Legislative District Democrats and the Seattle Sports Complex Foundation.
Like other candidates for school board this year, Topp's platform listed on her website is somewhat vague. If elected, she aims to cultivate a safe and welcoming environment for all students, empower educators, and engage parents. In her interview with The Seattle Times, Topp stated that her plan for the budget crisis is to advocate for more money from the Legislature - an idea that incumbent Liza Rankin has said was unlikely to succeed because of the recent increase in funding already coming from the state.
Despite this, we believe that Topp has the strongest experience of the available candidates for this seat. She has two opponents on the primary ballot. Rosie McCarter describes herself as a neurodivergent, two-spirit mom of three, and a proud Cherokee and Joseph's band of Nez Perce. She states that as a parent ambassador and peer educator, she wants to tackle the district's budget crisis without making cuts to vital programs, though she does not say where cuts would be made or where additional revenue will come from. She also states that all students, regardless of income, should receive free meals, that systemic racism in schools must be addressed, and that the highly capable program needs fixes. However, she offers no additional information on her website about how she would accomplish this.
The other candidate is Maryanne Wood, who does not appear to have education advocacy experience. She states that her childhood on a dairy farm made her value hard work, and she has six grandchildren in the district. Wood's top message is "no to school closures," and she also says that she will "dial back the mega schools that are already planned at Alki, Rogers, and Montlake."
Topp's experience and progressive endorsements make her the best choice in District 1 for Seattle School Board Director.
Last updated: 2023-07-17
Endorsed By: OneAmerica Votes
,
The Stranger
,
Washington Education Association PAC, Alliance for Gun Responsibility
Gina Topp is running for the open seat vacated by incumbent Leslie Harris, who isn't running for re-election. She is the chief legal counsel and policy advisor to King County Executive Dow Constantine and served on the boards of the 34th Legislative District Democrats and the Seattle Sports Complex Foundation.
Like other candidates for school board this year, Topp's platform listed on her website is somewhat vague. If elected, she aims to cultivate a safe and welcoming environment for all students, empower educators, and engage parents. In her interview with The Seattle Times, Topp stated that her plan for the budget crisis is to advocate for more money from the Legislature - an idea that incumbent Liza Rankin has said was unlikely to succeed because of the recent increase in funding already coming from the state.
Despite this, we believe that Topp has the strongest experience of the available candidates for this seat. She has two opponents on the primary ballot. Rosie McCarter describes herself as a neurodivergent, two-spirit mom of three, and a proud Cherokee and Joseph's band of Nez Perce. She states that as a parent ambassador and peer educator, she wants to tackle the district's budget crisis without making cuts to vital programs, though she does not say where cuts would be made or where additional revenue will come from. She also states that all students, regardless of income, should receive free meals, that systemic racism in schools must be addressed, and that the highly capable program needs fixes. However, she offers no additional information on her website about how she would accomplish this.
The other candidate is Maryanne Wood, who does not appear to have education advocacy experience. She states that her childhood on a dairy farm made her value hard work, and she has six grandchildren in the district. Wood's top message is "no to school closures," and she also says that she will "dial back the mega schools that are already planned at Alki, Rogers, and Montlake."
Topp's experience and progressive endorsements make her the best choice in District 1 for Seattle School Board Director.
Last updated: 2023-07-17
Endorsed By: OneAmerica Votes
,
The Stranger
,
Washington Education Association PAC, Alliance for Gun Responsibility
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Depending on the county district you live in, you may have the following races on your ballot.
King County, District 4
King County Council, District 4
Jorge L. Barón
Sarah Reyneveld
Becka Johnson Poppe
King County, District 8
King County Council, District 8
Teresa Mosqueda
City Races
Depending on where you live, you may have the following city races on your ballot.
City of Seattle, District #1
Seattle City Council, District #1
Maren Costa
City of Seattle, District #2
Seattle City Council, District #2
Tammy Morales
City of Seattle, District #3
Seattle City Council, District #3
The race for Seattle City Council in District 3, vacated by retiring council member Kshama Sawant, features two candidates with progressive values. Alex Hudson brings extensive policy experience working on housing, transit, and transportation issues across the region, while Hollingsworth has deep roots in District 3 and would be a strong advocate for her community. With at least four new members on the City Council next year, we believe Hudson's extensive knowledge and experience with Seattle's top policy challenges would be a particularly valuable addition. We lean toward Hudson because of her significantly broader endorsements and policymaking background.
Alex Hudson
Joy Hollingsworth
City of Seattle, District #4
Seattle City Council, District #4
Ron Davis
City of Seattle, District #5
Seattle City Council, District #5
There are several progressive candidates in this crowded race to replace Councilmember Debra Juarez, who is retiring. We recommend Nilu Jenks because of her strong platform and broad progressive endorsements.
Nilu Jenks
ChrisTiana ObeySumner
Tye Reed
Cathy Moore
City Races, continued...
City of Seattle, District #6
Seattle City Council, District #6
Dan Strauss
City of Seattle, District #7
Seattle City Council, District #7
Andrew Lewis
Seattle School Board
Seattle School Board, Director, District #1
Voters have a clear but difficult choice in District 1. Liza Rankin, the incumbent, and Debbie Carlsen are the leading candidates in this race to be the District 1 Director on the Seattle School Board. Please read the full comparison below to find the candidate who best fits your values and priorities for Seattle schools.
Liza Rankin
Debbie Carlsen
Seattle School Board, Director, District #3
Christie Robertson
Seattle School Board, Director, District #6
Gina Topp
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