-Welcome to the 2019 City of Seattle
Primary Election Video Voters' Guide,
your chance to hear directly from the participants
appearing on the August 6th primary election ballot.
This is an all-mail election.
Instead of going to a polling place,
ballots will be sent to all registered voters.
All ballots must be returned on or before election day.
Each statement is up to two minutes long and unedited.
The speakers appear on your screen in the order
they will appear on the ballot.
The candidates appearing in these videos
represent campaigns for each of the seven
Seattle City Council seats
and three seats on the Seattle School Board.
Also included are speakers representing proponents
and opponents of the Seattle Library Levy,
Proposition 1 on the Seattle section of your ballot.
All the elective positions included in this guide
are nonpartisan.
First up, the Seattle City Council.
The Seattle City Council is the city's elected legislature
and is made up of nine city council members --
two at-large and seven
who represent a geographic district of the city.
Each of the nine council members is elected
to a term of four years.
Council members set policy and further that policy
by adopting the city's operating budget.
The operating budget includes
spending for major city projects,
public safety, human services,
and delivery of both water and electricity
to city residents.
The council also levies taxes and enacts regulations.
This year, the city of Seattle will elect seven council members
based on the city's seven geographic districts.
All city voters will have the opportunity to vote
for one city council member representing their district.
The top two vote-getters in each district
will proceed to the November general election ballot.
♪♪
-Hello. I am a husband, father,
and homeowner who has lived in Seattle
for over 10 years.
I have been repeatedly disillusioned by
the ineffectiveness of the city council.
The people in Seattle deserve a council
that listens and looks past
partisan politics to deliver results.
I am driven and qualified
to accomplish this.
I have volunteered as a trustee at the
Fulcrum Foundation, as president of the
Holy Rosary School Commission,
and as a basketball coach
at our local YMCA.
For over a decade, I worked for the
Seattle Police Department,
spending several years
in the Policy Unit during the consent decree.
I have also taught at Argosy University.
Homelessness, substance abuse,
and mental illness are citywide crises.
I can bring common sense and trust
back to city council deliberations
on these topics.
I will push for keeping our city
affordable without further raising taxes.
I will bring accountability
to the management of city funds.
The Seattle I am fighting for
prioritizes dignified,
safe living conditions.
I am dedicated to maintaining unity
between SPD and the community,
improving transit, and removing
double standards in our legal system.
I want to make our police officers
feel valued and empowered
to do their job.
I will address the SPD staffing shortage
so public safety is improved.
My top priorities are homelessness,
public safety, and restoring
accountability in city spending.
Solving homelessness requires space
and services for all the unhoused.
This means creating a regional network of
immediately available
emergency housing with specialized
social services followed by
enforcing the law when campers
refuse to either accept services
or move along.
People will not be allowed to live
in illegal conditions.
I will also push for addiction
treatment services, not injection sites.
I want intentional development practices
so that public services and schools
can accommodate growth and population.
MHA must be revisited so upzoned areas
necessarily include affordable housing
and adequate parking.
It's time for a new direction on
the city council, one that puts
the voice of residents first
and delivers improvements
on our local epidemics.
I am committed to being responsible
to residents and the leader
our city needs to move forward.
Thank you.
-I work hard for District 1.
I did bus service to Alki, Admiral,
and Highland Park, restoring police
community service officers, keeping the
Concord Elementary Learning Center open,
and more hours for Coleman Pool.
No issue is too big or too small.
I've passed laws against exhaust noise
at Alki and legislation to fix
derelict buildings in Delridge
and South Park.
I've worked with Sound Transit
so Light Rail doesn't tear apart the Junction.
I've increased opportunity,
better laws for renters and workers,
and a green jobs career pathway
so everyone has a place to live and work.
I've gone to the mat
for small business all over the city,
from Luna Park and Fauntleroy,
to the University District
and the Central District.
I insist on accountability.
When city hall wanted $1.4 million
to bail out the Pronto! bike company,
I said no.
Now downtown's demanding
a First Avenue street car.
It's $143 million over budget.
I say, let's invest that money in
real transportation infrastructure.
I'm requiring new oversight
on big construction projects.
Government can't do everything.
We must do the important things
and do them well.
On addressing our homelessness crisis,
I led passage of a $29 million bond
to boost affordable housing built in 2018.
We're requiring developers
for the first time to pay for
affordable housing that's truly affordable.
I've helped families and seniors
pay their bills, stay in their homes,
and prevent homelessness
before it starts.
We must have the political will to do more.
I'm endorsed by MLK Labor,
the King County 34th
and 11th District Democrats,
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal,
King County council member Joe McDermott,
state senator Joe Nguyen,
and Seattle council member
Lorena González.
I've lived in District 1 for 19 years.
My grandchildren attend
Sanislo Elementary and Chief Sealth High.
I hope I've earned your vote.
-Hello, my name is Phil Tavel,
and I'm running for Seattle City Council,
District 1 because Seattle can do better.
Four years ago, we were talking about
skyrocketing costs of living,
a lack of affordable housing,
more and more people living on our streets,
traffic problems,
and cost overruns in civic projects.
I have seen no improvement in these
and several other issues
while many have gotten worse.
It's time to make a change
in our city's leadership.
Our council needs to listen
to all of the people of our city,
not just a vocal minority.
We need to know where our hard-earned
taxpayer money is going
and what we're getting for it.
We need to be working with the people
in the businesses in our community
and not against them.
It's time to end the divisive politics,
restore common sense and moderation
to our government, and focus on effectively,
efficiently, and equitably delivering
services to the people of our city.
We have to change the way
we're addressing homelessness
and the rise in property
and violent crimes.
We must do a better job helping people
with untreated mental health disorders
and unaddressed substance-abuse issues.
And we need to properly fund and staff
our police department
to ensure that they can enforce
all of the laws of our city fairly
and evenly for all of us that live here.
I will make sure the bureaucracy
and politics do not keep us from implementing
common-sense solutions
to these problems.
I'm proud to be supported by
dozens of the small businesses
that form the heart and soul of our community.
Just drive down California Avenue
to see all the community establishments
like Husky Deli, Talarico's,
Menashe Jewelers, The Bridge, and many more
with my sign in their window.
They know that I will listen,
that I'm an everyday part of our community,
and that I care deeply about
making Seattle a better, safer,
and more productive city for everyone.
I've been a business owner,
a physics teacher, a judge, and
a public defender for 15 years.
I'm a community volunteer
and serve on the board of the
Morgan Community Association, Allied Arts,
the Green Spaces Coalition.
I'm a renter, a father of a 1st grader
at Arbor Heights Elementary,
and youth coach at West Seattle Bowl.
I will bring back moderation
and common sense to our council.
I ask you for your support
and for your vote.
Thank you.
♪♪
-Justice equals peace.
You must remember
that where there's no peace in a society,
there's no justice in the society.
My name is Omari Tahir-Garrett,
and I'm running for Seattle City Council,
position number 2,
in order to solve problems.
The major problem facing us today is
the Native Americans in their own land
have been dispossessed of their land.
We must return their land back to
the Native Americans
the same way the land in South Africa
must be returned back to the people.
Julius Malema,
the head of the Economic Freedom Fighters
in South Africa,
is working on the same problems
that Native Americans
have in colonial America.
It's not easy
to face the truth about America's founding.
Yes, the native people were killed
and Africans were brought to
North America and enslaved.
And ever since then,
we have been under the rule
and control of others.
Gun culture is one of
the major problems in America today,
and the gun culture comes from
the fact that this land
was taken from the Native Americans
with the guns.
We have a big problem in Seattle
with the state legislature
trying to give the SVI building
to the Reverend McKinney,
community development PDA.
You can't establish a religion
as a dominant religion.
Vote your conscience.
-I'm Ari Hoffman.
I'm a husband and a father
living in Seattle for 16 years.
I'm running to serve the people
of District 2 because like so many of us,
when I needed help from our city's leaders,
they weren't there.
We deserve better.
We deserve leaders that will serve the people
in Seattle by investing in dignity.
For those suffering from homelessness,
we need to renovate and build
short-term emergency supportive housing
to get people off the streets now.
For those struggling to get by,
we need to dramatically increase
affordable housing units
with every new development.
Everyone deserves to live in dignity
in a place they call their own.
People need more than just a space
to pitch a tent without access
to even the most basic hygiene
or laundry services.
For those suffering from addiction,
from physical and mental illness,
we need the dignity of a robust healthcare
and human services infrastructure.
We need addiction and mental health treatment.
We need to bridge the gap
between health care professionals
and the people who need access to care.
Our society should not allow
illness to cause homelessness.
The cost of living has increased so much
that yesterday's middle class
is today's working poor.
Every day, we see more and more people
slipping down the economic ladder.
We need leaders who will not abandon
working families and small businesses,
that will prioritize opportunity,
and promote policies that help people
achieve the dignity of a living wage job.
As a father of three,
I'm committed to public safety.
Our firefighters and police
are being asked to provide
more services with fewer resources.
More firefighters have died from suicide
in Seattle than have died from fires.
We need our first responders.
We don't often encounter them
until we really need them to help us,
to save us, but when they are well-staffed
and taken care of,
they will serve us all better.
I want to write policy based on results.
I want to end bad policies
that waste taxpayer dollars
and invest in ideas
that will lift people in Seattle
out of poverty.
I am not interested in whether a policy
came from the left or the right.
I only care about making our government
work for the people of Seattle.
I'm Ari Hoffman.
I'm ready to go to work for you.
I would be honored to have your vote.
Please check out all my policies
at hoffmanforseattle.com.
-Hi. I'm Mark Solomon,
and I'm running to represent you on
Seattle City Council for District 2.
I am running because I want
every voice in District 2 to be heard
by our city government
and for the needs of our community to be met.
With my knowledge, experience,
and the relationships that I have built
throughout my 29 years of service
to our community as a Seattle Police
crime prevention coordinator
and as a retired
Air Force Lieutenant Colonel,
I believe that I am the best person suited
to carry out this task.
I know our community.
I was born and raised here.
I know the concerns facing District 2,
and I know how the city works.
And I am prepared to work for you from day 1
to address priorities of public safety,
homelessness, affordability,
and supporting community business.
Regarding public safety,
I will allocate additional funding
to community-based crime
and violence prevention efforts.
Further, I will work with
the chief of police to promote
comprehensive community policing
and relational policing programs
in our district.
In response to homelessness,
I will allocate more funding
to diversion programs to prevent people
from becoming homeless in the first place.
Regarding affordability,
I will champion efforts
to minimize displacement
of long-term residents
in our neighborhoods
and work to ensure any fees paid into
the Affordable Housing fund from District 2
are used in District 2.
To support our businesses,
I will introduce legislation
to designate a portion of the
Equitable Development fund
specifically for small,
commercial space development
and will work to pursue tax credits
for small commercial space lease rates.
Addressing our city's issues takes
thoughtful leadership that will
seek input, listen, collaborate,
and act in a timely manner,
leadership that will enact policies
to make the city safe, equitable,
inclusive, and functioning,
leaders that are accessible, responsive,
and accountable to you.
I pledge to be that leader.
Thank you for you time.
And I ask for your support
and your vote on August 6th.
-I am the candidate with the experience
to offer bold new approaches
to our community's more urgent challenges --
homelessness and lack of
affordable housing,
limited career paths for our youth,
and increasing negative impacts
of climate change.
I've worked at the city of Seattle
for over a decade and am proud
to have been the energy behind
the creation of the first-ever
Environmental Justice Program
at Seattle City Light.
I have worked directly with communities
to advocate for equity and justice.
I intend to build on that experience
as the city council member
to foster transparency,
equity, and cultural accessibility
across city government.
This starts with facing head on
one of our city's most visible challenges --
our homelessness crisis.
Over the past several months,
I, along with my husband
and two young children,
have volunteered at Camp Second Chance.
For our family, this has been
a transformative experience
to better know our neighbors
facing the challenges of life
on the street.
We need to provide more support for those
programs that work and continue to build
upon those successes,
but we also need to do more to protect
our existing affordable housing units
and meet the city's commitment
to build 6,000 new, low-income,
and affordable housing units.
We will work with regional partners,
private businesses, and nonprofits
to consider policies and funding
while working to stop the pressures
of gentrification and displacement
so that all residents can thrive in place.
I have been blessed to have the means
to own a home in Seattle
and understand firsthand the challenges
and security that come with home ownership.
We must provide stronger protections
for our renters so they don't end up homeless.
We can't displace people as quickly
as we build affordable housing.
Lastly, we know that we face
a climate crisis.
I believe it is time to call for
a Seattle Green New Deal.
This framework can serve as a catalyst
to fast track the work underway
at the city's climate action plan,
creating jobs, opportunities,
and career pathways for our youth
to become the next generation
of environmental and clean-energy workers.
I'd be honored to have your vote.
My name is Chris Peguero.
-My name is Phyllis Porter,
and I am running for Seattle City Council,
District 2 because I have lived through
too many of the crises
that the people of Seattle
are now facing and intimately understand
why we need a representative
who has lived the same experiences
of those they are hoping to represent
at city hall.
