City of Kingston
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Welcome to the Fuse Progressive Voters Guide to the 2025 General election, preview edition! Since 2008, we've compiled information about candidates and ballot measures that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. You can learn about our partners and decision-making process here. Please share this guide with your friends and family, and remind them to vote by November 4!
We will continue adding more recommendations for candidates and ballot measures until voting begins on October 15.
Statewide Ballot Measures
SJR 8201 will grow Washington’s long-term care fund for aging people and people with disabilities, keeping premiums low, without costing taxpayers a single penny. Also known as the “Allow Investment of Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Fund Amendment," SJR 8201 is a constitutional amendment adding accountability protections to our long-term care fund, requiring that 100% of investment income be used for long-term care.
If passed, SJR 8201 would increase the state’s long-term care fund for vulnerable Washingtonians by at least $67 billion over the next 50 years by allowing the nonpartisan Washington State Investment Board to diversify investments. In the state legislature, 128 legislators voted in favor of the measure, and only 16 were opposed. Additionally, it has the support of groups such as the Washington State Nurses Association, the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters, Planned Parenthood, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Vote APPROVED on SJR 8201 to protect and grow our state’s independent long-term care fund for aging adults and people with disabilities.
Last updated: 2025-10-03
SJR 8201 will grow Washington’s long-term care fund for aging people and people with disabilities, keeping premiums low, without costing taxpayers a single penny. Also known as the “Allow Investment of Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Fund Amendment," SJR 8201 is a constitutional amendment adding accountability protections to our long-term care fund, requiring that 100% of investment income be used for long-term care.
If passed, SJR 8201 would increase the state’s long-term care fund for vulnerable Washingtonians by at least $67 billion over the next 50 years by allowing the nonpartisan Washington State Investment Board to diversify investments. In the state legislature, 128 legislators voted in favor of the measure, and only 16 were opposed. Additionally, it has the support of groups such as the Washington State Nurses Association, the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters, Planned Parenthood, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Vote APPROVED on SJR 8201 to protect and grow our state’s independent long-term care fund for aging adults and people with disabilities.
Last updated: 2025-10-03
North Kitsap School Board
Two progressive candidates are running for North Kitsap School Board, Director District 1: Dr. Leighton Thomas and Debra Strawhun. We lean toward Thomas because of her strong support from local educators and progressive leaders.
Dr. Leighton Thomas is running for the North Kitsap School Board. She is an experienced public educator, starting her career in D.C. in 2008. Thomas also served as the Chief Strategy Officer at the Wyoming Department of Education.
Thomas's campaign for the school board is prioritizing equity, collaboration, and forward-thinking leadership. She hopes to address issues of declining enrollment and aging infrastructure throughout the district. Thomas proposed student-centered programs that promote equitable access for students of all backgrounds. She also hopes to create opportunities for collaboration with families, educators, tribal communities, and more.
Her extensive experience in education, combined with her thoughtful and compassionate leadership, makes Dr. Leighton Thomas a great choice for the North Kitsap School Board.
Last updated: 2025-09-30
Dr. Leighton Thomas is running for the North Kitsap School Board. She is an experienced public educator, starting her career in D.C. in 2008. Thomas also served as the Chief Strategy Officer at the Wyoming Department of Education.
Thomas's campaign for the school board is prioritizing equity, collaboration, and forward-thinking leadership. She hopes to address issues of declining enrollment and aging infrastructure throughout the district. Thomas proposed student-centered programs that promote equitable access for students of all backgrounds. She also hopes to create opportunities for collaboration with families, educators, tribal communities, and more.
Her extensive experience in education, combined with her thoughtful and compassionate leadership, makes Dr. Leighton Thomas a great choice for the North Kitsap School Board.
Last updated: 2025-09-30
Dr. Leighton Thomas is running for the North Kitsap School Board. She is an experienced public educator, starting her career in D.C. in 2008. Thomas also served as the Chief Strategy Officer at the Wyoming Department of Education.
Thomas's campaign for the school board is prioritizing equity, collaboration, and forward-thinking leadership. She hopes to address issues of declining enrollment and aging infrastructure throughout the district. Thomas proposed student-centered programs that promote equitable access for students of all backgrounds. She also hopes to create opportunities for collaboration with families, educators, tribal communities, and more.
Her extensive experience in education, combined with her thoughtful and compassionate leadership, makes Dr. Leighton Thomas a great choice for the North Kitsap School Board.
Last updated: 2025-09-30
Debra Strawhun is a long-time educator, working as a speech-language pathologist in public schools. Throughout her career, she has held numerous positions in the district. She is running to give back to the community that gave so much to her and her family.
Strawhun expressed concern about the current administration's attacks on public education, particularly the budget, book bans, and the erosion of the separation of church and state. Being an educator in the district, she is familiar with the increasing mental health and behavioral challenges facing students. If elected, she hopes to address the teacher shortage in the district, ensuring reasonable class sizes and workloads as well as adequate compensation.
In her interview with the League of Women Voters, she supported reintroducing a bond proposal in 2026 to fix the aging infrastructure of several schools in the district. Strawhun also expressed support for trauma-informed training to help students experiencing bullying and/or emotional difficulties. When asked about reaching marginalized families in her community, she encouraged community celebrations and printing district materials in multiple languages to further connect with the community.
Although we lean towards voting for Dr. Leighton Thomas in this race, we do appreciate Debra Strawhun's campaign and decades of educational experience.
Last updated: 2025-09-30
Debra Strawhun is a long-time educator, working as a speech-language pathologist in public schools. Throughout her career, she has held numerous positions in the district. She is running to give back to the community that gave so much to her and her family.
Strawhun expressed concern about the current administration's attacks on public education, particularly the budget, book bans, and the erosion of the separation of church and state. Being an educator in the district, she is familiar with the increasing mental health and behavioral challenges facing students. If elected, she hopes to address the teacher shortage in the district, ensuring reasonable class sizes and workloads as well as adequate compensation.
In her interview with the League of Women Voters, she supported reintroducing a bond proposal in 2026 to fix the aging infrastructure of several schools in the district. Strawhun also expressed support for trauma-informed training to help students experiencing bullying and/or emotional difficulties. When asked about reaching marginalized families in her community, she encouraged community celebrations and printing district materials in multiple languages to further connect with the community.
Although we lean towards voting for Dr. Leighton Thomas in this race, we do appreciate Debra Strawhun's campaign and decades of educational experience.
Last updated: 2025-09-30
Debra Strawhun is a long-time educator, working as a speech-language pathologist in public schools. Throughout her career, she has held numerous positions in the district. She is running to give back to the community that gave so much to her and her family.
Strawhun expressed concern about the current administration's attacks on public education, particularly the budget, book bans, and the erosion of the separation of church and state. Being an educator in the district, she is familiar with the increasing mental health and behavioral challenges facing students. If elected, she hopes to address the teacher shortage in the district, ensuring reasonable class sizes and workloads as well as adequate compensation.
In her interview with the League of Women Voters, she supported reintroducing a bond proposal in 2026 to fix the aging infrastructure of several schools in the district. Strawhun also expressed support for trauma-informed training to help students experiencing bullying and/or emotional difficulties. When asked about reaching marginalized families in her community, she encouraged community celebrations and printing district materials in multiple languages to further connect with the community.
Although we lean towards voting for Dr. Leighton Thomas in this race, we do appreciate Debra Strawhun's campaign and decades of educational experience.
Last updated: 2025-09-30