Washington Bikes Endorsements

Democratic Party activist and human rights advocate Jon Scanlon is running for At-Large, Position B on the Whatcom County Council. This seat is open following the retirement of Carol Frazey. Previously, Scanlon worked at the U.S. State Department and with OxFam America doing humanitarian work. In addition, he has been a consistent volunteer and elected leader within the Whatcom County Democrats. 

Scanlon is running for office with a focus on affordability and environmental conservation. In particular, he would work to strengthen protections against flooding, ensure access to clean air and water, and preserve the county's farmlands and forests. His two decades of public policy and advocacy experience would also be a welcome addition to the council.

Scanlon faces Hannah Ordos on the ballot this November. Ordos is a customer support manager at Vitamin Porfolio LLC and is a member of the North Sound Behavioral Health Advisory Board. Her website focuses on bringing people together and offers few specific policy details. In 2021, she endorsed Republican Tyler Byrd for Whatcom County Council and this February she was part of a group of "vaccine skeptics" nominated for the Whatcom County Health Board. 

Scanlon has earned an impressive slate of progressive endorsements and is the best choice for Whatcom County Council, At-Large Position B. 

Attorney and nonprofit founder Girmay Zahilay is running unopposed for re-election for King County Council, District 2. 

In his first four-year term, Zahilay has been a standout progressive on the council, focusing on equitable development, preventing gun violence, and fighting for justice at the county level. He has pushed for more funding and opportunities for Skyway, an unincorporated part of the county with the highest proportion of Black people of any community in the state that also faces immense disinvestment, childhood poverty, and a low median income. Zahilay has worked to increase funding for Metro transit, open a tiny home village, fund $5 million in affordable housing, and $10 million in seed funding for a community center. Finally, he played a lead role in amending the county charter to appoint the sheriff, as well as giving more investigational power to the county on cases of police brutality. 

Zahilay has earned your vote for King County Council.  

Claudia Balducci is running unopposed for re-election to the King County Council from District 6. 

First elected in 2015, Balducci previously served as the mayor of Bellevue during her 12 years on the Bellevue City Council. She is also the founder and chair of the Regional Affordable Housing Committee and a board member of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority. 

Balducci is running on a platform of affordable housing, updating transportation options, and ensuring climate justice. A few of the policies that she and the council worked on this term include putting a fully serviced shelter on the Eastside for people experiencing homelessness, improving and electrifying buses, and passing gun violence prevention policies. Balducci spearheaded a successful effort to create a Sound Transit "starter line" to connect Bellevue and Redmond while work continues on the East Link Extension to Seattle.

Balducci is one of the brightest and most effective progressive leaders in our region. She has earned your vote for re-election to the King County Council.  

Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda is running for King County Council, District 8. Mosqueda was first elected to the Seattle City Council in 2017 and has proved a consistent and progressive policymaker. She previously worked at the Washington State Department of Health, Children’s Alliance, Community Health Plan of Washington, and the Washington State Labor Council, with a focus on workers' rights and childrens' healthcare. Among other community roles, she also served on the board of Fuse Washington, which publishes this guide. Mosqueda is a proud third-generation Mexican-American who would become the first Latina ever to serve on the King County Council if elected.

Mosqueda has distinguished herself as a progressive leader on the Seattle City Council. She championed the Jumpstart Seattle legislation, which funds affordable housing, childcare, and climate resilience through a tax on high earners and wealthy corporations. Mosqueda also helped secure paid sick leave and fair wage protections for working people that are often exploited by their employers - like gig drivers, domestic workers, and hotel workers. Her current goal is passing the 2023 Housing Levy, which will be on the ballot for Seattle voters this November and would provide funding for crucial affordable housing, childcare services, and communal and cultural spaces that are disappearing from the city.

If elected to the county council, Mosqueda hopes to use her experience to address new and pressing issues in the county. Some of her priorities include finding locations for the six new county behavioral health centers, building workforce housing outside of Seattle, increasing apprenticeship programs, and more. 

Mosqueda is the clear choice for King County Council from District 8. 
 