Seattle needs a responsive,
representative leader
who will get things done at city hall.
As Seattle continues to buckle
under the pressure of so many
different crises, it is more important than ever
that we seek practical solutions,
not just platitudes.
From the Chinatown-International District
to Rainier Beach, people are at risk
of losing their communities.
As a renter, I've experienced
astronomical rent increases
that have made staying here
harder and harder.
One of the most important things
we can do is to keep people in the homes
they currently live in and provide more relief
to their increasing costs.
Our unsheltered crises need smart solutions
that prioritize keeping people
in their homes and mental health services.
We need to be better stewards
of our resources, prioritizing,
finding new, progressive revenues streams
to build more housing right here in District 2
and have places to immediately house those
who need it.
I decided to take up cycling
and began to see the city in ways
I've never seen it before.
My eyes opened to the dangers
of south Seattle streets,
especially Rainier Avenue.
South Seattle residents
have experienced far too many casualties
on our district's main arterial,
and they happen here more than anywhere
in the city.
Transportation access
is an equity issue we need to prioritize.
Representative leadership means
electing people who have lived through
the experiences of those they serve.
I want to go to city hall to be
a responsive voice to the community
and implement smart policies
that help those who need it most.
My perseverance and lived experience
will help make our community
a better place for everyone.
I would be honored to earn your vote
so that we can make District 2
work for all of us.
I would appreciate your vote on August 6th.
-Hello, I'm Tammy Morales,
running for city council in District 2.
Seattle is at a crossroads this election.
Will we allow corporate special interests
to dictate local policy
or will we shift power
to the people of our city?
I'm a community organizer,
a long-time budget
and policy analyst,
and a mom with two kids
in Seattle public schools.
I've spent my career
building healthy neighborhoods
with greater food security,
better housing, and stronger protections
for working people.
I did this work in coalition with many
of our community organizations,
joining to find solutions and advocate
for our district priorities.
That's how I lead, by joining with neighbors
and those most impacted to advance equity
and shared prosperity.
I'm running to build power
for the people of District 2
so we all feel safe, we all thrive,
and so we make decisions
that are good for all of us,
not just the most privileged.
We know that cities must lead the way
in protecting our communities.
I'll work to create a city
where we can live without fear
of displacement by building
more housing to serve low-income families,
seniors, and to support
the transition out of homelessness.
I'll invest in our young people,
from those needing more childcare options
to students who are transitioning to
college or to union
apprenticeship programs.
Together, we can transition to green building
and better transportation choices
so we end our reliance on fossil fuel,
because we can't call it an investment
if it destroys the planet.
And we must fix our upside-down tax structure.
I'll work to find the right mix
of progressive revenue
so we can stop funding the city
on the backs of our low-income neighbors.
For Seattle to thrive,
we need wealthy corporations to pay their fair share.
I'm proud to have the endorsement of grocery, healthcare,
and warehouse workers
who know my commitment to working families.
I've been endorsed by
Representative Jayapal, State Senator Saldaña,
City Council Members Mosqueda
and González,
and County Council Member Larry Gossett,
as well as the Washington Progressive Caucus,
Latino Caucus, 37th District Democrats,
and the Sierra Club.
I'm Tammy Morales,
and I'm asking for you vote so together,
we can build power for our community.
♪♪
-Hi. I'm Logan Bowers,
and I want to talk about what's
important -- you.
You deserve a council member who listens to you
and who represents your community.
Reciting my résumé and endorsements
doesn't tell you what you really need to know --
what's my plan to make Seattle work for you.
Over my lifetime, I've had the pleasure
of watching Seattle prosper.
However, the city council has failed to keep up.
We've gone from high-housing
prices to a housing crisis.
We've gone from housing instability
to a homelessness crisis.
Our city faces tough problems,
but I am a problem solver, and I have a plan.
I have a plan to re-legalize housing
that is affordable throughout Seattle
without cost to you by authorizing neighborhood-friendly
density, including duplexes
and triplexes citywide.
I have a plan to shelter our unhoused neighbors
because we currently
only have 6,000 shelter beds for 12,000 people.
And the council needs to approve
not just more services,
but the kinds of services that actually
get people off the streets.
I have a plan to make Seattle
100% walkable by legalizing grocery stores,
restaurants, and childcare centers
in all neighborhoods.
And I have a plan to make Seattle work for you.
I've led organizations small and large,
including building a
neighborhood retail store
with my wife, Jerina.
I am proud that we were one of the first in
our industry to offer healthcare to our staff of 35.
I know how important it is
to stop talking and listen.
And I know how to do the hard work
away from the limelight to succeed.
I get things done.
I'm humbled to have received the most democracy
vouchers in this district.
Your neighbors know that I am here
to listen to you, prioritize
your needs, and get things done.
Join your neighbors
and vote for me, Logan Bowers,
to make Seattle affordable,
welcoming, and equitable.
-My name is Zachary DeWolf.
I'm a citizen of the Chippewa Cree Nation.
I'm a program manager at All Home,
which coordinates homelessness
efforts across King County,
and I serve as a director
on the Seattle School Board,
working on behalf of students, teachers,
and families every day.
And I'm running now as I did for school board
for the 4,280 students experiencing
homelessness in Seattle public schools.
These students' housing status and how
they get around absolutely affects
their public education,
but schools alone cannot address
their needs and opportunity gaps.
Creating a Seattle where these students
and their families and all of
our neighbors can thrive
is deeply important to me.
But our current representation
isn't working for all of us.
We need leadership that urgently
and successfully drives toward solutions,
especially on homelessness,
housing affordability,
transportation, safety,
the climate crisis, and public education.
And in native culture, we often talk about the
Seven Generations Principle
which says that what we do now must create positive
and sustainable and meaningful
solutions for today and seven generations
into the future.
And in order to do that,
you deserve a council member
who shares your values, has an incredible work ethic,
and someone who has a record of getting things done.
As president of the Capitol Community Council,
in alliance with our friends from
Chinatown-International District, we
expanded law-enforcement assisted diversion
to both our neighborhoods.
We created the country's first renters' commission.
We piloted pedestrian-only streets.
We created a law that requires landlords to provide
voter registration to new tenants.
And as your school board director,
I was proud to have helped develop
one of the most innovative, strategic plans
in decades, proud to embed
racial equity in our BEX V Levy,
helped fix our databases for trans students,
proud to adopt science curriculum
after almost 30 years,
proud to move our work sessions out
into the community.
And I was proud this year to lead
on bringing community workforce agreements
to Seattle public schools, a first in the state --
commitments I made on the campaign trail
to you and followed through on.
Just recently, I passed out diplomas
at the Garfield High School graduation.
And at this ceremony, all 18 valedictorians
gave a speech, and in it,
they implored all of us to act.
See, in 11 years, in 2030, our earth
will reach a critical milestone
for when we will have needed to drastically reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
It is up to us to act urgently on this issue
and so much more for the future of these young folks
and the future of our city.
I have the values, the hard work,
and the record of results we need right now
to create a Seattle we can all be proud of for today
and seven generations in to the future.
-Hi. I'm Pat Murakami.
When I first moved to Seattle, I got a good union job,
paid my way through college, earning two
bachelors and a master's degree,
I opened a small tech company, I worked hard,
was able to buy my first house in the Central District
and build a life for myself.
Unfortunately, the same opportunities aren't available today.
The American dream seems further out of reach than ever.
Our district has a shameful history
of redlining, gentrification, and racism
with residents being overlooked and ignored.
I want to provide and restore the opportunities
in District 3 that allow everyone to thrive.
The American dream is having a good job
that can support a family.
I will expand opportunities for apprenticeships,
create a website to help individuals navigate all the
training and educational
opportunities available,
and ensure protections for workers across
all industries.
The American dream is being able to own a home.
I will start a home-buying program
to help those now excluded from ownership
and protect seniors from being taxed out of their homes.
I will tax out-of-state or -country
real-estate purchases
to pay for affordable units
rather than taxing us
and assess fees on Seattle's many
empty apartments and commercial space.
I will bring an end to inadequate in-lieu fees
and demand affordable units in new development.
The American dream is being able to start a business.
I will make it easier to start or expand
a small business in Seattle
and provide support for immigrant, minority,
and women-owned businesses.
The American dream is a community
that has your back when you're in need.
I will fight for on-demand mental health
and drug treatment.
We must provide results-oriented
services to help people,
not just give those suffering a space to suffer in.
I ask you to join me.
We can once again aspire to our highest potential.
You, too, can have the American dream
right here in Seattle.
If you put your faith in me,
I will dedicate all of my energy to making
Seattle the best that it can be.
I am Pat Murakami, and I am ready to fight for you.
We can do better together.
-Hello, I'm Egan Orion, and I'm running
for Seattle City Council in District 3.
Today, I ask you to join my campaign for innovation,
accountability, and pragmatic solutions
for the very real challenges our city faces
and to help me celebrate the best
of what Seattle has to offer.
I believe that in one of the most innovative places
on earth, anything is possible.
I'm a 4th generation District 3 resident.
From the district, I've started two small businesses
and a nonprofit. I love Seattle.
I celebrate it every day.
I celebrate it by throwing the biggest single
festival day in all of Seattle --
PrideFest -- which in itself, celebrates the best
of our values of inclusion, diversity, and love.
Through my work in Capitol Hill,
I celebrate small businesses and all that they contribute
to a healthy, vibrant community.
In the Central District,
I celebrate the diversity of my neighborhood
where gay and straight and black and white
live side by side and have taught me
what it means to be a good neighbor.
To all my District 3 neighbors,
I vow to represent your voice at council
and be accountable to you.
Central to my campaign is the imperative to provide
24/7 low-barrier shelter and treatment on-demand
for mental health and addiction to all who need it.
Let's use our expanded partnership with
the county to bond over 1,000 new supportive
housing units and vow to bring them online
within three years.
Despite our wealth and resources,
we are letting our unsheltered neighbors languish
on our city's streets.
Let's bring everyone to the table to remedy
this human crisis that the current council
has failed to adequately address.
We live in one of the most
innovative places on earth.
Let's harness that innovation to lead
on climate change policy
by investing in wind and solar
incentivizing green building and remodeling,
and by electrifying our entire public transportation system.
While our current D3 council member has
moved our politics further left, she's failed to do
the hard work to actually move our city forward.
I celebrate our city's progressiveness,
but will pair it with a plan and a coalition
so we can actually get something done.
I believe that with the collective innovation
and will available in our city, we can tackle anything.
There's so much to do, so join me.
Let's get started.
-I've used my two terms in city hall
to help build powerful movements
to win historic victories in the face of fierce
corporate opposition.
I'm proud to have helped make Seattle
the first major city to win the $15 minimum wage.
I worked alongside movements
for landmark renters' rights,
such as the move-in fee
payment plan so renters no longer
need thousands of dollars just to move in.
We established Indigenous Peoples' Day,
gained crucial funding for LGBTQ services,
and won the first-ever
city funds for legal support for
renters facing eviction.
Seattle is rapidly becoming unaffordable.
The for-profit housing market has failed us.
In spite of a construction boom,
our housing and homelessness crisis
remains among the worst in the nation.
That's why Seattle needs rent control
free of corporate loopholes.
We also need a massive expansion of affordable
social housing paid for by taxing big business,
not working people or small business.
Seattle needs a Green New Deal
which can create thousands of union jobs.
What's at stake this year is who runs Seattle,
big business or working people?
Last year, Jeff Bezos bullied our city to defeat the
Amazon tax which would have funded housing and services.
Now Amazon and big business are trying to buy
this election and have piled $1 million into
two corporate PACs.
Their mission -- anybody but Kshama Sawant.
Why? Because they know
I am unshakably accountable to working people
and because our movement has shown that when we fight,
we can win.
As a socialist, feminist, and union member,
I am proud to be endorsed by
National Women's Political Caucus,
by Sierra Club, and by unions in public schools,
healthcare, universities, hotels,
and by postal workers and laborers.
I appeal to you to join our movement
to make Seattle affordable for all.
-Hi. My name is Ami Nguyen, and I'm running for
Seattle City Council, District 3,
to ensure that we work together to create a Seattle
for all of us.
I've dedicated my career to public service
to improve the lives of others.
As a public defender,
I work closely with people who are homeless,
struggling with mental health, and fighting addiction.
As a former tenant's rights attorney,
I fought against slumlords and illegal evictions,
allowing families to remain housed
and live in better conditions.
As a daughter of Vietnamese refugees who relied
on subsidized housing
and public education as a child,
I understand the need for compassion
and accountability in our city council.
No other candidates have worked on the
ground like I have to understand
the root causes of homelessness.
My unique experiences provide me the skills
to work with community and council members
to address our homelessness crisis.
I'm advocating for barrier-free treatment
so that our family, friends, and neighbors
can receive the help they need to address
their mental health and addiction struggles.
As an expecting mother,
I want to ensure that our streets are
safe for walking, biking, busing, and driving.
