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Michael Westgaard

Website Endorsements

Michael Westgaard, a waste treatment operator, is running a progressive and optimistic campaign to make Renton a better place for everyone. Westgaard proudly comes from a union background and wants to represent the needs of working people on the council. He has struggled with substance abuse in his own life, and unlike some of his opponents, he does not believe that the solution to addiction in our community is a return to War-on-Drugs era policies of criminalization. 

Westgaard is running to create a strong implementation plan for the Raise the Wage Renton ballot measure (if approved by voters first), secure public broadband, create affordable childcare, and invest in public transit to reduce carbon emissions and increase affordable transportation options. On the issue of policing, Westgaard believes that our police force can be stronger if some responsibilities are shifted to other crisis responders, freeing up officers for response availability. He also wants to establish a community council with real power to provide oversight in cases of police violence. 

Westgaard has strong community ties and has earned Democratic and progressive support in this race. He is a great choice for voters looking for new progressive leadership in Renton.

Last updated: 2023-07-12

Michael Westgaard, a waste treatment operator, is running a progressive and optimistic campaign to make Renton a better place for everyone. Westgaard proudly comes from a union background and wants to represent the needs of working people on the council. He has struggled with substance abuse in his own life, and unlike some of his opponents, he does not believe that the solution to addiction in our community is a return to War-on-Drugs era policies of criminalization. 

Westgaard is running to create a strong implementation plan for the Raise the Wage Renton ballot measure (if approved by voters first), secure public broadband, create affordable childcare, and invest in public transit to reduce carbon emissions and increase affordable transportation options. On the issue of policing, Westgaard believes that our police force can be stronger if some responsibilities are shifted to other crisis responders, freeing up officers for response availability. He also wants to establish a community council with real power to provide oversight in cases of police violence. 

Westgaard has strong community ties and has earned Democratic and progressive support in this race. He is a great choice for voters looking for new progressive leadership in Renton.

Last updated: 2023-07-12

Endorsed By: SEIU Local 925

City of Renton

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Election Day August 1, 2023
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King County Ballot Measures

King County Proposition #1

VOTE APPROVED

Vote YES for Veterans and Seniors!

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King County Proposition 1 would extend the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy. The levy provides funding for public programs in areas such as employment, behavioral health treatment, and housing, and helps connect those resources to seniors, veterans, service members, and military families who need them. 

First passed in 2006, the original levy only addressed the needs of our community members who have served in the armed forces; however, in 2017, voters approved an updated levy to include our senior neighbors. In the last five years, the levy has helped reduce veteran homelessness by 40 percent, funded 39 senior centers across King County, built more than 200 units of affordable housing for veterans and their families, and launched a 24-hour, multilingual domestic violence hotline. If approved this year, the levy would ensure continued funding for the essential services it has already been delivering and allow the county to respond to the ongoing effects of the pandemic and economic downturn. 

We all benefit when our local government cares for our neighbors. The Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services levy is a crucial part of our shared security net. Vote "Approved" on King County Proposition 1.

Last updated: 2023-07-13

King County Proposition 1 would extend the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy. The levy provides funding for public programs in areas such as employment, behavioral health treatment, and housing, and helps connect those resources to seniors, veterans, service members, and military families who need them. 

First passed in 2006, the original levy only addressed the needs of our community members who have served in the armed forces; however, in 2017, voters approved an updated levy to include our senior neighbors. In the last five years, the levy has helped reduce veteran homelessness by 40 percent, funded 39 senior centers across King County, built more than 200 units of affordable housing for veterans and their families, and launched a 24-hour, multilingual domestic violence hotline. If approved this year, the levy would ensure continued funding for the essential services it has already been delivering and allow the county to respond to the ongoing effects of the pandemic and economic downturn. 

We all benefit when our local government cares for our neighbors. The Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services levy is a crucial part of our shared security net. Vote "Approved" on King County Proposition 1.

Last updated: 2023-07-13

Endorsed By M. L. King County Labor Council, AFL-CIO , SEIU 775 , SEIU Healthcare 1199NW , The Stranger , Teamsters 117 , South King County Professional Firefighters

Port of Seattle

Port of Seattle, Port Commissioner, Position #5

Fred Felleman photo

Fred Felleman

Website Facebook Endorsements (Twitter)

Incumbent Fred Felleman is an environmental consultant and marine biologist. He is running for re-election to the Seattle Port Commission, Position 5 as the senior member of the commission, having served since 2016. With his science background, Felleman has pledged to continue supporting environmentally friendly reforms at the port.

In his time as commissioner, Felleman has focused on fighting climate change and increasing the port's green energy jobs. He has been a leader on the commission when it comes to protecting orcas, publicly opposing the dangerous Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline, and advocating for well-paying jobs. Elected commission president in 2021, he has recently supported more efficient and greener policies at the port to reduce pollution, including adding solar panels to Fishermen's Terminal's net shed and powering new docks so that ships don't have to idle and burn additional fuel.

