City of Newcastle

Rep. Janice Zahn is running to retain Position 1 representing the 41st Legislative District. Zahn emigrated from Hong Kong as a child and has dedicated her adult life to stewarding public infrastructure and services. She is the chief engineer for the Port of Seattle and served on the Bellevue City Council until her appointment to the Legislature in January.

Zahn has been a consistent and outspoken progressive leader in our community. In our interview, she shared that her priorities include supporting affordable housing, paid family leave, efficient project management, and protecting public education for students. She approaches policy with an eye on equity and wants to "help those who are furthest from power to create a level playing field for them to advocate for themselves."

One of Zahn's proudest accomplishments during her time on the Bellevue City Council was the development and implementation of a safe parking program. The program supported approximately 60 children experiencing housing instability by providing a safe space for families to park their cars, rest, study, and have a meal. The program particularly supported single working moms, helping them find their own stability and move into transitional housing.

Janice Zahn is a caring and compassionate leader who has hosted over 250 constituent meetings to hear their concerns. She has earned your vote for Position 1 representing the 41st Legislative District.

King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci has served District 6 (Bellevue and East King County) since 2015. She began her career as a public interest lawyer fighting for women and LGBTQ+ people. She was a neighborhood organizer who went on to serve on the Bellevue City Council, including for a term as mayor. Balducci has served as chair of the county council and serves as vice chair of the Sound Transit Board of Directors, where she successfully advocated for an early opening of the "starter line" in East King County.

In her nearly two decades of public service, Balducci has prioritized progressive solutions to the issues facing our region, including improving transportation options, promoting affordable housing, enhancing community safety, addressing climate action, and supporting arts and culture. Her track record is strong in all of these areas, including an arts levy to invest in science, heritage, arts, and cultural organizations, as well as legislation to keep “forever chemicals” out of our local environment. She was a tenacious advocate for the East Link light rail and the 10-station, 14-mile expansion plan slated for completion in early 2026.

Balducci is running for the executive position with a vision of an inclusive, vibrant, and climate-friendly county where all residents can thrive. She emphasizes her track record of effective leadership at the city and county levels that has delivered results for her communities. As a bus and bike commuter, Balducci is an avid supporter of expanding transit options, particularly light rail and bus routes. Additionally, she is an advocate for transit-oriented housing as a means of improving affordability, as well as cutting red tape to expedite the construction of badly needed housing in our region. Furthermore, she has outlined thoughtful plans to reduce gun violence, expand mental health and addiction treatment services, and youth prevention programs.

Incumbent Commissioner Ryan Calkins is running for re-election for Port of Seattle, Commissioner Position 1, where he has served since 2017. He works for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory as an advisor on offshore wind and maritime infrastructure. Previously, Calkins also ran a successful import and distribution company and started a local nonprofit focused on supporting small business entrepreneurship. His background in business, maritime infrastructure, and public service makes him a highly qualified voice on the commission.

The Port of Seattle oversees public assets in travel, trade, and commerce for the region. Over the last eight years, Calkins has helped push the commission in a more progressive direction. He advocates for equity, sustainability, and prosperity to port leadership, and he has supported measures to protect our port’s local ecosystem, fight for workers’ rights, and improve local immigration policy. Calkins is campaigning on a platform that emphasizes environmental justice, sustainable economic development, and creating living-wage jobs

Ryan Calkins deserves your vote for another term in Position 1 on the Seattle Port Commission.

Incumbent Hamdi Mohamed is running unopposed for re-election for Commissioner Position 3 on the Port of Seattle. Mohamed was first elected to the position in 2021 on a visionary progressive platform, making her the first Black woman to serve on the commission. Mohamed’s mother worked for the airport when her family first settled in SeaTac as Somali refugees – an upbringing that has deepened her knowledge of the port’s community importance. She is the department director for Seattle’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs and previously worked as a policy advisor for the King County Office of Equity and Social Justice. She is currently the only commissioner who resides in South King County.

Mohamed is a leader in people-focused policy, taking seriously the real impact of port commission decisions on the local community, ecosystem, and economy. On the commission, she has prioritized economic development to create good-paying local jobs, support workers’ rights, and help small businesses flourish. She has also been a strong voice for addressing airport noise disruptions, reducing port pollution that impacts the South King County communities, and promoting renewable energy solutions.

We recommend Hamdi Mohamed for another term as Port of Seattle Commissioner, Position 3, to continue bringing strong, progressive leadership to the to the region.

