City of Puyallup

Bryan Yambe is running to retain his seat on the Pierce County Council representing District 5. Yambe previously served on the Fife City Council before being appointed to the county council earlier this year. Yambe is a lifelong volunteer and a movement builder. He has worked with the Pierce County Young Democrats, 25th Legislative District Democrats, and the Washington State Labor Council, as well as multiple other boards and progressive organizations. When he was elected in 2013, he became only the second Japanese-American person to serve on the Fife City Council.

Yambe's current campaign platform includes detailed plans to create more affordable homes, raise wages, address public safety, improve transportation, and public health. He is a proponent of strengthening wraparound services and rehousing programs for people experiencing homelessness. Yambe also intends to create opportunities for first-time home buyers, centered around equity. Additionally, he is in favor of expanding crisis response teams and investing in youth intervention programs. In public health, Yambe plans to support local farmers and expand nutrition assistance programs.

Due to his track record of progressive leadership, detailed campaign, and endorsements from our partner organizations, we enthusiastically recommend retaining Bryan Yambe for Pierce County Council, District 5.

Kelsey Barrans is running against Steve McCoy for Pierce County Charter Review Commission, District 1, Position 1. We are confident Barrans is the best choice in this race based on endorsements from our partners and trusted community leaders. While we have not been able to conduct our standard independent research on this race, we encourage you to visit their website, social media, or voters’ pamphlet statement to learn more.

Nathaniel Downes is running against Sharon Hanek for Pierce County Charter Review Commission, District 1, Position 2.

Hanek has run for office unsuccessfully several times before as a Republican, including losing by nearly 15% statewide in her 2024 run for state Treasurer. Hanek is the founder of My Family My Choice, a far-right group aligned with Moms for Liberty that wants to ban books and promotes conspiracy theories about public schools. We can't afford to give Hanek a platform for her dangerous, far-right agenda.

We are confident Downes is the best choice in this race based on endorsements from our partners and trusted community leaders.

Tamara Stramel is running against Jerome O'Leary for Pierce County Charter Review Commission, District 1, Position 3. Stramel is active with the 31st LD Democrats and organized in support of the Sumner-Bonney Lake School Bond last year.

We are confident Stramel is the best choice in this race based on endorsements from our partners and trusted community leaders. While we have not been able to conduct our standard independent research on this race, we encourage you to visit their website, social media, or voters’ pamphlet statement to learn more.

Billy Jo Hetherington is running against Tyron J. Christopherson for Pierce County Charter Review Commission, District 2, Position 1. We are confident Hetherington is the best choice in this race based on endorsements from our partners and trusted community leaders. While we have not been able to conduct our standard independent research on this race, we encourage you to visit their website, social media, or voters’ pamphlet statement to learn more.

Marianna Hyke is running against Brenda Milewski for Pierce County Charter Review Commission, District 2, Position 2. Hyke is currently the chair of the Pierce County Democrats. As a union carpenter, she will fight for working families and work to expand apprenticeship opportunities.

We are confident she is the best choice in this race based on endorsements from our partners and trusted community leaders. While we have not been able to conduct our standard independent research on this race, we encourage you to visit their website, social media, or voters’ pamphlet statement to learn more.

Teresa Maston is running against Elizabeth Herrera for Pierce County Charter Review Commission, District 2, Position 3. We are confident Maston is the best choice in this race based on endorsements from our partners and trusted community leaders. While we have not been able to conduct our standard independent research on this race, we encourage you to visit their website, social media, or voters’ pamphlet statement to learn more.

John Linboe is running against Hollie Rogge for the Pierce County Charter Review Commission, District 3, Position 3. Linboe serves on the South Pierce Fire and Rescue Commission and as the director of Region 7 for the Washington State Fire Commissioners Association. He has also built a long track record in labor leadership, including serving on the executive board of the local machinist and aerospace worker union, as a delegate for the Pierce County Labor Council, and on the state’s Labor Council Economic Development and Transportation Committee.