This requires us to work together with community members
and SDOT to implement a comprehensive plan
rather than creating division.
By working together,
we can save lives from traffic accidents
and improve health by reducing carbon emission.
I know that we can work together to ensure
that seniors can age in place
and residents can afford to stay in Seattle.
It's our time to have a city council member
who will listen and fight for our concerns.
It's our time to have a city council member
who shares our values and visions.
It's our city, and we should have
a say in the future of Seattle.
I've been endorsed by the
National Women's Political Caucus
and the King County Young Dems.
Together, we can make Seattle a place for all of us.
It's our turn, our time, our city.
My name is Ami Nguyen,
and I'm running for Seattle City Council, District 3.
♪♪
-I'm Shaun Scott, and I'm running for
Seattle City Council, District 4.
The question before us in this election cycle
is whether we want to be a city of compassion
or a city of cruelty.
A compassionate city is one that builds enough deeply
affordable housing for those already here
and for those on the way.
A compassionate city is one with a fair tax code,
where working people, renters,
and homeowners don't shoulder a
disproportionate share of our tax burden with
regressive sales and property taxes.
It's a city where every Seattleite
can enjoy public parks, free public transit,
and mental health and supportive housing services.
As a former journalist and editor of
Real Change News and a field organizer
for Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal's
2018 reelection campaign, I've worked almost
my entire life towards studying and organizing
for policies that make Seattle
a more compassionate city.
I've been endorsed in this race by Cary Moon,
the Washington State High School Democrats,
and the Sierra Club because of my commitment
to creating a more compassionate city.
Some forces in this city
would turn us into a cruel city,
a city that wastes $10 million a year
on ineffective sweeps of the homeless,
that displaces Seattle homeowners
and only builds housing for the richest among us,
a city with no treatment centers
and no investment in social services for working families,
like childcare.
I think that we can do better.
I think that we can have a compassionate city.
As a Seattle City Council member
representing District 4,
I'll work towards building a compassionate city.
And in the August primary election,
I'm asking for your vote to help build that city.
Thank you.
-Greetings, voters.
My name's Beth Mountsier.
I have ideas about how to improve and make
Seattle better, including the thorniest issues
facing our communities.
I'm running because I have a passion for working
on these issues and a wealth
of experience working with our communities and
elected officials for 28 years
at King Country and Redmond, and I want to do more.
I've been at the table when we've been building
a booming economy,
coordinated transportation,
and infrastructure for climate change.
My training and working under these conditions
and obstacles, and then finding
the most elegant solution with others within
a budget is my specialty.
Some of you are reeling from what seems
like impossible problems --
a lack of affordable housing, health
and humanitarian crisis of homelessness.
There's a fear the future won't be as bright for new
Seattleites, but we can share a vision, take actions,
and ensure this city celebrates and houses everyone.
I'm a pragmatic policy wonk, a collaborator.
I've worked on solutions at the elected level
and out in my community.
One of my proudest accomplishments
was working with council member Bob Ferguson
to develop and champion the Veterans
and Human Services Levy in 2005.
It provides housing,
mental health services,
and upstream investments in youth
and families to avoid problems later,
and it's helping seniors, also.
I have a reputation as an honest broker
going back to the '80s when I secured an agreement
to replace housing units that the
convention center wanted to tear down.
I'm also out in our neighborhoods working with you
and volunteering every day.
I've worked for better housing,
access to music programs,
helping young adults find a foothold
and future here.
Currently, I'm board chair at University Heights.
Issues have answers,
and I'm confident that Seattle's innovators,
entrepreneurs, and pioneering families
can lead the West Coast, if not the nation,
out of these challenges.
Seattle neighbors are generous, compassionate,
but want tools and actions that lead to solutions.
I get that. I'll make that happen.
Find out more about me
and my priorities at my website.
I invite you to vote for an experienced leader.
Thanks.
-Hi. I'm Emily Myers.
I'm running for Seattle City Council in District 4.
I'm a Parkinson's researcher at the
University of Washington and an
executive board member in my union
of over 5,000 academic student employees,
UAW 4121.
I'm also a renter in the "U" District.
I'm running for city council
because we need a leader
who will use data and facts
to make decisions and deliver results.
I'm a scientist. It's what I do.
I have a plan to make childcare more affordable
for all families by making it easier for people
to open high-quality childcare centers,
getting big business to chip in
and help working families,
and by supporting childcare workers
to get the training they need.
I have a plan to reduce homelessness
in our region and protect the health and safety
of all people in Seattle.
I will focus our city's spending
on evidence-based policies
that are both humane, cost-effective,
and preserve the dignity of people
experiencing homelessness.
I have a plan to make neighborhoods more inclusive
to people of all incomes
and increase housing affordability.
We must allow housing options like duplexes
and triplexes citywide,
and we must build public housing with progressive revenue
raised by asking big businesses
with enough money to pay their CEOs $1 million a year
to pay their fair share so that workers
can live in this city.
I have a plan to make Seattle resilient
to our changing climate and truly be a climate leader.
Let's complete our transit plans that focus
on reducing carbon emissions,
improve east-west bus routes,
and build green infrastructure
to connect our neighborhoods.
Let's make green leases the standard
and create new, climate-friendly living wage jobs
for Seattleites.
Whether we're facing down a climate crisis,
a homelessness crisis,
or housing and childcare affordability crisis,
I'm the scientist and leader with the data
and the solutions to get things done.
Vote for Emily Myers on August 6th.
-Hi. I'm Alex Pedersen,
and I'm running for city council
to bring accountability to our city government.
Many people have lost faith in city council
because of politicians who don't listen.
I will listen to the communities in our district,
and I will deliver results for your priorities.
We should be seeing better
results on homelessness.
I will use my experience to fund
only the best strategies proven to
reduce homelessness in other cities.
I will maximize mental heath
and drug addiction programs
to achieve real results on this regional crisis.
Compassion requires results.
To increase public safety,
city council needs to support our police officers
and hold the criminal justice system accountable.
Our city's traffic and roads are a mess.
City council must wisely invest your tax dollars
to move the most people by repairing roads,
maximizing transit,
and improving sidewalks.
After earning a master's degree in government,
I worked at the Department of Housing
and Urban Development
during the Clinton administration
to reduce homelessness.
My career includes 15 years in the private sector,
preserving affordable housing.
When I worked as an analyst for the city council,
I crafted legislation,
creating the nationally-acclaimed
Seattle Preschool Program,
and I led efforts to fully fund the
Nurse-Family Partnership that empowers
low-income moms and their babies.
As a progressive Democrat focused on results,
I'm proud to be endorsed by former King County
Executive Ron Simms,
Tim Burgess, Nick Licata,
Ruth Kagi, Daniel J. Evans,
State Rep Gerry Pollet,
Port Commissioner Peter Steinbrueck,
the 46th Legislative District Democrats,
and by neighborhood businesses.
I'm Alex Pederson,
and I would be honored to earn your vote.
-My name is Cathy Tuttle.
I'd like your vote
for Seattle City Council,
position 4.
I've got the skills and experience
our city council needs now.
I've raised a family in Seattle,
and I've worked for the city.
I have a PhD in City Planning
and a master's degree
in Anthropology from
the University of Washington.
I was Executive Director
of Seattle nonprofits.
In the past few months,
I've knocked on thousands of your doors.
What I hear is this --
if you are older, like me,
you want to age in place.
If you are young and just starting out in Seattle,
like my two adult children,
you worry about being priced out.
You tell me you are disappointed in Seattle's
response to homelessness and affordable housing.
You worry about paying property taxes,
and you are concerned about climate change.
These are complex problems where I will listen to you.
That's why I'm running,
to listen to you carefully
and then to take action.
But don't just take my word for it.
The stranger said it best.
"Tuttle is action-oriented.
With a background in Seattle's Planning Commission
and in the Parks and Recreation Department,
she knows the ins and outs of the system,
and most importantly,
how to get stuff built."
As your district council member,
I promise to have a local office
with a full-time staff member
so you can swing by
to talk about local issues.
I've been endorsed by
the 46th District Democrats,
council members Richard Conlin
and Tom Rasmussen,
by community leaders
Ed Lazowska, Alan Durning,
Heather Trim, Jerry Large,
Inga Manskopf, Jake Weber, and many other people
I've worked with in my decades in Seattle.
I know how to move forward with complex projects
for people on time, on budget,
and in ways that will make District 4
and Seattle stronger.
Thank you for listening to me.
Please remember to vote for Cathy Tuttle
for Seattle City Council, District 4.
I promise to do my best for you.
-Hi, Seattle.
I'm Frank Krueger,
and I'm running for city council
in District 4.
I'm a small business owner,
engineer,
and renter in Wallingford,
and I want to use my
skills and experience
to make sure Seattle
is a livable city for everyone.
We have a growing population
of homeless people,
some by choice, but many
because the city has failed them.
Fixing this will be a process
that takes time, money,
and votes.
We can work to prevent homelessness
with outreach and treatment centers,
and we can reduce
the number of people
living on the street
with low-barrier shelters
and a housing first policy.
We can keep people
from cycling back into homelessness
through long-term,
personalized care and treatment.
To do that,
I want to partner with state
and business allies alike
to fund a bold plan --
1,000 new social workers
to address addiction,
mental health,
and other barriers
to stability.
I am pro-income tax
to pay for ambitious social programs like this,
but that's gonna take time.
In the short-term,
I support thoughtfully crafted taxes
on large businesses
and streamlining partnerships
with private companies
that want to be a part of our community
and not just take advantage of it.
With increased population and demand
on public infrastructure,
we need to acknowledge that both
single-occupancy vehicles
and single-family zoning
are not priorities anymore.
Let's open our neighborhoods
to everyone
with new housing and more transit.
Seattle's access to renewable energy
enables us to be
a shining example of a green city.
Let's welcome protected bike
and electric device lanes
and green public transportation.
We have the resources
and the responsibility to create a
climate-conscious city.
The engineer in me
knows how to find solutions
when none seem in sight.
The businessman in me
knows how to make compromises
and come to a consensus to make progress.
Elect me, Frank Krueger,
and I will work tirelessly
to improve this city for you.
Thank you.
-My name is Ethan Hunter.
I am running for city council in District 4,
and I am often asked, why am I here?
I'm here because Seattle lacks a clear moral voice,
calling attention to the issues that threaten our future.
I am here because we need safe schools
where we teach reading and writing,
not duck and cover.
I am here because suicide rates
among 15 to 24-year-olds
are at their highest level
since 2000, and action is required.
I am here to speak
for our most vulnerable
so they have access to services
that have been stripped away.
I am here to support salaries
that draw exceptional civil servants.
I am here to fight
the landslide of unsheltered,
a problem which has increased by 46% since 2017.
I am here for families like mine,
devastated by an opioid crisis
that has spiked 70%
in our area since 2018.
And I am here,
for it is time to make
uncomfortable decisions
about things like the environment
so that we can look back with pride
in the 2050s
at what we did in the 2020s.
So, when those running the city
and for council want the issues to be
places and things instead of people,
it is up to us to stand up,
speak up, and say,
"This is not right."
That is why I am here.
And I do this even though others may take
special interest money,
which I will not,
even though I am young
and most have more experiences,
and even though I am the only
working class candidate running.
But the battles we must tackle
are generational.
The battles we must tackle
will not be solved easily
or in a few years,
but we are in the battle of our lives,
and because of that,
it is time for the next generation
to take the helm in Seattle
as is happening nationwide.
Thank you, and I look forward
to serving you on city council.
-Hi, D4.
My name is Sasha Anderson,
and I hope to earn your vote
so we can work together
to make our city more affordable,
inclusive, and climate-conscious.
So, I was 8 years old
the first time I heard the term
"trailer trash."
Walking to school,
I overheard a few classmates
say that people who lived in trailers
were lazy and worthless,
and I was so hurt and confused
because their words
didn't match my reality.
My family lived in a trailer,
but my mom is a nurse,
and dad a construction worker,
and we worked hard
for everything we had.
Around this time,
I also started realizing
that I liked girls,
not just because
they were smart and funny,
but I also found them
physically attractive.
So, here I am, 8 years old,
realizing I'm poor and gay,
and now I knew how poor people were viewed
thanks to my classmates,
but now how gay people were looked at.
So, I started looking
and listening, and it turned out,
gay folks were disliked
as much as the poor,
not only that,
so were people of color
and immigrants,
and that was just the tip of the iceberg.
And then something happened that made me
into the person I am today.
My 3rd-grade self realized that
other people who were
different like I was
had also overheard similar conversations
and were just as hurt and confused
as I had been.
Immediately, my feelings turned
to anger and indignation,
and I made a vow
that I would always work hard
to even the playing field
and fight for people
who were being hurt and left behind
simply for who they were.
And that's what I've done.
I became the first person in my family
to graduate from college,
working my way through school
to supplement grants and loans.