Megan Dunn, the program director for the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, is running for re-election to the Snohomish County Council in District 2. Prior to being elected to the council in 2019, Dunn led the successful effort to improve representation on the Everett City Council by creating local districts and served on the Everett Community Streets Initiative Task Force, which helps address homelessness in downtown Everett.

Dunn ran for Snohomish County Council in 2019 to continue her work on community-building and environmental sustainability. She's met her campaign promises by using pandemic recovery funding for district organizations that are committed to helping neighbors, including the Interfaith Family Shelter, Everett Recovery Café, and Madres de Casino Road's meal program.

She's focused on voting for policies that would best uplift people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Dunn was one of three council members who voted to convert two hotels into low-barrier shelters for people experiencing homelessness. She correctly noted that putting up barriers like drug testing would have put 20 million federal dollars at risk of being lost and likely prevented the shelter from being built. 

Dunn faces a challenge from Georgia Fisher. a precinct committee officer for the Snohomish County Republican Party and district chair for the 21st Legislative District Republicans. In addressing the opioid and drug epidemic, she wants to see more people arrested for addiction, sending more people in crisis to jail. Much of her campaign platform follows a familiar path for conservatives this year, with promises to support business and pour even more funds into militarized police. For reference, the county already spends over 75 percent of its $288.5 million general budget on police and the criminal legal system. 

If elected, Dunn will continue to advocate for those who need it most in the country. She is by far the best choice for the Snohomish County Council in District 2. 
 

Incumbent Fred Felleman is an environmental consultant and marine biologist. He is running for re-election to the Seattle Port Commission, Position 5, as the senior member of the commission, having served since 2016. With his science background, Felleman has pledged to continue supporting environmentally friendly reforms at the port.

As commissioner, Felleman has focused on fighting climate change and increasing the port's green energy jobs. He has been a leader on the commission when it comes to protecting orcas, publicly opposing the dangerous Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline, and advocating for well-paying jobs. Elected commission president in 2021, he has recently supported more efficient and greener policies at the port to reduce pollution, including adding solar panels to the Fishermen's Terminal's net shed and powering new docks so ships don't have to idle and burn additional fuel. Felleman often supports social causes as well, including condemning Trump's Muslim ban and government agencies’ response at the airport, as well as welcoming Ukrainian refugees, with Washington hosting 16,000 refugees, the third most among U.S. states.

Challenging Felleman is Jesse Tam, the managing director for Mega Pacific Investments, a strategic development consulting firm. He is a former parks commissioner for the city of Newcastle, as well as past president and current board director for the Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce, among other roles. 

Tam states that he's running to use his business experience to source well-paying union jobs, negotiate business deals, and lead on climate change. While we agree with Tam's listed priorities, Felleman has been an excellent environmental advocate and scientific mind on the board, and we don't see a strong case for how Tam would bring progressive change to the port. 

Felleman has earned your vote for re-election to the Port of Seattle, Position #5. 

Incumbent and progressive advocate John Stokes is running for another term in Position 1 on the Bellevue City Council. He has a long track record in public service. Before joining the council in 2012, Stokes served on both the Parks & Community Services Board and Eastgate/I-90 Citizen Advisory Committee, and he co-founded a nonprofit focused on providing resources, support, and opportunities for children to set them up for happy and healthy lives.

In office, Stokes has been a staunch voice for affordability in Bellevue. He led the Downtown Livability Initiative to allow the development of Bellevue’s vibrant downtown. Additionally, Stokes' dedication to parks and green spaces promotes a healthier, greener Bellevue, benefiting both residents and the planet. 

Throughout his tenure, Stokes has supported community safety efforts to ensure Bellevue remains a great place to live and raise a family. In this race, he has earned impressive endorsements, including from the King County Democrats and the Bellevue Firefighters. 

Business owner Paul Clark is the other candidate in this race. Clark has served on both the Civil Service Commission and Parks and Community Services Board. He is running on a typical conservative agenda this year that includes opposing policies that would reduce the cost of housing in Bellevue. He also would have made it harder to build more permanent supportive housing in Bellevue, which is necessary to alleviate long-term homelessness. Like fellow conservative candidate Betsi Hummer, Clark took a maximum donation from billionaire developer Kemper Freeman along with other prominent Republicans. 