Felleman often supports social causes as well, including condemning Trump's Muslim ban and government agencies’ response at the airport, as well as welcoming Ukranian refugees, with Washington hosting 16,000 refugees, the third most of any state in the U.S.

Felleman has earned your vote for Port of Seatle, Position #5.

Last updated: 2023-07-13

Incumbent Fred Felleman is an environmental consultant and marine biologist. He is running for re-election to the Seattle Port Commission, Position 5 as the senior member of the commission, having served since 2016. With his science background, Felleman has pledged to continue supporting environmentally friendly reforms at the port.

In his time as commissioner, Felleman has focused on fighting climate change and increasing the port's green energy jobs. He has been a leader on the commission when it comes to protecting orcas, publicly opposing the dangerous Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline, and advocating for well-paying jobs. Elected commission president in 2021, he has recently supported more efficient and greener policies at the port to reduce pollution, including adding solar panels to Fishermen's Terminal's net shed and powering new docks so that ships don't have to idle and burn additional fuel.

Felleman often supports social causes as well, including condemning Trump's Muslim ban and government agencies’ response at the airport, as well as welcoming Ukranian refugees, with Washington hosting 16,000 refugees, the third most of any state in the U.S.

Felleman has earned your vote for Port of Seatle, Position #5.

Last updated: 2023-07-13

Other Candidates

Jesse Tam is the managing director for Mega Pacific Investments, a strategic development consulting firm. He is a former parks commissioner for the city of Newcastle, as well as past president and current board director for the Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce, among other roles.

Tam states that he's running to use his business experience to source well-paying union jobs, negotiate business deals, and lead on climate change. While we agree with Tam's listed priorities, Felleman has been an excellent environmental advocate and scientific mind on the board, and we don't see a strong case for how Tam would bring progressive change to the port.

Aaron Todd is the CEO of Airsafe, a site that indexes information on airline safety and flight information for travelers. A former Boeing safety engineer and a U.S. Air Force veteran, Todd has not presented any policy reasons on why he should replace Felleman's deep expertise on the commission.

Last updated: 2023-07-05

Jesse Tam is the managing director for Mega Pacific Investments, a strategic development consulting firm. He is a former parks commissioner for the city of Newcastle, as well as past president and current board director for the Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce, among other roles.

Tam states that he's running to use his business experience to source well-paying union jobs, negotiate business deals, and lead on climate change. While we agree with Tam's listed priorities, Felleman has been an excellent environmental advocate and scientific mind on the board, and we don't see a strong case for how Tam would bring progressive change to the port.

Aaron Todd is the CEO of Airsafe, a site that indexes information on airline safety and flight information for travelers. A former Boeing safety engineer and a U.S. Air Force veteran, Todd has not presented any policy reasons on why he should replace Felleman's deep expertise on the commission.

Last updated: 2023-07-05

Renton City Council

Renton City Council, Position #7

Kim-Khanh Van photo

Kim-Khanh Van

Website Facebook Endorsements (Twitter)

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

On the council, Van allocated pandemic funding to homeownership programs, human services, and small businesses. She advocated for testing for toxic "forever chemicals" in our water systems and denounced the construction of an asphalt plant on the Cedar River. She was also one of only two members of the Renton City Council who voted to maintain the Red Lion Hotel as a source of housing for residents experiencing homelessness. However, unlike her opponent Michael Westgaard, she has not publicly endorsed the Raise the Wage Renton ballot measure to increase the minimum wage. 

Van cares about police accountability and advocated for $1 million to fund body cameras and mental health navigators. However, she also supported hiring and funding additional police to patrol downtown. Notably, she was not one of the three city council members who signed a letter demanding a less punitive approach to criminal justice. 

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

Last updated: 2023-07-17

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

On the council, Van allocated pandemic funding to homeownership programs, human services, and small businesses. She advocated for testing for toxic "forever chemicals" in our water systems and denounced the construction of an asphalt plant on the Cedar River. She was also one of only two members of the Renton City Council who voted to maintain the Red Lion Hotel as a source of housing for residents experiencing homelessness. However, unlike her opponent Michael Westgaard, she has not publicly endorsed the Raise the Wage Renton ballot measure to increase the minimum wage. 

Van cares about police accountability and advocated for $1 million to fund body cameras and mental health navigators. However, she also supported hiring and funding additional police to patrol downtown. Notably, she was not one of the three city council members who signed a letter demanding a less punitive approach to criminal justice. 

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

Last updated: 2023-07-17

Endorsed By: APACE , M. L. King County Labor Council, AFL-CIO , SEIU 775 , SEIU Healthcare 1199NW , Teamsters Joint Council 28 , Renton Firefighters IAFF Local 864, Alliance for Gun Responsibility
Michael Westgaard photo

Michael Westgaard

Website Endorsements

Michael Westgaard, a waste treatment operator, is running a progressive and optimistic campaign to make Renton a better place for everyone. Westgaard proudly comes from a union background and wants to represent the needs of working people on the council. He has struggled with substance abuse in his own life, and unlike some of his opponents, he does not believe that the solution to addiction in our community is a return to War-on-Drugs era policies of criminalization. 