I've continued working two
and sometimes three jobs to make ends meet
because I've dedicated myself
to public service with the Peace Corps
and nonprofits such as
EarthShare Washington
and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
I made sure I got my master's degrees
in Sustainable Development
and Consensus Building.
All of this I've done in order to gain
the skills and experience needed
so that I can get a bigger platform
and help more people.
That's what being on
Seattle City Council
means to me,
working hard for all of us.
And I hope to earn your vote
on August 6th
to make our city more affordable,
climate-conscious, and inclusive.
-Hi. My name is Joshua Newman.
I live in Ravenna
with my wife and our four kids.
I've been a lifeguard,
a preschool teacher,
and for the last 13 years,
an engineer and union member
of IFPTE 2001 at Boeing.
I've coached my sons' baseball teams,
served on the board of my synagogue,
and I've been the president of both
the Maple Leaf Community Council
and Seattle Subway.
I'm a policy wonk,
and I dig deep into the data,
but when we get stuck fighting
over this rule or that street,
we aren't talking
about the big picture.
We aren't talking about
the fear and uncertainty
we feel for the future.
Our parents and grandparents
were confident that our lives
would be better than theirs.
How many of us feel that way
for our children and grandchildren?
It's not clear what will become
of the city we love
or if our children
will have a place here.
Seattle has grown
by over 167,000 people
in the last 20 years.
Climate change is already here.
If Seattle is to thrive
in our uncertain future,
we need leadership who can turn
that uncertainty into opportunity.
We can do this by staying true
to our progressive values
and letting some pieces
of Seattle evolve.
Our future needs to be
different from the past
in three critical ways.
First, cars are not our future,
and we need to make it easy
for most people to get around
without them.
Second, we have to build
more homes of more shapes
and more sizes
so people can find a home
to fit their needs,
and so our most vulnerable neighbors
don't end up on the streets.
And third, we need to build
enough renewable energy
in the next 10 years
to match and replace
all of our fossil fuel needs.
We can do this together.
If we are brave,
we can manage these challenges
and plan for the future.
We can give our children and grandchildren
lives that will be better than our own.
-My name is Heidi Stuber,
and I'm running for Seattle City Council,
District 4
because I believe
in a better future for our city.
I've lived in Seattle for 16 years,
in District 4 for 7 years with homes
both in Wallingford and Ravenna,
and I raised my son here.
I am proud to live in a city
where we share many liberal values.
But lately,
I've become increasingly concerned
that city council
is disconnected from the needs
of everyday Seattleites.
This is a beautiful,
well-resourced city
with people moving here
from all over the world,
and I look around and think,
"We have to be able
to do better than this."
We need a new kind of leader in Seattle,
someone who will take action
to solve the big problems
facing our city, like homelessness,
affordability, transportation,
and climate change,
and someone who is capable of taking
a big-picture strategic approach
to ensure we are creating
a more livable, affordable,
sustainable city right now
and for the next generation.
I started my career
as an environmental science teacher
in inner-city Chicago.
I earned my MBA at Seattle University,
and I've spent more than a dozen years
specializing in organizational change,
both in local small businesses
and at places like Woodland Park Zoo
and North Seattle College.
I'm also an outspoken
and effective advocate
for education rights,
autism, and have worked tirelessly
to protect special education students,
small businesses,
and women in the workplace.
Seattle needs a leader
who will get results.
I bring a deep personal history
with advocacy
combined with the working experience
and leadership style
that means I know
how to get things done.
I'm running to bring balanced,
common-sense solutions
to city hall
and to speak for families,
small businesses,
and regular Seattleites
just like you.
Help me change Seattle
for the better.
I hope I can count on your vote
August 6th.
Thank you very much.
♪♪
-Hi. I'm Debora Juarez,
and I'm on the Seattle City Council.
I represent the city,
but I honor the needs of my district,
our district -- District 5.
I've lived in the north end
for over 30 years
as a renter and as a homeowner.
It's where I raised my children.
I'm running for reelection
for three reasons --
I want to keep listening
to the needs of our city in D5,
I want to continue to deliver
the projects and programs
that support our city
and make it great,
and I want to finish
the work we've started.
I've been a lawyer for 33 years.
I worked as a public defender,
legal services,
a King County Superior Court judge.
I represented two governors
and many tribal governments.
I know how to get things done,
and I know how to build things.
Let me share what we've done.
We have a new
$1.6 billion world-class arena
at Seattle Center
at no cost to the taxpayers.
We've raised $18 million
for our new Lake City Community Center
that will serve elders and kids.
And we secured a new
NHL training facility
and headquarters
located at Northgate in D5
for jobs and opportunities.
And we are fully funding
the pedestrian bike bridge
that will connect Northgate Mall
to North Seattle College.
This is a game changer
for walkability in D5.
Homelessness is one
of the biggest issues we face.
That is why I've secured
millions of dollars
and directed these funds to nonprofits
that address homelessness,
addiction, and mental health.
In addition, we are building
1,200 units of affordable
housing in D5.
And you all know how hard we fought to
bring Light Rail to Northgate.
Now we're bringing it
to 130th Street Station.
And we plan to bring
that Light Rail station
in seven years earlier.
On public safety,
I voted to add 40 new police officers
to our force,
and I will continue to support
a new police station
in the north end.
And sidewalks --
I have delivered 12 new sidewalk
projects in D5 last year,
and we won't stop there.
With that being said,
I am fiercely optimistic
about the future of our city in D5.
It's been an honor to represent you
on city council,
to be your councilwoman,
and I humbly ask
for your support and vote.
Thank you.
-Hi. I'm John Lombard,
and I'm running for Seattle City Council
from District 5.
This may be the most important
city council election
in a generation or more.
Our city needs leadership,
leadership that listens,
that engages with communities,
that acknowledges complexity,
but isn't paralyzed by it,
and that isn't guided
by ideology, either.
I've been a community
and environmental leader
in District 5 for 17 years.
I'm the author of the book
"Saving Puget Sound."
I've worked for years
with other community leaders
across the district
on crime, pedestrian safety,
affordable housing,
transit, and other issues.
Homelessness is the dominant issue
of this election.
Our city is facing both a drug crisis
and a housing crisis.
It's the drug crisis,
not the housing crisis,
that's causing the biggest impacts
on our neighborhoods,
from property crime
to needles, trash, and human waste
in our public spaces.
The most affected neighborhoods
tend to be the less affluent ones.
We need to show compassion to them
as well as to the homeless.
I understand this is complex.
I've worked on these issues
professionally as the liaison
for homeless services
to the mayor of Saint Louis
early in my career.
As a community advocate,
I verged expansion of programs
that offer case management
and treatment
as an alternative
to the criminal justice system
where appropriate,
but it's not always appropriate.
District 5 needs a council member
who is directly engaged with
and accessible to our communities,
who is responsive to constituents,
and who is a leader of the city council
on homelessness and other issues.
We haven't had that.
We've paid a price for it,
and so has the city.
It's time for a change.
I'd be honored to receive your vote.
Thank you.
-Sieg heil,
Seattle communazi fascist.
Sieg heil,
Seattle Council and Mayor,
our fascist and clown,
our crazy, Nazi, Gestapo garbage rats
from "Animal Farm."
I am Alex Tsimerman,
speak to you,
Seattle, Emerald, degenerate,
super-smart, freaking idiot.
With Nazis socialist Democrat
and anti-Semite principle,
clean dirty, stupid council chamber
from this clown, criminal, and killer.
This cannot go on forever.
Stand up, Seattle.
Stand up, America.
We as a people need to elect
intelligent, civilized businessmen
who can bring Seattle
back to normal life,
who will stop the crook
who suck blood and money from us
and make us life miserable,
who will have Q&A every month
with the people in each district,
who does not scared to talk to
the people frankly and honestly,
who is not a fascist,
sexopath, or lunatic,
who is American and respect
and restore our Constitution,
love, and freedom of speech,
who is not scared to open
Bertha Landes rooms in city hall
one day per week
for citizen conversation
and honest candidate forum
for everybody.
We need to stop
Nazi socialist Democrat Mafia
with progressive Gestapo principle
which have brought Seattle
to number-one fascist city
in America and total collapse.
Only pure idiot don't understand
the one-party system
is always fascism.
We need to clean our government
from dirty garbage rats
who drink from fat cat toilet.
Stand up, Seattle.
Stand up, America.
It's time for real changes.
-Hi. My name is Mark Mendez.
I'm running for Seattle City Council
because residents of North Seattle
are ready for a new vision
for District 5 and accountability.
I was born and raised in Seattle,
and I've lived in District 5,
in Lake City for 41 years.
I'm a graduate of U-dub
and Seattle University.
I spent my life and career
working on several local
and global equity issues.
My father was born in the U.S. territory
of Puerto Rico,
and my mom grew up in Lake City.
My great uncle, Joseph Mayer,
created the most beautiful and historic
Seattle street clocks
found in downtown Seattle
and all over the Pacific Northwest.
I have deep roots in Seattle
and deeply care
about the city I grew up in.
I have a record of getting things done
by bringing together
and partnering with a diverse group
of people and organizations
to address
the biggest challenges in Seattle.
I've worked for several nonprofit
education and public organizations.
I was co-chair
of the North District Council,
on the board
of Lake City Neighborhood Alliance,
and on the board
of Meadowbrook Community Care.
I want to bring the same motto of success
I've had working together
with community groups
and organizations
and apply that motto
to all of District 5.
Here is what I'm focused on --
affordable housing and people
experiencing homelessness.
Equity -- bringing more resources
to underserved neighborhoods.
Youth -- more leadership,
civic participation,
and career training programs.
Protecting our environment.
And five, transportation --
expanding Light Rail
and improving access
and reliability
in public transportation.
I worked very closely with refugee
and immigrant families
across District 5.
I've created and managed
several youth programs
to empower the next generation
of leaders in District 5,
and I've worked with community partners
to create the Lake City mural project
to empower youth,
support local businesses,
improve public safety,
build a community with public art.
Together, we can make District 5
the best place to live,
work, learn, and play.
My name is Mark Mendez.
Thank you.
-Hello. 23 years ago,
I came to this beautiful city.
I was a single woman coming
to make my future here,
working for
the Seattle Supersonics team.
I've lived here
as a single, carless woman
and as a parent of two kids.
I've been a tenant,
landlord, and homeowner.
I've been an employee
as well as a small business owner.
I'm now a lawyer
while raising my kids in District 5.
I've also worked
with the United Nations
in a Cambodian refugee camp
along the Thai-Cambodian border.
But what's currently happening
in our streets is far worse
than the conditions in that camp.
For as long as my 8- and 10-year-old
could ask,
I've been answering
their difficult questions
about what they see
on the streets of their hometown.
I've watched Seattle change
throughout my children's lifetimes.
The two defining factors
have been a city council
that fails to take meaningful action
and unresponsive council members
who leave unanswered questions,
e-mails, and residents feeling
like their voice doesn't matter.
No more.
That is why I've decided to run.
We need a new Seattle City Council.
We can and must do better for our city.
We can see help
directed to those in need on our streets
by using emergency relief response.
Instead of public camping,
we can bring people off the streets
and into FEMA-style shelter
for needs assessment
to get them help.
We can imagine and have
a litter-free city
with green spaces
that are open to everyone.
We can enforce our laws,
support first responders,
and prioritize safety for the public.
Instead of open-air drug use
and drug injection sites,
we can push for on-demand detox,
shortening wait times
for underfunded treatment programs
so those struggling with addiction
can get medicalized help
and long-term rehabilitation.
We can do this
with the new Seattle City Council.
I'll match my vision for our city
with three pledges to you --
I pledge to take the time
to listen to you,
I pledge to hear
and understand your concerns,
and I pledge to respond
and act on those concerns.
It's time to be serious
about change in our city leadership,
and that starts
with the new city council.
This is a turning point for Seattle,
and I'm ready and passionate
about making these changes
for the city we know and love.
So, let's do this together.
I ask for your vote on August 6th.
-Thank you for taking the time
to research your potential
city council members.
My name is Tayla Mahoney,
and I am honored to be running
for the District 5 council position.
I was born and raised in Seattle,
and I love our city,
but there are many things
that need to be changed.
First and foremost, we need a council
that listens to its electorate
and responds with decisive action,
transparency, and accountability.
Every citizen who speaks out
deserves a council
that will respectfully
and actively listen to them.
We also need a police force
that is empowered to protect our safety.
We can reduce lawlessness
and addiction in our city
by increasing prosecution
of property crimes
and illegal drugs.
In our well-intentioned
efforts to show compassion,
we have gone to the point
of leniency and enabling.
Growing and retaining
our police force
to provide rapid response
will only be possible
when the city stands behind
our law enforcement officials.
We need housing that is affordable
to average citizens.
We need to shelter and treat
our most vulnerable populations
with effective
evidence-based policies
that decrease recidivism
while protecting taxpayers.
I think interagency cooperation
is critical.
I will ensure an ongoing coalition
between the city council,
law enforcement,
and social service providers
to develop wholistic strategies
that combat the cycle of homelessness.
Interagency cooperation
will streamline services
and cut costs.