Linboe is running to build an inclusive and sustainable future for Pierce County. If elected, he wants to bring progress through creating good-wage jobs, addressing the housing crisis, and investing in raising the rural quality of life. He is the best choice for Pierce County Charter Review Commission, District 3, Position 3.

Troy Serad is running against Brett Johnson for Pierce County Charter Review Commission, District 5, Position 2. We are confident Serad is the best choice in this race based on endorsements from our partners and trusted community leaders. While we have not been able to conduct our standard independent research on this race, we encourage you to visit their website, social media, or voters’ pamphlet statement to learn more.

Jenn Marie Strickling is running against Carole Sue Braaton for Pierce County Charter Review Commission, District 5, Position 3. Strickling is the chair of the 25th Legislative District Democrats and has been active with multiple unions.

We are confident Strickland is the best choice in this race based on her track record of activism and the endorsements from our partners and trusted community leaders.

Jeff Bennett is challenging incumbent Jim Kastama for Puyallup City Council, District 1. Bennett was a police officer in Puyallup for 23 years, five of which he spent as the department's community outreach officer, where he worked with people experiencing homelessness. He currently works in the renewable energy sector.

Bennett's campaign platform prioritizes public safety, affordable housing, and environmental protections. Some of his proposed solutions include crime mapping to understand where to concentrate resources, increasing housing investments to prevent displacement and homelessness, and retrofitting buildings for sustainability. Bennett was critical of Kastama for passing changes to the comprehensive plan that removed language on diversity, equity, and inclusion, saying he would try to restore it if elected.

Jeff Bennett's campaign offers a fresh perspective, one rooted in community service and transparency. He has earned your vote for Puyallup City Council, District 1.

Heather Schiller is challenging conservative incumbent Dennis King for Puyallup City Council from District 2. She is a Senior Manager at Nationwide Insurance and is an active community member and volunteer.

Schiller is running a campaign to improve and sustain resources for all community members. Acknowledging the need for housing security, she is an advocate for expanding affordable housing options that create pathways to homeownership. On public safety, Schiller focuses more on community-focused policing and offering resources that address the root causes of crime, rather than criminalization. Her other priorities include expanding youth programming that promotes equity and environmental sustainability, which reduces waste and preserves Puyallup's parks for future generations.

Heather Schiller's campaign is a stark contrast to King's, offering a new perspective and positivity. We recommend voting for Schiller to represent District 2 on the Puyallup City Council.

Lindsay Smolko is running for Puyallup City Council, District 3. Smolko is a union member and former mental health counselor who seeks to safeguard public education and support working families. She was inspired to run after progressive activist Stacey Abrams encouraged everyday citizens to step up and run for office.

Smolko's campaign includes improving infrastructure, addressing homelessness, and strengthening community engagement. In addition to widening Shaw Road, she also hopes to incorporate more roundabouts to help reduce traffic congestion. Other infrastructure improvements include adding more sidewalks and medians for safety.

Smolko advocates for increased access to shelters and health care for families, as well as creating more opportunities for people experiencing homelessness to have a say in potential solutions. Additionally, Smolko spoke out against the council's removal of equity principles from the comprehensive plan, saying the council members who voted in favor of the changes were "bending the knee to executive orders" that violated both constitutional and human rights. Smolko sees diversity as a strength rather than a means for division. If elected, she hopes to restore the original language in the comprehensive plan.

We recommend electing Lindsay Smolko for Puyallup City Council, District 3.

David Berg is running for re-election for Puyallup School Board Director, Position 4. Berg is a parent of three district graduates and is an advocate for public education. He previously served on the Puyallup PTA and the Washington State PTA.

Berg is an inclusive leader who prioritizes the success of all students in the district. Berg is a supporter of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, saying, "inclusion in our schools is essential." During his time on the board, he helped increase Career and Technical Education opportunities as well as enrollment rates for Advanced Placement (AP) classes. On the issue of overcrowding in schools, Berg supports introducing a bond measure to voters while controlling the budget. In his interview with the News Tribune Editorial Board, he demonstrated a "detailed grasp of the issues and a willingness to take ownership of his choices."

David Berg is a thoughtful leader who has earned your vote to serve another term on the Puyallup School Board in Position 4.