Commission president Toshiko Grace Hasegawa is running for re-election to Commissioner Position 4 on the Port of Seattle. Hasegawa was first elected to the position in 2021, becoming one of the first women of color to serve on the commission, alongside her colleague Hamdi Mohamed. Hasegawa is the former executive director of the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA), an advocacy organization that advises government agencies on issues affecting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. She currently serves on the boards of Densho and the Seattle chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, both organizations that uplift the city’s Japanese American community.

On the commission, Hasegawa has been a voice for community empowerment, equitable prosperity, and regional sustainability. She was a critical advocate protecting North SeaTac Park, led efforts to increase childcare and health care for airport employees, helped set ambitious goals to decarbonize the cruise industry, expanded the South King County Community Impact Fund, and more. If re–elected, Hasegawa will continue her tireless work to fight for clean water and air, strong workers' protections, and economic development that benefits local communities first in her progressive vision for the commission.

We recommend Hasegawa for a second term on the Seattle Port Commission.

Chris Villasenor is running for Position 4 on the Newcastle City Council. Villasenor previously served in Position 4 when he was appointed in 2021, becoming the first person of color to serve on the Newcastle City Council.

Villasenor's priorities include public safety, community events, and financial stability for future generations. He is taking a community-centered approach to governance, advocating for open dialogue and implementing community engagement initiatives. He continues to be supportive of community events, such as the Art Fair and Lunar New Year Celebration, that celebrate the diversity within the Newcastle community. While his platform could benefit from more specific solutions, he is endorsed by many elected officials, including Janice Zahn and Paul Charbonneau, and previously championed progressive solutions.

If elected, Chris Villasenor will continue to bring thoughtful leadership to the council. He has earned your vote for Newcastle City Council, Position 4.

Karin Frost Blakley is challenging incumbent Jim Quigg for Newcastle City Council, Position 5. Blakley has been an active community member, serving on the PTSA, Chamber of Commerce, and as a Planning Commissioner.

Blakley's campaign is focused on making Newcastle a more welcoming and inclusive place for all residents. She spearheaded the de-annexation of her neighborhood from Renton to Newcastle, which gave her a deeper understanding of local policy matters. Blakley hopes to utilize her time on the council to ensure that the resources we cherish are properly maintained, such as our parks, trails, and local businesses. She has earned the support of many community leaders, including current council member Paul Charbonneau and state Rep. Janice Zahn.

Karin Frost Blakley offers a fresh perspective for Newcastle, unlike her opponent, whose narrow vision excludes certain community members from feeling welcome and represented. Karin Frost Blakley is the clear choice for for Newcastle City Council, Position 5.

Incumbent Paul Charbonneau is running for re-election to Position 6 on the Newcastle City Council. Charbonneau was first elected to the Newcastle City Council in 2021 at the age of 25, representing a new generation of young elected officials in Washington.

Charbonneau has consistently been a progressive leader during his time on the council. He is an outspoken advocate for affordable housing and mental health awareness. In June 2024, he submitted a motion to raise the Pride flag at City Hall as a symbol of support and recognition for the LGBTQ community, a motion that became controversial after half the council voted against it. Thanks in part to his outspoken leadership and community organizing, the council later reversed this decision and raised the pride flag.

Additionally, Charbonneau championed a package of tenant protection proposals that would have introduced measures to limit security deposits, late fees, and prohibit the requirement of social security numbers in the renter application process. While the ordinance failed, Charbonneau continues to be a steadfast voice in the fight for affordable housing. In 2025, he voted to reinstate language in the city's comprehensive plan that enforced equitable practices in housing development.

Paul Charbonneau represents a new generation of progressive leadership and will continue to make positive change on the council. We strongly recommend re-electing him to Position 6 on the Newcastle City Council.

Andy Jacobs is running for Newcastle City Council, Position 7. Jacobs' professional career spanned four decades in the food, beverage, and hospitality industry, including 20 years at Costco Wholesale.

Jacobs' campaign prioritizes public safety, public engagement, and thoughtful growth. He is taking a community-centered approach, highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusive representation. While we would like to see more specific policy proposals that Jacobs intends to implement, we appreciate that his candidacy has accrued several progressive endorsements, including from Rep. Janice Zahn and the King County Young Democrats.

Jacobs would be a thoughtful and compassionate leader who could make a positive impact in the office. We recommend Andy Jacobs for Position 7 on the Newcastle City Council.