I believe our local government
is here to provide protection,
infrastructure,
and honor the requests
of its constituents.
I'm running to restore Seattle
to its full potential,
to fight for our District 5 community
and the city as a whole,
to advocate for greater public safety,
more affordable housing,
effective responses
to homelessness,
and better transportation.
In short, I'm running
for more of what works
and less of what doesn't.
♪♪
-Hello.
My name is Joey Massa,
and I am running
for Seattle City Council
as an independent progressive.
Throughout my campaign,
I'm often asked
what progressive means to me.
American progressivism
is rooted in the belief
that government should function
as a living body
adapting to the needs of its people.
And I know that my neighbors
join me in my commitment
to addressing
our city's most critical issues,
which are summed up in my platform
focused on public health
and safety, transportation,
and crafting a truly progressive plan
for our city.
My work in public safety
will begin
by establishing a baseline
of shelter and facilities
for our unhoused neighbors.
In addition to providing access
to basic human necessities,
such as restrooms and security,
we will finally gauge the true scope
of our homelessness crisis.
Improving our city's transportation
will start by working
with regional partners
to expand our vital network
of varied and functional
transit systems.
I want to grow
transit options that work
and are demonstrably cost-effective,
such as adding
Ballard and Lake Washington routes
to our water taxi system.
Finally, American progressivism
is what ties my platform together,
and to that end, I will work
to protect your rights to privacy
regarding facial recognition
and other mass-data gathering,
ensure our residents' rights
to fair wages and benefits,
and while establishing
a forward-looking plan
to shore up our city's infrastructure,
my commitment to reducing
Seattle's environmental impact
will be paramount
in every decision made.
We have no room to regress.
Thank you so much for your time.
Again, I'm Joey Massa,
running for City Council
in Seattle's 6th district.
-Hello. My name is Sergio Garcia.
I'm a police officer in Seattle,
and I live in Phinney Ridge
in a rental home with my wife, Maria,
and Boston Terrier, Batman.
I'm a first-generation American,
son of a carpenter and a housemaid
who both migrated to this country
seeking a better life
for their family.
After watching my parents
struggle holding on to multiple jobs
and knowing there were
millions of others like them,
I knew I wanted to help
and give back to my community.
At the age of 21, I became
a police officer in South Florida,
and after over a decade
of dedicated public service
and endless miles
of traveling the world,
I had stumbled upon a huge problem.
I visited and fell in love
with a city by the name of Seattle.
I knew right away that I'd move here
and would raise a family
in this enchanting utopia
who welcome all,
regardless of their gender,
race, religious beliefs,
physical limitations,
nationality, sexual orientation,
or identification.
So I did.
I moved here and began working
in the neighborhoods
of Ballard and Fremont.
I immediately made it my mission
to get out
and walk the foot beat
in order to get to know
everyone in the neighborhood.
I was able to build relationships
and gain the trust
from all those living, working,
and enjoying life in our district
to those less fortunate
sleeping on our streets
dealing with issues
such as mental illness,
displacement, and drug addiction.
It didn't take long
for me to become frustrated
with the lack of affordability,
traffic congestion,
our fragile state of public safety,
the homelessness crisis,
and seeing all the suffering
due to the various injustices
this growing city is experiencing.
I knew I wanted to do more.
I knew that with my boots-on-the-ground
experience and perspective,
I'd be able to provide
a more practical, accountable,
and humane approach
to addressing said issues.
You all trust me
during your most vulnerable moments
in the intimacy of your homes
with my ability
to find reasonable and practical
solutions to your problems.
I'm optimistic that come election day,
you will also trust in me
to do the same for Seattle,
and doing so while giving a voice back
to the people in our district.
Remember, everyday problems
get solved by everyday people.
-I'm Heidi Wills.
I'm running for District 6 residents
and small businesses
who want safe neighborhoods,
for seniors who built Seattle
and are being priced out
of their homes,
and for children
who deserve clean parks
and open community centers.
My family's lived in the district
for 16 years.
As a small-business owner
and a nonprofit director,
I have the right experience
to take on our biggest challenges.
I have a proven track record
of results.
I was on the City Council
20 years ago
when I expanded energy-rate assistance
so more low-income people could qualify.
I led investments in renewable energy.
I worked to expand transit
and provide more affordable housing
and human services.
Our city needs to be smarter
about addressing
the root causes of homelessness.
Seattle can't solve this crisis in a silo.
We need a collaborative
regional approach to provide services,
especially mental-health
and treatment-on-demand.
We need short-term
housing solutions like modular homes
and long-term solutions
like permanent supportive housing.
We need to focus on basic services,
the humble acts of local government
that directly impact
our quality of life.
Public safety is a priority.
Our police department is small
compared with cities our size.
We need to address vacancies
stretching the department too thin,
a lack of diversion programs,
and prosecution of repeat offenders.
We need more transit service
and safe pedestrian/bicycle
infrastructure.
Seattle must take bold action
on climate protection
to reduce our carbon footprint.
We need more affordable housing
of all shapes and sizes
for people of all incomes
so teachers, nurses,
and firefighters,
who contribute so much to our city,
can afford to live close
to where they work.
My name is Heidi Wills,
and I ask for your vote.
Thank you.
♪♪
-Hi. My name is Terry Rice,
and I'm running for Seattle City Council
in District 6.
I'm running as the true progressive
in this race.
We need to take bold steps
and think long-term in order
to solve our city's toughest problems.
I'm talking about doing the hard work
of tackling the root causes
of our most intractable problems,
problems like reducing
the number of people
experiencing homelessness,
creating more
low- and mid-income housing,
strengthening and investing in
mass transit,
and addressing climate change
in a meaningful way at the local level.
It is not possible to solve
the homelessness crisis
without addressing housing affordability,
but that doesn't mean
that there isn't a lot
we can do
to bring people inside right now.
First, we can invest
in work programs
that we know already work,
like upstream diversion.
This means that
if a family or an individual
is about to become homeless
because of a broken car or a sick child,
we step in and give them a rent
or transportation voucher.
This $600 or $900 is often enough
to keep a family in a home that they have,
which is the right thing to do,
and it's the fiscally responsible
thing to do.
The city needs to build
more low-income housing.
This is a long-term plan,
and without doing
the hard political work
of building more low-income housing,
we will not exit
the homelessness crisis.
Some of this publicly financed
low-income housing needs
to be built specifically
for people who have
severe and chronic mental illness
and/or severe and chronic
drug addiction.
If we want people who are facing
these hardships off of the street,
then we must give them a place to go.
Arresting them won't work.
This is also
the morally right thing to do
and the fiscally responsible choice.
We need to expedite and expand light-rail,
connect our bike lanes,
make metro the easy choice for people.
Gridlock will be reduced
by improving access
to and investing in mass transit.
The biggest threat facing our city
and every other city
is climate change.
We need bold action,
and we need it right now.
If elected to the City Council,
I will push for the wholesale adoption
of Portland's
174-point Climate Action Plan.
If we ramp up our investments
in reducing emissions today,
we can get to zero emissions by 2050.
If you want a pragmatic progressive
on the City Council,
vote for me, Terry Rice.
Thank you.
-My name is John Lisbin,
and I'm running for
Seattle City Council District 6
to empower our neighborhoods,
engage all voices,
and bring accountability
back to Council.
On the campaign trail,
I've heard repeatedly
that residents do not feel
as though their current
City Council hears their concerns.
If elected, I'll bring
thoughtful, pragmatic solutions
to tackle the growth-related
issues facing Seattle today.
Our city is expanding rapidly,
yet the City Council
is not managing this growth
in a balanced way.
That's why I co-founded
Seattle Fair Growth,
whose mission is to maintain
Seattle's livability
during this time of rapid growth.
I'm the only candidate in the race
who has worked to appeal the MHA
and called for the City Council
to include the unique needs
of each neighborhood
development plans.
Housing developers must pay to offset
the costs of infrastructure,
parks, and roads.
Seattle residents deserve a voice
in shaping the changes
to their communities,
and policies must ensure
Seattle is livable for all.
The city's response
to homelessness hasn't worked.
People shouldn't be living in the streets,
especially when Seattle's economy
is booming as never before.
As an entrepreneur
and former small-business owner,
I understand that investments now
will save money later.
We need proven solutions
for homelessness
like the Housing First model
and disrupting the cycle of homelessness
before it starts
through rental vouchers,
transitional housing,
job training,
and domestic-violence support programs.
Every day, we see the evidence
that what the Council is doing
isn't working.
The time for action is now,
and I'm prepared to roll up my sleeves
and get to work.
My name is Jon Lisbin,
and I would be honored
to earn your vote
for Seattle City Council
District 6.
-Hi. I'm Kara,
the citizens' candidate.
I'm not a professional politician.
I'm a tax-paying homeowner
in North Seattle.
I'm asking for your vote.
I have lots of relevant experience,
some that no other candidate has,
as a sort of citizen on the ground
for decades in the grassroots.
I've been active for 40 years,
since Three Mile Island,
through the Great Peace March,
the first Iraq war,
pesticide spraying,
the first international Earth Summit,
and the LA riots,
all when living in California.
But 26 years ago,
I became a Seattleite,
worked on Hanford issues
and fundraising for campaigns
like Jerry Brown's "We the People"
and WashPIRG.
I was recruited to run for state leg
in 2000 as a Green
and later was elected
the chair of the state Green Party.
After a few years as a Green,
I became a total independent.
I am not beholden
to any group or interest.
I want to serve the people.
My husband and I
owned a small business,
Not a Number Cards & Gifts,
and in '05,
I was elected to
the Wallingford Chamber of Commerce.
As a five-year president and director,
I got the city to listen more.
I formed collaborations
with community groups,
brought in the farmers' market,
and co-wrote an editorial
for The Seattle Times
urging a healthcare plan for businesses
related to
what would become Obamacare.
I bring disparate,
disjointed sides together,
and that's especially urgent now.
Nationally and locally,
we're growing apart.
I believe in our founders' desire
to seek a more middle ground
and work together,
but this is probably time
for overcompensation
to right the ship.
We have too many urgent issues,
not enough action,
and that's why I jumped in.
I can't stand reinventing the wheel,
and money must be spent more wisely.
All people must be considered,
not just developers.
Our City Council has done some good,
but more must be done.
I ask questions
and am not afraid to dissent.
Let's hold the city accountable
and end the Seattle process
of talking.
We need more action.
Vote for me --
Kara Ceriello, District 6.
-My name is Dan Strauss,
and I was born and raised in Ballard.
I'm running because I love this community,
and I know that together,
we can guide Seattle's growth
to build a sustainable,
affordable, and equitable city
that works for everyone,
whether you've been here
for one year or 40.
I've dedicated my life
to public service.
I served with AmeriCorps
in low-income communities
all across the nation,
working on projects from disaster relief
to after-school programs.
I have nearly a decade
of legislative experience,
and I know how to make change happen.
My everyday job
is to bring different levels
of government,
community organizations,
and people together to solve problems.
I've already coordinated
work groups with the state,
county, city, port,
Sound Transit, and community
to successfully fund
transportation projects,
develop green building codes,
and improve our parks.
As your next Council member,
I'll use my experience
to serve you.
I worked on gun-responsibility policy,
passing the Extreme Risk Protection Order,
and on City Council,
I'll continue to implement
gun-violence prevention
by investing in
community-based programs
that intervene
in the cycle of violence.
I'll tackle
the homelessness crisis head-on
by advocating
for Housing First policies
that bring people experiencing homelessness
into four walls with a door that locks
and is connected to the services
and care they need.
I'll build
a connected transit network
with dedicated lanes
so that buses aren't stuck in traffic.
And I'll work to complete our bicycle master plan
with protected bike lanes.
I was hit by a driver
while riding my bike,
and I know the importance of safe
and separated infrastructure.
I'm committed to opening
a district office
so that you don't have to go downtown
to have your voice heard.
I'll prioritize constituent services
so that if you get stuck
in the bureaucratic gridlock,
my office will be there
to help you through it,
to get you solutions
because I've got your back.
I have deep roots in our community,
and I'm endorsed by community leaders,
labor unions,
local Democratic organizations,
and current and former
elected officials.
I ask for your support
and for your vote.
Thank you.
-Hi. My name is Ed Pottharst,
and I'm running
for Seattle City Council District 6.
I speak a little differently
because of a lifelong hearing loss.
I hope that you'll lean in a bit
to hear what I have to say.
I have worked for the city of Seattle
for over 30 years.
Through my work with Seattle City Light,
Neighborhoods,
and Parks and Recreation,
I know how to get city departments
to collaborate with residents,
businesses, and community groups
to get action taken
and progress accomplished.
I know how to help people
navigate their way through the maze
that city government
sometimes can be.
With my leadership,
we are going to move city departments
into action now
on the urgent issues
of affordable housing,
homelessness, transportation,
growth, and climate change.
Developing local community partnership
is the most immediate
and efficient means
of addressing affordable housing
and homelessness.
