Ciudad de Lakewood

There are no good candidates running for Lakewood City Council, Position 4. Write in the progressive candidate of your choice.

Paul Wagemann is a retired military veteran and business owner who has run for a total of 12 different positions since 2007, most often as a Republican. In 2009, Wagemann was elected to fill a vacant position on the Clover Park School Board. He was censured after an investigation in June of 2022 for racial discrimination towards Superintendent Ron Banner, declaring that his behavior went against the Board's Policy and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Wagemann's platform priorities for Lakewood are centered on policies that divide us rather than offering forward-thinking solutions. Rather than investing in commonsense solutions we know work, such as prevention programs and expanded mental health services, Wagemann wants to spend more on police. 

Charles Ames is the former chair of the Lakewood Public Safety Advisory Committee, and previously campaigned for this seat in 2021, promising to "change the scourge of politics" and only serve for one term. His website currently lacks substantial detail on his plans to address the pressing issues faced by Lakewood. As of early July, Ames has yet to report any campaign funds.

Ryan Pearson, a civil engineer for Pierce County, is also running for Position 4. With a decade of residency in Lakewood and a background in the public and private sector, Pearson currently serves on Lakewood Planning Commission. He is also a first-time candidate.

Pearson says he supports environmentally conscious development by fostering opportunities for residents to live close to employment hubs. However, he stokes fears by promising that we will feel safer if we just jail more people, and promises to "resist" progressive criminal justice reforms that we’ve passed in Washington State. Pearson emphasizes his positive working relationships with current council members and his familiarity with community issues. Lakewood needs leaders who will address the broader spectrum of issues that the community faces, including social justice, good-paying jobs, and affordable housing, but Pearson's policy platform lacks detailed or comprehensive solutions, and he does not have a website.