We recommend John Stokes for Bellevue City Council because of his progressive track record and experience in community leadership. 

Mo Malakoutian is running for Bellevue City Council, Position 3, to replace Jeremy Barksdale, who chose not to run for re-election. Malakoutian received his undergraduate degree and MBA from the University of Washington. He now works at Amazon coaching and training employees, particularly those in warehouse and delivery roles, for higher-level positions. He also works part-time as an assistant professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UW. 

Malakoutian has been active in the local community for many years. He is currently the chair of the Bellevue Planning Commission, where he has both worked on the city's plans for sustainable growth and helped develop guidelines for housing and facilities to support people experiencing homelessness. 

Malakoutian's top campaign priority is affordable housing. He wants to use his experience in civil engineering and on the planning commission to build more homes, reduce the cost of housing, and prevent seniors from being priced out of their homes. He would also work with partners in nearby jurisdictions to ensure we continue to address homelessness through a regional response. Malakoutian is also committed to acting on climate change and supports improving transportation and transit options throughout Bellevue. 

His opponent is Alex Tsimerman, who is best known for verbally abusing city council members at public hearings. He is an outspoken Trump supporter who regularly compares Democrats to Nazis and uses racial slurs during public meetings. Tsimerman has no place in elected office.

Malakoutian is a strong first-time candidate for office with extensive professional and community experience that will serve him well on the council. We recommend Mo Malakoutian for Bellevue City Council, Position 3.
 

Incumbent council member Janice Zahn is running for a second term on the Bellevue City Council in Position 5. She is the chief engineer for the Port of Seattle and serves on the city of Bellevue's Transportation Commission. Zahn emigrated from Hong Kong as a child and has dedicated her adult life to stewarding public infrastructure and services. 

Zahn serves with a strong vision for a safe, accessible, and more affordable Bellevue. Zahn states that community safety has always been a top priority for her. She worked to secure funding to ensure Bellevue has the public safety and mental health resources necessary to address the complex challenges facing our growing city. 

If re-elected, she wants to continue making strides in improving our transportation system, increasing affordable housing options, and planning to serve generations of residents to come. Zahn has consistently supported investments in public green spaces like the Downtown Park and has worked to protect our tree canopy, preserving Bellevue’s environment for a high quality of life. Zahn would also focus on the communication between the council and the community to build stronger relationships and increase understanding of municipal government. Zahn's strong community focus and efforts to keep our neighborhoods safe have earned her the sole endorsement of the Bellevue Firefighters. 

Also in this race is Betsi Hummer, who previously worked in sales and marketing for a lumber company. She also served for three terms on the East Bellevue Community Council. Unfortunately, Hummer opposes policy changes that would make housing more affordable in Bellevue. Without these long overdue reforms, spiraling housing costs will continue to displace our seniors and prevent young people from buying their first homes. Hummer accepted the maximum campaign donation from billionaire developer Kemper Freeman, who has been a longtime opponent of light rail in Bellevue, and she has been endorsed by other prominent Republicans. 

Janice Zahn has been a thoughtful and strategic leader for Bellevue who is always willing to listen to the needs of the community. Zahn is the clear choice for Bellevue City Council, Position 5.
 

Progressive campaign organizer Jace Cotton is running for the at-large seat on the Bellingham City Council. This seat is open after Councilmember Kristina Michele Martens decided to run for mayor. 

Cotton was a campaign manager with the Whatcom County Democrats for the last two years, playing a key role in winning all seven priority races. He is now the Campaign Director of Community First Whatcom, which has placed two initiatives on this year's November ballot. One initiative would raise the minimum wage by $2 and the other would increase protections for renters. Previously, he graduated from Western Washington University and worked as a paraeducator in local public schools. 

Cotton is running to advance economic justice in Bellingham. He wants to support low-wage workers and seniors who are struggling with the rapidly increasing cost of living. 

Cotton's opponent is financial advisor Russ Whidbee, who is running for city council once again on a more moderate platform. Previously, he served on the board of the Bellingham Technical College Foundation and worked with the Kulshan Community Land Trust.