Providing sustained funding
to local community teams
and mental- and behavioral-outreach
workers and community members,
especially
in neighborhood business districts,
is what we need in partnership
with people who are homeless
to help them find housing,
education, and living-wage jobs.
Seattle is growing
and becoming more dense.
Additional public services
and amenities are required.
Development impact fees
are long-overdue in Seattle
and would help pay for them.
Climate change
is the defining issue of our time.
The urgency is now.
A road-use payment system with equity
as a priority
would lessen traffic's congestion,
improve air quality,
reduce carbon emissions,
and encourage people
to use transit,
ride-sharing, and bicycles.
Incentives for onsite
solar electrical generation
and energy storage
in commercial and residential buildings
would also reduce
greenhouse-gas emissions.
I welcome your thoughts and ideas
on how to address
the challenges and opportunities ahead
for District 6 and our city.
I would be honored to have your vote
and the opportunity to serve you
as your Seattle City Council member.
-Hello. I'm Jay Fathi.
I was raised in North Seattle
by a single mom
who worked hard
to find both affordable rent
and family-wage employment.
My dad was an immigrant from Iran
when America welcomed
those who sought
freedom and opportunity.
These are the values my wife, Joelle, and I
are instilling in our two sons.
As a doctor who has been
dedicated to community health
in Seattle for nearly three decades,
I'm the only candidate
who has provided care
to low-income, homeless,
and vulnerable populations
in our city
and expanded affordable healthcare
to serve thousands across our state.
That unique experience
is critical to tackling
the public-health crisis
on our streets.
There are no easy solutions,
but inaction while unsheltered people
and our quality of life suffer
is inexcusable.
Serving our community
as a family physician,
I've also learned to first listen
when solving problems.
I'll bring that same approach
to the Council.
Seattle is a wonderful city
with a progressive commitment
to equity and innovation,
but too often, our Council
doesn't seem to listen.
In particular,
the disconnect between City Hall
and the problems
of neighborhood crime must end.
Everyone deserves
to feel safe in our city.
I've also volunteered in our schools
and served as medical director
at the Ballard High School health clinic.
As a proud
Seattle public-school graduate
with my own two sons
in public schools,
I will advocate
for our students and educators.
I believe that
Seattle's growth is both energizing
and marginalizing,
forcing young families
and seniors
out of our neighborhoods.
I'll target growth
along new transit and urban centers,
build affordable-sized
family homes,
and help seniors
and fixed-income households.
It's time for new,
experienced voices on our Council
to address our complex challenges
with a focus on the needs
of our neighborhoods.
I am honored to have the endorsements
of SEIU Healthcare 1199 and 775,
UFCW 21,
and former mayor Tim Burgess.
But the support that means the most to me
is from my neighbors across the district.
I would be honored to earn your vote.
-Hi. My name is Jeremy Cook,
and I'm running for Seattle City Council
because we need people
on the Council
who will address the city's problems
with straightforward solutions.
The biggest issue we face right now
is the number of people
who are openly using heroin
and methamphetamines.
They freely discard
their needles and trash,
as well as defecate
on the streets, sidewalks,
and other public areas.
These people are also committing
thefts, muggings, and assaults
to pay for their drugs.
We need to tackle this problem head-on.
People who are caught
with small amounts of meth or heroin
should be offered treatment
the first time.
If they decline treatment,
they should be arrested
and forced into long-term
correctional programs
that are outcome-driven.
These programs have proven
to work in other areas,
reduce recidivism as well as addiction,
and in the long-run,
save taxpayers' money.
This would also discourage
others from coming here
to freely use drugs
and victimize people.
Many of these people
are not from Seattle.
We also need to find ways
to more intelligently
use taxpayers' money
and work within
the city's $6 billion budget.
Just because it's an expensive idea
doesn't mean it's a good one.
We don't need
a $400 million police precinct
or a $285 million streetcar
that only runs for two miles.
I would also like to repeal
some of the city's most regressive taxes,
including the bag tax,
sugar tax, and ammo tax.
We need to get Seattle moving again
by reprogramming
the city's streetlights
for speed and efficiency
rather than purposely slowing them
down to appease bicyclists,
who account for a very small
percentage of commuters.
We should also consider
more yellow left-turn caution lights
and look at other ways
to reduce people's commute times.
For more information,
please visit my website,
cookforcouncil.com.
Thanks for watching,
and I would appreciate your vote
in the upcoming election.
-Hi. My name's Melissa Hall.
I live in Fremont with my wife and daughter,
and I'm a candidate for District 6
on the Seattle City Council.
I've always wanted to make cities
better environments for people.
During undergraduate,
I studied geography,
and after that, I went on to law school,
where I focused on land-use
and state and local government law.
I've worked to stop the sewers
under Birmingham, Alabama, from leaking.
I've been part of Florida's
emergency management team.
And I've traveled to small towns of Virginia
to enforce floodplain
development standards.
Most of my career has been
in state and local government
because that's where government
has the most direct impact
on people's lives.
I'm running because I believe in Seattle,
the place where my wife and I moved
because here, it felt safe enough
for us to have a child together.
But we can't be that sanctuary for others
if people can't afford to live here.
We need to build more housing
and more affordable housing
to be sure everyone has a stable,
safe place to call home.
We're going to need to do
more housing with less land
and make our neighborhoods
and urban centers more dense.
When we build dense enough,
a big city becomes a group of small towns
that all happen to be next to each other.
To get there, we have to ramp up density,
transportation, and services together.
Cities are also places where people move,
so our transit and roadways
need to account for the needs
of all of the users.
We need efficient information services,
so I support
municipal broadband Internet.
We're also people who want to find a way
to care for all of our neighbors.
I support policies and programs
that respect the autonomy
and agency of our neighbors
who are experiencing homelessness
and prioritize harm reduction.
We also need eviction reform
and more support
for pre-eviction diversion programs
so that people with housing have
a better chance of keeping it.
Most importantly,
it's my belief that cities that
care for their residents best
are cities that plan with,
not for, their citizens.
As a commissioner,
I will not pass any legislation
that affects marginalized communities
without the direct feedback
of those communities.
Thank you.
-Out on the campaign trail,
people share their frustrations,
and I assure them
that I represent the change
we need to see on the Council.
Political ideologies
that prolong the misery
of the unsheltered are cruel.
Ignoring the consequences
that communities
are facing is unacceptable.
How is it that our city budget
has gone from $4 billion
to $6 billion
while basic services
go unprovided?
We're 600 cops short
of a full force.
Our infrastructure crumbles
because we don't budget
for maintenance.
A rail fetish busts the bank
while we lack sidewalks
and adequate bus service.
I'm a small-D Democrat,
conservative progressive,
and designer and planner
with plenty of problem-solving experience.
I've been involved
in neighborhood, city-wide,
and school-district issues for decades.
I have a passion for public policy
and a deep understanding
of the issues.
I know that owning the house you live in
and the land you do business on
is the answer, not the enemy.
City Hall's plan for growth
that displaces everyone
that's already here is ridiculous.
Their determination to set the table
for global investors
so that we're what's for dinner
is corrupt.
The city lavishes upon themselves
the kind of benefits
the rest of us would like to enjoy.
We could open the city of Seattle's
self-insured healthcare pool
up to anyone living or working
in Seattle who wants to buy in.
This would benefit residents,
workers, and small businesses
tremendously
while costing the city nothing.
And there are so many more ways
we can move into
being a city for the future,
a city that has the back
of its residences and small business,
not special interests.
My name is Kate Martin.
I seek your support
so that I may represent District 6
on the Council.
Your democracy vouchers,
volunteer efforts,
and vote will assure my victory.
Please visit
putkateonthecouncil.org
for more information.
♪♪
-I'm James Donaldson.
I'm worried about my beloved Seattle,
where one bad decision after another
have hurt our quality of life,
our communities, our businesses,
and our future.
Seattle isn't dying,
but it's sick.
1% of Seattle residents
are homeless,
and we have an enormous drug crisis.
City policies
have only made things worse.
I promise healing.
I promise a return to greatness.
I've learned a few things,
and I'm not afraid
to use my own personal,
deeply painful experiences
and apply my life lessons
to helping people
who are unable or unwilling
to help themselves.
I came to Seattle 40 years ago,
starting a 20-year pro-basketball career
with the Sonics.
Midway through,
I became a small-business owner
of several physical-therapy clinics,
healing bodies and helping people
to return to normal lives.
After a health crisis,
I became a passionate advocate
for mental health
and suicide prevention.
I've been there.
I know the level of support it takes
to not give up.
When they are ill, people can't make
the best decisions on their own.
I promise you that we will
improve public safety.
I promise you that we will
protect and expand public parks.
I promise you that we will
protect business districts and jobs.
I promise to build new bridges,
accessible to all modes
of transportation.
I promise to make Seattle more livable
and accommodating to seniors
and people with disabilities.
I promise to listen to our residents
when they come to City Hall.
And I promise to be out there
in the community and learn
and listen to you every day.
My life has involved teamwork,
practice, dedication,
and winning.
I've been in Seattle for 40 years,
and I've seen her promise.
I stand before you,
and I promise you
that when we do this together,
we will heal this city.
I ask for your vote --
James Donaldson.
-Hi. I'm Gene Burrus,
and I'm running
to be your Council member
for the 7th district of Seattle.
I'm an attorney who has lived
downtown for about a decade now.
I never thought that I would
get involved in city politics,
but city politics got involved in me.
For years, living downtown
and being told by city leadership
that crime and drugs
are just a fact of life
that we must accept.
And last summer,
when with unvarnished contempt
for voters and residents,
the City Council imposed
an undemocratic
and fiscally irresponsible
waterfront lid on my neighbors.
If elected,
I will support law enforcement
as they restore safety to our streets.
I will responsibly address
the homeless crisis
by getting help and shelter
to those who need it and seek it.
And for those who refuse,
our streets, parks, and open spaces
will no longer be an option.
Finally, I will bring common sense
to the city budget,
which means prioritizing funding
for essential projects
like the Magnolia Bridge
while canceling
irresponsible boondoggles
like the First Avenue streetcar.
I'm Gene Burrus,
and I will bring the change
that Seattle needs to the City Council.
I would be honored to have your vote.
-The Seattle City Council
no longer cares
for the families in our city.
Our well-being, safety, and concerns
have been relegated
to politics and waste.
The lack of attention
to our neighbors, friends,
and family members can no longer
continue to be the norm.
I'm a 30-year member
of the Magnolia community,
a family-business owner,
and mother to four wonderful boys.
While managing my family business,
I began over seven years ago
as an advocate for change,
demanding attention to rampant drug usage
outside our business
at Fishermen's Terminal.
After calling the authorities
and being told
there was nothing they could do,
I took action
by getting it on the evening news.
Things changed and then returned
to more of the same.
Things can no longer stay the same.
Homelessness --
the success of our homeless population
should be a priority.
I will work for solutions
that are effective and compassionate,
enabling people towards their goals
and connecting them
with the services needed.
We need to ensure housing and access
to proper services and treatment.
An open and transparent government --
no more back-room deals
and a lack of transparency.
The City Council
is meant to work for you.
I will work towards legislation
that creates
a culture of transparency,
ensuring that all city contracts
and requests for proposals
are published online for you to see.
Maintaining
family neighborhoods --
we need adequate
green space and parking.
We cannot forget Seattle families,
despite the speed of our city's growth.
I am committed to helping
improve factors
that contribute to traffic issues
resulting in loss of time at work
and with your loved ones.
We need to supply mixed-income housing
in all neighborhoods,
ensuring we do not
further segregate them.
We spent $230 million
on a trolley that doesn't fit.
Meanwhile, our law enforcement
are under-equipped and ill-utilized.
My first 30 days
will be to have an independent audit
of our City Council
and address our homeless crisis.
I am a U-dub graduate
and lifelong
Magnolia community member
that is committed to civic action
and community engagement.
My mother taught Spanish
at the local Catholic schools,
and I currently reside with my husband
and four young boys in Magnolia.
-Hello.
I'm Isabelle J. Kerner.
If you want to know
why I'm running for City Council,
I could give you a list
of different reasons
or explain how one event
led to the other,
but in the end,
it all comes down to passion.
If you haven't already noticed,
Seattle has a camping crisis.
The solution I am proposing
is quite simple.
It is called
the cargo container solution.
With 23 plots
of vacant city-owned land,
575 cargo containers,
and $40 million,
we could house
and provide on-site services
for up to 10,000 individuals
within 18 months.
When the navigation team
sweeps unsanctioned camps,
every individual will take a drug test
and complete a questionnaire
containing information
on their personal background
and work history.
This will allow Seattle
to create a database
to determine which of the 23 sites
best fits the needs
of each individual.
For example, we will not put
the severely drug-addicted
near the non-drug-addicted,
nor will we put
the severely mentally ill
with women and children
fleeing domestic violence.
The containers will be modified
into dorm-like units.
By partnering
with businesses of all sizes
and using the Washington state
apprenticeship program,
we will train workers
for jobs in industries
struggling to meet the demand
for skilled workers.
