Incumbent Joe Bushnell is running for re-election to Tacoma City Council District 5. A Marine Corps veteran and former member of the Tacoma Public Utilities Board, Bushnell is serving his first term on the council since his election to the seat in 2021. He has also served as chair of the South Tacoma Neighborhood Council, chair of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, and chair of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Board of Health, among several other leadership roles in the community.
Bushnell is proud of the gains he feels the council has made in improving housing, public safety, and more during his first term. He points to the Home in Tacoma 2 and the Tenants' Rights Package as two landmark pieces of legislation that will prevent sudden, high rent increases and provide more flexible zoning opportunities to spur more home construction. Bushnell also states that the drop in response time for 911 calls and the expansion of the Community Service Officers and HOPE Team responder teams provide law enforcement with more options for responding to non-violent crime. During our interview, he cited improvements to Hosmer Street as a positive example of what can happen when leaders take a holistic view of public safety and bring together different agencies and community leaders around a shared goal.
Bushnell has earned wide support from community leaders and progressive elected officials for his re-election campaign. Bushnell is more moderate than his main opponent, Zev Cook, and took a few votes with which we disagree. Overall, he demonstrated thoughtful and responsive leadership during his first term that reflects his deep commitment to serving the local community.
Incumbent Joe Bushnell is running for re-election to Tacoma City Council District 5. A Marine Corps veteran and former member of the Tacoma Public Utilities Board, Bushnell is serving his first term on the council since his election to the seat in 2021. He has also served as chair of the South Tacoma Neighborhood Council, chair of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, and chair of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Board of Health, among several other leadership roles in the community.
Bushnell is proud of the gains he feels the council has made in improving housing, public safety, and more during his first term. He points to the Home in Tacoma 2 and the Tenants' Rights Package as two landmark pieces of legislation that will prevent sudden, high rent increases and provide more flexible zoning opportunities to spur more home construction. Bushnell also states that the drop in response time for 911 calls and the expansion of the Community Service Officers and HOPE Team responder teams provide law enforcement with more options for responding to non-violent crime. During our interview, he cited improvements to Hosmer Street as a positive example of what can happen when leaders take a holistic view of public safety and bring together different agencies and community leaders around a shared goal.
Bushnell has earned wide support from community leaders and progressive elected officials for his re-election campaign. Bushnell is more moderate than his main opponent, Zev Cook, and took a few votes with which we disagree. Overall, he demonstrated thoughtful and responsive leadership during his first term that reflects his deep commitment to serving the local community.