Westgaard is running to create a strong implementation plan for the Raise the Wage Renton ballot measure (if approved by voters first), secure public broadband, create affordable childcare, and invest in public transit to reduce carbon emissions and increase affordable transportation options. On the issue of policing, Westgaard believes that our police force can be stronger if some responsibilities are shifted to other crisis responders, freeing up officers for response availability. He also wants to establish a community council with real power to provide oversight in cases of police violence. 

Westgaard has strong community ties and has earned Democratic and progressive support in this race. He is a great choice for voters looking for new progressive leadership in Renton.

Last updated: 2023-07-12

Michael Westgaard, a waste treatment operator, is running a progressive and optimistic campaign to make Renton a better place for everyone. Westgaard proudly comes from a union background and wants to represent the needs of working people on the council. He has struggled with substance abuse in his own life, and unlike some of his opponents, he does not believe that the solution to addiction in our community is a return to War-on-Drugs era policies of criminalization. 

Westgaard is running to create a strong implementation plan for the Raise the Wage Renton ballot measure (if approved by voters first), secure public broadband, create affordable childcare, and invest in public transit to reduce carbon emissions and increase affordable transportation options. On the issue of policing, Westgaard believes that our police force can be stronger if some responsibilities are shifted to other crisis responders, freeing up officers for response availability. He also wants to establish a community council with real power to provide oversight in cases of police violence. 

Westgaard has strong community ties and has earned Democratic and progressive support in this race. He is a great choice for voters looking for new progressive leadership in Renton.

Last updated: 2023-07-12

Endorsed By: SEIU Local 925

Other Candidates

There are five other candidates in this crowded race for Position 7. 

Former Renton City Council member Randy Corman worked at Boeing as a mechanical engineer. Corman retired from the council in 2021 after nearly three decades of service where he focused on public infrastructure upgrades, business growth, and public safety. This year, he is running to get more people sheltered, invest in wraparound services for residents who need them, and reduce crime, including through some alternatives to our current policing model.

Nancy Sivitilli works in vendor management and global sourcing for Boeing. Her platform is sparse but echoes conservative sentiments about community safety and our neighbors struggling with housing. She wants to support small businesses and our public schools. Sivitilli does not have previous public service experience, however, she has volunteered with REACH Renton, a sectarian organization that offers emergency shelter services, and as a motivational speaker for breast cancer and ovarian health education.

Microsoft software engineer Steven Vargas is running with a focus on public safety, government transparency, and housing affordability. His platform lacks detail but emphasizes making Renton a place where all residents have long-term housing security, regardless of income level. Unfortunately, the rest of Vargas’ ideas are not progressive, and he disparages public services that help everyone in our community access the resources they need.

Also in this race is Camila Lagow, an educator consultant for Seattle & King County Public Health. She has worked for a number of government agencies and currently serves on the Renton Civil Service Commission. Lagow believes her experience immigrating to the United States as an adult has helped her value our democratic system, connected her with local organizations and public services, and inspired her calling to serve the community. However, Lagow is running on a sparse platform that does not reflect the needs of Renton residents.

As of early July, Sean Atchison has not shared any campaign information and his website is not functioning.

Last updated: 2023-07-13

There are five other candidates in this crowded race for Position 7. 

Former Renton City Council member Randy Corman worked at Boeing as a mechanical engineer. Corman retired from the council in 2021 after nearly three decades of service where he focused on public infrastructure upgrades, business growth, and public safety. This year, he is running to get more people sheltered, invest in wraparound services for residents who need them, and reduce crime, including through some alternatives to our current policing model.

Nancy Sivitilli works in vendor management and global sourcing for Boeing. Her platform is sparse but echoes conservative sentiments about community safety and our neighbors struggling with housing. She wants to support small businesses and our public schools. Sivitilli does not have previous public service experience, however, she has volunteered with REACH Renton, a sectarian organization that offers emergency shelter services, and as a motivational speaker for breast cancer and ovarian health education.

Microsoft software engineer Steven Vargas is running with a focus on public safety, government transparency, and housing affordability. His platform lacks detail but emphasizes making Renton a place where all residents have long-term housing security, regardless of income level. Unfortunately, the rest of Vargas’ ideas are not progressive, and he disparages public services that help everyone in our community access the resources they need.

Also in this race is Camila Lagow, an educator consultant for Seattle & King County Public Health. She has worked for a number of government agencies and currently serves on the Renton Civil Service Commission. Lagow believes her experience immigrating to the United States as an adult has helped her value our democratic system, connected her with local organizations and public services, and inspired her calling to serve the community. However, Lagow is running on a sparse platform that does not reflect the needs of Renton residents.

As of early July, Sean Atchison has not shared any campaign information and his website is not functioning.

Last updated: 2023-07-13