Individuals enrolled in the program
can earn money
by helping build containers
for other sites,
cleaning up the mess
camping has created,
or through other odd jobs.
Individuals will be able
to access funds
once they have secured employment
and have saved enough
to afford the up-front costs
needed to secure affordable housing.
If elected, I can have this program
running within the first three months
of 2020.
Residents of District 7,
I ask for your vote.
By setting the example
with this solution in Seattle,
we have the potential to change
the way the entire country
handles this problem.
Once again,
I am Isabelle J. Kerner.
My campaign is "Kerner for Council,"
and I approve this message.
Thank you.
-Hello, Seattle voters.
I'm Don Harper.
I've lived in Seattle
for almost 50 years
and on Queen Anne for over 30
and have served on
the Queen Anne Community Council
for 21 years.
I've been the chair
of the parks committee
for 18 years.
I'm running for City Council
because our City Council
no longer listens to us.
I'm a retired electrician
who owned his own business
for 30 years and is happily retired.
This is not a step
on the career ladder for me.
We have a great deal of work
to accomplish
to resolve serious problems
that plague our neighborhoods
and businesses.
We have to set
mutually agreed-upon priorities.
We have to restore our public spaces
to the public
and move homeless people into homes.
The mentally ill
need permanent supportive housing.
Helsinki did this.
Salt Lake City did this.
And it's working.
We need to assist those working folks
that are one paycheck away
from being homeless
so that they stay in their homes.
And we must not let drug addicts camp
in our neighborhoods
and public spaces.
We can do this
if we reset our city's priorities
and engage
in collaborative decision-making.
I've been doing this work
on the Queen Anne Community Council
for 21 years,
and I'm ready to serve Seattle
to work together
to tackle our tough issues.
I am for more jobs that pay family wages
like the new deepwater port
at Terminal 5.
I love the techies,
but not everybody writes code.
I'm for more parks,
not fewer parks.
I'm for keeping
our public golf courses
as they are today.
We must not use
precious, open, green spaces
for anything else except recreation
as our city becomes
increasingly dense.
I will fight to replace
the Magnolia Bridge one-for-one.
I pledge to have an open-door policy
as a City Council member.
Let's work together
and honestly face the issues
confronting Seattle
like the city we all love.
I would appreciate your vote.
-My name is Michael George,
and I'm running for
Seattle City Council District 7.
I live downtown with my wife
and two young children.
I'm worried about the direction
Seattle is heading.
We can't continue electing
the same kind of candidates
and expecting different results.
I've knocked on thousands of doors,
and I know
from speaking with many of you
that we all want
the same thing -- change.
I'll bring practical,
real-world experience to Council.
On the job, I have worked on complex,
affordable housing, transportation,
and sustainability projects.
I co-founded
Parents for a Better Downtown Seattle,
a nonprofit dedicated to making
downtown better for families.
I also volunteer on countless projects
to make Seattle work
for people of all ages,
from young families
struggling to afford daycare
to seniors on fixed incomes.
We must change
our approach to homelessness
and make sure our regional partners
do their fair share.
We must build
more low-income housing,
commit to approving cost-effective
homeless-prevention programs,
treat the subset of homeless people
with mental health
and substance addiction,
and bring those who prey on the homeless
and the rest of us to justice.
We need more middle-income housing.
I've managed some of the most complex
affordable-housing projects
in the region.
I have real-world expertise
that will allow me
to cut through the rhetoric,
find inefficiencies,
and use our limited resources
to house more people for less.
I'll lead the drive
for affordable daycare,
a new District 7 high school,
a downtown elementary school,
and high-quality community centers
in Magnolia, Queen Anne,
and Belltown.
I'll focus on cleaning up our parks
and making our streets safe.
Through working on major light-rail
and bus rapid-transit projects,
I know how to leverage
Sound Transit investments
to best serve District 7
and how to secure funding
for major projects
like the Magnolia Bridge replacement.
I'll work tirelessly,
hold regular office hours
in each neighborhood,
and make the changes we need.
I ask for your support
and your vote.
-My name's Jason Williams,
and I'm running
for Seattle City Council District 7.
I grew up in a working-class family
in Federal Way,
the son of a teacher and a butcher.
Because of strong public schools,
hard work, and my parents' sacrifices,
I graduated from
Seattle Pacific University
and, later, Yale University
with an MBA.
I've worked with
world-class organizations,
including Microsoft
and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
My wife and I chose
to return to Seattle
and now raise our young daughter
in this place we love.
Many are worried about our city.
Neighbors lament soaring housing costs,
express concerns
about walking home at night,
and wonder what
their tax dollars are buying.
These are deeply felt concerns,
and we must address them.
I also hear a desire
to focus on the future.
In this future,
neighbors describe a city
celebrated for economic equity,
natural beauty, and vibrant culture.
As your Council member,
I will work tirelessly
to make this future a reality.
I will work to maintain job growth
by investing in infrastructure,
including the Magnolia Bridge,
increasing transit, and enabling
small-business success.
Every child deserves
a fair start in life.
That's why I will prioritize
universal access
to affordable,
high-quality early learning.
I will also make critical improvements
to workforce development.
I will preserve and enhance
our open spaces
that give Seattle its natural beauty.
Finally, I will elevate
arts and culture
and the diverse communities
that make our city vibrant.
This vision is only possible
if we restore trust
to local government.
This will require better provision
of core city services,
as well as progress
on the pressing challenges of the day.
Know that as your representative,
I will listen, respect your values,
and conduct my work
with honesty and transparency.
Together, we have an opportunity
to create a more vibrant, just,
and equitable Seattle.
Vote Jason Williams.
Thank you.
-My name is Jim Pugel,
and I'll be your next Council member
from District 7.
I grew up in a Rainier Valley home
and graduated from
the University of Washington,
served 35 years as a police officer
and a chief of police,
reducing non-violent incarceration
and speaking out against racial bias
and for practical solutions
to solve the opioid
and homelessness crisis.
I brought real hands-on experience
to public safety and human services
and a true understanding
of unique priorities
that are facing Council District 7.
I've worked
on complex neighborhood problems.
I've worked on the Law Enforcement
Assisted Diversion initiative
to get people off the streets
and into mental health,
addiction treatment,
and housing.
That program led to real results,
a 61% drop in recidivism
and more people housed and working.
We need a City Council
that gets and focuses
on data-driven solutions
and listens to the voters.
As a chief of police,
I managed a $250 million budget,
helped implement
the settlement agreement,
and pushed for needed reforms
in ways that were transparent and open.
If I can do that
at the Seattle Police Department,
I can do it with you at City Hall.
Transparency, accountability,
and honest communication
is what you deserve.
I'm running because experience, service,
and collaboration matters.
Most likely, I'll be
the oldest person on the City Council.
I'm doing this because
I love the city where I was born
and went to school and raised my family.
I want my children and grandchildren
to have that same life
where they can live and play
and work in this city,
buy an affordable house,
and send their kids
to highest-quality public education.
We need a Seattle
that works for everyone.
I promise to work every day
to be that voice
for unity and problem-solving.
The bottom line is that
we all know the issues --
homelessness and affordability.
But we need a City Council member
who has mature experience,
and I'm the only candidate
with that mature experience
that brings proven leadership
to the Council.
-Hello. My name is Andrew Lewis,
and I am running for Seattle City Council
because it's time for a more responsive
and accountable city government.
This accountability starts with results
on affordable housing
and homelessness.
As your Council member,
I'll fight to build
5,000 units of affordable housing
in three years
by working with state, county,
and nonprofit partners
through the Home and Hope plan.
This plan to create public, tax-exempt,
multi-family housing
along with other initiatives
will allow us
to rapidly increase affordable housing
and reduce homelessness.
I'll also advocate
for increased mental-health
and substance-abuse treatment
to address the significant barriers
to helping our neighbors
transition out of homelessness.
On public safety, I'm proud of my work
as a prosecutor obtaining justice
for victims in the public.
We need more police officers
walking our neighborhoods
and more prosecutors
reviewing cases.
We also need to increase successful
criminal-diversion programs
like Choose 180,
where only 8 out of 245 participants
have re-offended.
Moreover, we need to make sure
the city is being accountable
with the resources it already has.
I propose an annual
performance auditing plan
similar to King County's,
which has saved $127 million
in the last three years.
This plan will free up
significant resources
for essential services that benefit
Seattle residents and businesses.
On public transportation,
I will partner with Sound Transit
to expand light-rail
through Interbay,
including a rail tunnel
underneath the ship canal
to ensure reliable service
and prevent displacing
our maritime community.
I will also work with state, port,
and federal stakeholders
to secure a one-for-one replacement
to the Magnolia Bridge.
My experience
as a city and county prosecutor,
a Seattle human-rights commissioner,
and a rental-housing stakeholder
committee member
will ensure I hit the ground running
at City Hall.
I'm a fifth-generation Washingtonian
and a proud graduate
of Seattle public schools
and the University of Washington.
I've been endorsed by
the Martin Luther King
County Labor Council,
the 36th district Democrats,
the 37th district Democrats,
and state representative
Gail Tarleton.
I ask for your vote,
and it'd be an honor to serve you.
-City of Seattle Proposition 1 --
property tax renewal for the Seattle Public Library.
If approved by the voters, Seattle Proposition 1
would raise approximately $219.1 million in property taxes
over seven years from 2020 to 2026.
The levy funds would be used to increase
spending for library operating hours,
materials, technology, children's programming,
and building maintenance, including earthquake retrofits.
In the first year, 2020,
the levy would be assessed at no more than 12.2 cents
per $1,000 of assessed property value.
In subsequent years, a new levy rate would be calculated
with no more than 1% annual increases.
An owner of a Seattle home
with a median assessed value of $722,000
would pay $84 in taxes in 2020 to support the levy.
Under RCW84.36.381,
qualifying seniors and others can receive an exemption
that allows a reduction in overall property taxes.
-In a rapidly changing Seattle,
our public-library system
is at the heart of a healthy,
equitable, and livable city.
Libraries give all people,
regardless of background or income,
the opportunity to learn and excel
through educational resources and classes.
In addition to books, materials,
and online resources
for all Seattle residents,
our libraries offer
essential programs and support
for Seattle's kids, families,
and most vulnerable residents,
from after-school homework help
to online access to job listings
and housing assistance.
These important programs
along with the people and places
that make our libraries
safe and welcoming
are all supported by our library levy.
By passing this levy,
we can maintain and even increase
neighborhood branch hours,
staffing, and service levels.
With your vote,
this replacement levy
will continue maintaining
and upgrading computers,
technology, and Internet access
at libraries and neighborhoods
across the city.
This levy will make sure
we also continue modernizing,
growing, and enhancing
the library's popular physical
and digital book and media collections.
Critically, this levy also provides
nearly 100% of major maintenance costs
and will help ensure
library buildings and facilities
are well-maintained
and receive needed accessibility
and earthquake improvements.
This levy is not a new tax.
It replaces an expiring levy.
For just $3 more per month
for the average homeowner,
we can protect the critical investments
we've made over the years
and renew our commitment to
a great neighborhood library system.
This levy is endorsed by
the Seattle Public Library Foundation,
the Friends of the Seattle Public Library,
Democratic organizations
across the city, and many more.
Please support this levy and vote yes
for Seattle's libraries.
Thank you.
-Why should your property taxes
be increased
by eliminating overdue book fines?
This is not right.
Vote no on Seattle Proposition 1,
the $219 million special levy
that increases your annual property tax
by $85 for an average Seattle home.
I am Lloyd Hara,
former Seattle city treasurer
and King County auditor and assessor
asking you to vote no on Prop 1.
City taxes and revenues
are at an all-time high.
I am alarmed that the property-tax ballot
measures are awaiting your vote.
You should be concerned
that there is stable library funding,
not to rely upon voter-approved levies.
The mayor and the Council
are diverting traditional library
funding for pet projects.
This is the least accountable tax levy.
There is no oversight committee.
We need public accountability.
Voting no will force city officials
to fully fund library systems
from its traditional resources.
This big, new added tax
will make it more difficult
for homeowners, for businesses,
for renters who will see
their rents increase.
Everyone's cost will increase.
Let's keep Seattle more affordable.
It's up to us
to stop the mayor and the Council
from playing games with our tax dollars.
Let's maintain library funding.
Let's maintain library fines.
Let's maintain accountability.
Please join me and other citizens like you
to vote no on Seattle Proposition 1,
the $219 million property tax levy.
-Seattle School District 1,
also known as the Seattle School Board.
The Seattle School Board adopts the policies that govern
Seattle public schools.
The board provides direction for the educational program
and hires and evaluates
the superintendent of Seattle schools.
Seven directors make up the school board.
Each director represents a district within the city.
This year, three of the seats are on the primary ballot.
Candidates for Districts 1, 3, and 6
will appear on the August 6th primary election ballot.
If you live within School District 1, 3, or 6,
you will have the opportunity to vote for the board position
representing your district.