Whidbee's campaign is focused on housing affordability, public safety, and homelessness. He states that his focus would be on seeking out grants and public and private partnerships with banks and developers to increase affordable housing. However, he seems unwilling to support the kind of zoning changes needed to bring more housing options and density to our community. He also says he wants to "reimagine" public safety for Bellingham and acknowledges systemic racism in law enforcement. However, his specific policy proposals - like body cameras and de-escalation training - should represent the bare minimum and have largely been implemented already.

Cotton has earned a very impressive slate of endorsements for a first-time candidate and is running a strong campaign. We recommend Jace Cotton for Bellingham City Council, At-Large.  

Mayor and incumbent council member Mason Thompson is running for another term for Bothell City Council, Position 2. Prior to joining the council in 2020, Thompson worked in account management for a number of companies and he has served on the city’s parks and recreation board.

In office, Thompson has worked to implement a progressive vision of efficiency in both public services and city planning. He believes this approach can create a more livable, accessible, and climate-friendly Bothell. Some of his accomplishments on the council include leading RADAR (a bridge between law enforcement and mental health services), pedestrianizing Main Street, tripling human services funding, and securing Bothell’s first federal grant for the Bothell-Everett Highway. Now, Thompson is running to make strides in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, to build diverse housing options to meet a variety of needs, and to invest in public spaces like Main Street and parks. 

Fellow city council member James McNeal, who currently serves in Position 4, is challenging Thompson in this race. McNeal spent nearly three decades in the construction industry and served as the former president of an organization dedicated to preserving the Wayne Golf Course. He joined the council in 2016 and is running in this race without a detailed platform, updated social media, or a campaign website as of mid-October.

Thompson has been an exceptional leader for Bothell and has helped make the city a hub of innovation for the entire region. Mason Thompson has earned your vote for Bothell City Council, Position 2. 
 

Carston Curd is a natural resources planner and licensed geologist running to bring a progressive and sustainable vision to the Bothell City Council in Position 4. He currently serves as vice chair of the Bothell Planning Commission, Sound Transit Community Oversight Panel, and third vice chair for the First Legislative District Democrats. Curd is also a volunteer for a number of grassroots and community initiatives within the Northshore area.

Curd is an advocate for green spaces and educates the community on complex topics that impact the solutions to the lack of affordable homes. As a progressive environmental advocate, his platform priorities include increasing the number of affordable homes, making transit accessible, and building resilience to urban flooding. As a current public servant in Snohomish County, Curd brings valuable experience and has garnered the support of many local leaders including Bothell Mayor Mason Thompson.

Curd's opponent is retired engineer Mark Swanson. Swanson has stated in local interviews that he's "not actively campaigning," though he made it through the primary election. Unfortunately, he has no website available with policy proposals, though he denies there is an affordable housing crisis in Bothell, despite much evidence to the contrary. Much of his platform seems to be anti-growth, and in a League of Women Voters forum he stated that he will curb growth in the city by preventing the building of affordable and family apartments in the area.

Carston Curd will work to fight climate change, improve housing affordability, and expand transit access in Bothell. He is the best choice for Bothell City Council, Position 4.  

Incumbent Amanda Dodd is running for re-election to Position 6 on the Bothell City Council. Dodd first joined the council in October 2022 when she was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Davina Duerr’s resignation. Before that, Dodd served on the city’s planning commission, to which she was appointed in 2020. Outside of government service, she works for Salesforce in account management and volunteers her time as a board member for the Snohomish County Transportation Coalition.

Dodd is running to make Bothell a welcoming, affordable, and vibrant place to live. If retained, her priorities include growing a strong small business community, creating more attainable housing options, and investing in environmental protections to safeguard Bothell’s ecosystem for generations to come. Her progressive vision for the city has already earned her an impressive array of endorsements in this race.

Former city council member and veteran Thomas Agnew is challenging Dodd. Last year, Agnew was considered alongside Dodd for the council appointment. His platform is not very detailed as of mid- October, focusing primarily on more policing in our neighborhoods and preserving car parking over making streets safer. In past elections, Agnew has run on a more conservative platform, advocating for cutting some critical community funding while directing more money to police and making some infrastructure investments.

