City of Burien

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.

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.

Patricia Hudson is a human resources professional with SEIU 775, a home care workers' union. She states that her experience as a working single mother has shaped her view of what it takes to make Burien a more affordable and livable place for all. She is running to represent working people, advocate for living wages, secure more affordable housing, and invest in public infrastructure. In particular, she wants to add more electric charging stations and bike lanes so that Burien continues to become a greener community. After the recent controversies between the city council and various volunteer boards, Hudson will work to bring people back together and rebuild trust across the community. 

Hudson faces two opponents in this race: incumbent Kevin Schilling and Daniel Reed Martin. Schilling has served as a council member since 2020 and as deputy mayor since 2022. Schilling is a third-generation King County resident, and has worked as a legislative aide to the governor and a political director to Congressman Derek Kilmer. During his time on council, Schilling implemented a co-responder model in downtown policing, allowing mental health professionals to accompany first responders when addressing mental health crises. He passed policies that helped working families access broadband and get rebates on utility taxes. He also served on the airport committee, encouraging regulations to minimize environmental and health impacts from air traffic.

Unfortunately, Schilling played a lead role in removing the Burien Planning Commission chair, Charles Schaefer, for his outreach to people experiencing homelessness in the community. He was visibly angry during the hearing, raising his voice and berating Schaefer in a way that was completely unprofessional and inappropriate. 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. Schilling's behavior in his official capacity should be a red flag for progressive voters in Burien. 

Daniel Reed Martin is highly involved in bettering Burien, and serves on the city’s Human Services Commission, with the Burien Severe Weather Shelter, and on the King County Community Advisory Commission for Law Enforcement Oversight. He identifies as a queer white man and has strong progressive values, campaigning for a housing-first approach, innovative alternatives to our policing model, and community safety based on everyone having their basic needs met. 

Hudson is the best choice for new progressive leadership in Burien.