♪♪
-Hi. I'm Liza Rankin, and I'm running
to be your next Seattle School Board Director
in District 1,
which runs along
the top of our city
from Lake Washington
to Puget Sound.
As an advocate and parent
of two SPS students,
I have spent the last several years
engaging with and working alongside
families and educators
all over Seattle.
I've visited or volunteered
at half the 102 schools
in our district
and collaborated
with parents and educators
from almost all of the rest.
I've seen the incredible things
that happen at each of our schools
and also the systemic
and institutional
challenges we face.
I've engaged at every level
to improve our public schools
for students and educators,
from schools
to the district offices
to advocating in Olympia.
As a School Board Director,
I will bring a broad
and deep knowledge of SPS
as well as authentic relationships
and community connections
to work to improve experience
and outcomes for all students,
most especially those
from historically
marginalized groups.
Every child deserves
a safe and welcoming school
that values and honors them
and their families
and wants them to succeed.
I will hold the district accountable
to their new strategic plan
centered on equity,
and I will work to provide
meaningful family and community
engagement opportunities.
Although we are bound
by budget restrictions,
we can and must reflect and respond
to the needs of our diverse communities.
We must address the silos
between central offices
and schools
and support consistent policy
and practice at every school
that advances the goals
around equity and engagement,
like adopting an
ethnic-studies curriculum
that empowers
students and educators,
ensuring that the Washington State
Since Time Immemorial curriculum
is provided at every school,
provide training for inclusion
so that special-education
students spend more time
with their peers,
and provide greater access
to advanced and unique
learning opportunities.
Together with communities
from across Seattle,
I know we can create a district that
is inclusive, responsive,
and gives all of our students
what they need to thrive.
Thank you for your support.
-Hello. I'm Eric Blumhagen,
and I'm running
for Seattle's School Board.
I've been a Seattle schools parent
for 16 years.
I've volunteered in classrooms,
worked on PTA and PTO boards,
and I've been honored
with the Golden Acorn award,
served on two district
advisories committees.
I'm running because of
what I heard from a parent.
The school district
had just spent $20,000 on legal fees
fighting their students' valid claim
for special-education
services.
Those services would only have
cost the district
$4,000 to provide.
This is so wrong on every level
and a prime example
of how the status quo
is failing our students.
District staff
need to follow the rules,
whether that's state or federal law
or district policy and procedure.
We also must be doing more
to meet all our students' needs.
Seattle has a serious equity problem,
with the fifth-largest
opportunity gap in the nation.
We need measurable action.
I'm committed to learning,
working with the community
to find innovative solutions
to create
a fair and equitable system.
For example,
restorative justice programs
at Cleveland High School
are reducing disproportionate
discipline.
Everett schools are increasing
attendance and graduation rates.
Northgate Elementary has built
a cohesive, diverse community.
Let's learn from what
these schools are doing right
and get other schools moving
down the same path to success.
We also need to make sure students
see themselves in the curriculum.
We need sustained investments
in ethnic studies
and Since Time Immemorial curricula.
We need to increase representation
of all under-served communities
in every curriculum.
Finally, we're likely headed
toward budget cuts in the future
due to persistent
under-funding by the state.
We need to focus our funding
where it will do the most good --
in the school and in the classroom.
I'm for funding
teachers, nurses, counselors,
and librarians
and not unnecessary
standardized tests.
I'm Eric Blumhagen,
and I would be honored
to have your support.
♪♪
-Seattle public schools face
large budget, equity, capacity,
and instructional challenges.
Over the years,
I have advocated
for policy changes
about various issues,
from school boundaries
to school funding
to advanced learning policies,
and attended
many director meetings.
I have run a community blog
to share information among parents.
I have volunteered in the schools
on a weekly basis,
running math clubs.
I have participated at PTSA
and been part of
the building leadership team
for Jane Addams Middle School.
I have experienced
everything from IEP meetings
to helping get a new building
up and running
to creating a school budget.
As a parent of two children
with different needs
and eight years of direct experience
with Seattle public schools,
I am now running
to help build a better system
for all our students,
families, teachers, and staff.
My focus for the board
is consistency.
Too much varies
between school buildings.
Families need stronger guarantees
about each child's
core experience.
Everything from whether
there's a full-time librarian
to how much time for lunch
to access to instrumental music
and advanced learning depends
on a student's address.
Openness --
central staff have made strides
at engaging with the community,
but significant
district decisions
still happen quickly
without adequate explanation
or fully examining
possible alternatives.
I will demand
greater authentic engagement.
Family services --
from smaller tasks
like registering for schools
to major challenges
like finding out how to get
services for a struggling student,
our district
needs to remove barriers.
As a parent within the
special education system,
I know personally
how hard it is to navigate SPS.
Excellence and equity --
we should meet students where they are
and provide opportunities
for continual growth.
We need to build a strong,
differentiated curriculum
and ensure opportunities
at every building
to participate in activities
that kindle students' passions
in arts, sports, clubs,
and academics.
The district is rich in diversity.
53% are students of color.
If we address gaps in opportunity,
we will help solve gaps
in outcomes.
I am committed to both.
-Hi, there.
My name is Chandra Hampson,
and I'm running
to be your next school board member.
I'm running because our children
deserve a transformative education.
I began advocating
in our schools six years ago,
when my own children
started attending public schools.
Seattle is a world-class city
that has the potential to be
a national leader in education.
However, like every parent,
I've noticed
the many difficulties.
Seattle public schools
face major challenges
around equity, family engagement,
and fiscal transparency.
You've probably heard
the big debates
over our priorities
for Seattle public schools.
Some argue we should focus
on making Seattle
an innovative district
that tackles social inequity
and develops programs
that prepare our kids
for an increasingly global world.
Others say that we should focus
on the fundamentals,
a well-run school district
that provides a safe,
stable learning environment.
The truth is we can do both.
When we address inequity,
we work to foster an environment
that's safe and stable
for all students.
And when we focus on
transparency and accountability,
we build a culture
that demands results
and puts students first.
To accomplish our goals,
we need a school board
with the right combination
of passion and experience.
As president of the Seattle Council PTSA,
I've led groups of parents,
community stakeholders,
and elected officials,
protecting funding
and delivering results
for Seattle students.
I have an MBA from
the University of Washington
and decades of experience in budgeting.
I've consulted
on many educational issues,
including around
marginalized groups
and, as a proud
Native American parent,
indigenous populations.
I will be a strong advocate for
well-funded public schools
and equity in education,
including eliminating disparities
around racial and gender lines.
Through my work,
I'm proud to have earned the support of
Representative Gerry Pollet,
former Representative Jessyn Farrell,
the 46th legislative
district Democrats,
Council Member Debora Juarez,
school board members
Jill Geary and Zachary DeWolf,
and many more.
If you're looking
for someone with a passion
for social justice
and the experience to get things done,
my name is Chandra Hampson.
I would be honored
to have your vote.
-Hi. My name is Rebeca Muñiz,
and I'm running to be
your next Seattle school board director,
position 3.
I was raised by my mother, Alma,
who immigrated from Mexico.
I grew up watching her do whatever it took
to take care of her family.
I would sit quietly
while watching her clean offices,
vacuum floors, empty trash bins,
and Windex windows.
Dripping in sweat, she would
apologize again and again,
saying, "I'm sorry.
Just one more office."
Throughout the years,
her encouragement and determination
helped me to pursue an education
and get a good job.
My mentors along the way
have shown me that all it takes
is one person to believe
and invest in a child
for them to believe
in themselves.
I graduated from
the University of Washington
with a master's degree
in education policy
and leadership.
Now I'm running to serve as
a Seattle school board director
in order to help more kids
find their own opportunity
to a brighter future.
I have three things I care about most.
First, transparency
and accountability.
I want to lead
with the community behind me,
not the other way around.
This means I will commit
to weekly office hours
at accessible locations
but also being transparent
about our budget.
Second, I want to increase
opportunities for all students.
I will fight for a greater focus
on racial equity and inclusion
in all levels of the school board.
We need to address
the specific needs of students,
from providing ethnic studies
to increasing girls' participation
in STEM activities
to after-school opportunities
that serve low-income students,
queer students,
and students of color.
Third, student stability.
We need to increase
wraparound services for students
experiencing housing instability.
There should be
a family engagement professional
at every school.
We also need to review and reform
current disciplinary practices
that harm students of color
at higher rates.
I am so grateful
for the community leaders
and organizations
who endorse my vision,
including school board directors
Eden Mack and Scott Pinkham,
Council Member Lorena González,
State Senators Joe Nguyen
and Bob Hasegawa,
and the 46th Democrats.
Thank you for engaging,
and I hope to have your vote August 6th.
Again, my name is Rebeca Muñiz,
and I'm running for
Seattle school board position 3.
♪♪
-Hi. My name is Molly Mitchell,
and I'm running for
Seattle school board director
to ensure that every student
has a pathway to success.
I want to ensure all voices
in our school district are heard,
that you have a seat at the table,
and that your concerns
and needs are addressed.
Our schools can do more to serve
the needs of diverse students
and families in our city.
In my 20-year career in education,
the core of my work
has been centering equity
and social justice.
This year, I was honored
to be recognized
for my commitment to equity
when I received the Equity Award
from the Washington State
Association of College Trustees.
As the Director
of Student Support Programs
at Seattle Central College,
I am focused on serving students
with the highest barriers
to completion
and students furthest from justice
throughout their entire education,
including their lived experiences
outside the classroom.
I am passionate about
expanding educational opportunities
inside Washington state prisons.
Additionally, I oversee support
for student parents,
student veterans,
and those facing food insecurity.
For all students to succeed,
we must create learning environments
that are safe, welcoming,
and inclusive for all.
When every student
is included and engaged
in their learning environment,
all students benefit.
As a mom and a community organizer,
I believe solutions
are most effective
when they engage all stakeholders
and are accountable to the community,
which is why current school board director
Jill Geary has endorsed my campaign.
The school board can do better
to collaborate with families,
educators,
community organizations,
and local agencies
to generate policies that support
every student's
educational success.
I pledge to represent your voice
and to work for high-quality
education for all students.
My name is Molly Mitchell,
and I would be honored
to earn your vote
for Seattle school board.
♪♪
-Hello.
My name is Crystal Liston.
I'm a gay, disabled parent
of two stepsons
who attend West Seattle schools
and a member of your community
who is very passionate
about our schools.
I'm so passionate, in fact,
that I have made it my mission
to volunteer in every school
in our district
as I do not understand
how a board member
can govern a body of people
they know nothing about.
As of 2018-2019
school year,
I have volunteered
in 20 of our 103 schools,
and as a volunteer,
I have noticed a disconnect
in our school community as a whole.
The reason I am running
for school board
is to lead a paradigm shift
where schools interact
and communicate
with one another,
a shift where the Seattle community
is held accountable
to participate
in each of our schools,
and a shift where school board members
are active in the various schools
and communicate
to their students, parents,
and teachers.
Instead of telling schools
what they should be doing,
we ask, "We have resources.
What do you need?"
Another aspect
to our school district
that has become clear to me
is a lack of equity.
Why do some schools have
band instruments for students
but other schools do not?
Why are social workers
not in all of our schools
to support our students with trauma
and our faculty who need support
from their administration?
Why has the current school board
chosen to lay off
school librarians?
Why, as a progressive city,
are we teaching a white-controlled
curriculum?
I am a firm believer that
our values are in our budget,
and our current school board
is failing to represent
our community's values.
Maybe you're asking yourself,
"What qualifies you
to be on the school board?"
My response is this.
I can sit here and give you
a list of my degrees --
I have two -- and a list of my
trade-school certificates --
I have one -- but what qualifies me
to be on the Seattle school board
is that I am a parent
and that I am
a professional volunteer.
And what is
a Seattle school board member?
An unpaid volunteer.
So in conclusion,
if you are truly part
of the movement for change,
then be vulnerable and courageous
and vote for someone different.
Vote for me -- Crystal S. Liston.
"Be bold.
The mighty forces
will come to your aid."
Goethe said that.
-You've just seen all of the video statements
of the candidates and ballot issues
that appear on the Seattle primary ballot.
For King County and Port of Seattle candidates and issues,
watch the King County version of the Video Voters' Guide.
We will produce another Video Voters' Guide for candidates
who advance to the November general election.
This program is a collaboration
of the Seattle Ethics & Elections Commission,
the Seattle Channel,
and King County TV.
Again, this will be a vote-by-mail election.
Instead of going to a polling place,
ballots will be sent to all registered voters.
Look for your ballot in the mail after July 17,
and vote and return it on or before Tuesday, August 6th.
Remember to sign the envelope with your voter ballot.
Ballots can be returned via US Mail
or at one of King County's secure ballot drop boxes.
Ballots must be postmarked by August 6th.
You can track the progress of your ballot online
and find the location of drop boxes by visiting
King County Elections at kingcounty.gov/elections.
Thanks for joining us.
We'd like to hear from you about the Video Voters' Guide.
To comment on this guide, please call (206) 684-8500.