Amanda Dodd is the best choice in this race and deserves your vote for Bothell City Council, Position 6. 

Longtime nonprofit leader Denise Frey is running for re-election to Bremerton City Council, District 2. Frey is the retired CEO of both the YWCA Kitsap County and the Bremerton Chamber of Commerce. She has served on the city council since her appointment last year.

Frey's experience with the YWCA has made her an outspoken advocate for many communities facing challenges in Bremerton. Frey shared her own experience as a survivor when speaking out against the Supreme Court's reversal of abortion rights, advocated for a city resolution to treat immigrants with dignity during the wave of anti-immigrant sentiments in 2017, and helped establish Morrow Manor in Poulsbo, which provided long-term supportive housing to gender-based violence survivors who were experiencing homelessness.

During her time on the council, Frey has focused on creating better infrastructure for people to walk, bike, and roll through Bremerton. She supported updates to make the Warren Avenue bridge more accessible, and wants to support more sustainable development along the Wheaton Way Corridor and Eastside Village.

The city council is currently considering an extremely backwards proposal to criminalize camping in public areas, even if there is no shelter space available. Frey argued that the city should provide adequate support and services before punishing people on the streets. She does acknowledge safety concerns with encampments, and would consider restricting camping to nighttime hours only.

Adrian Wright is a far-right candidate who is challenging Frey for her seat on the Bremerton City Council. Wright is the former regional director for the Libertarian Party of Washington, and is a current Republican precinct committee officer. He has no public policy platform as of early October, but his personal Facebook has posts where he supported far-right politician Loren Culp and defended a Kitsap neo-Nazi who was accused of stockpiling materials for a racially-motivated attack.

Wright would be a dangerous addition to the Bremerton City Council. Frey is the by far the best choice for this race. 

Jane Rebelowski is a retired public inspector and organizer who is running for Bremerton City Council, District 4.

Rebelowski has advocated for a number of progressive causes over the years. She testified in favor of changing Multifamily Housing rules to create truly affordable housing for renters. She has urged transit commissioners to prioritize residents who need buses to get around their own neighborhoods, not just commuters to Seattle. She also spoke out in an amicus brief to the Supreme Court, defending the Bremerton School District for firing a football coach who insisted on leading Christian prayers on the public school field after games. 

Rebelowski and Marwan Cameron seem to have similarly progressive views on the city's approach to housing and homelessness. Rebelowski asked the current city council to remove the criminalization of public camping, as there are no spaces in shelters for people to go. She published her campaign site in late October with several top priorities for the district, including a compassionate approach to the visibly houseless, sidewalk repairs and street sign replacements, traffic calming, and reliable ferry service. She goes on to identify her campaign's biggest priority - housing affordability - and suggests measures like only incentivizing low- and very low-income housing and using surplus city lands for modest housing to keep people from falling into homelessness because of high rent across the city. 
 

Anna Mockler is running for re-election to Bremerton City Council, Position 6. Mockler is a former professor and wetland scientist who has spent her time on council advocating for affordable housing and accessible streets. She narrowly won her seat last year when Mike Simpson relocated to Japan for over a month, prompting a special election.

Mockler has been a vocal advocate for streets that are accessible to walkers, bikers, and wheelchair users. She supported efforts to repave and add sidewalks to dangerous streets, implement traffic calming, and fund a street sign shop. As a Kitsap Transit commissioner, she has additionally supported the addition of more electric buses and the reduction of transportation fares.

As a former insulation contractor and third generation union member, Mockler is invested in building safe and affordable housing for working people in Bremerton. She advocated to adjust the multifamily housing rules to create more housing that is truly affordable for locals, and helped open Pendleton Place to provide housing with supportive services. If re-elected, she would devote more city-owned properties toward becoming affordable homes and allow more dense and lower-cost housing options like ADUs. 

Disappointingly, Mockler recently voted in favor of a strict anti-camping ordinance that criminalizes people who are experiencing homelessness, although she did suggest that the city create more housing options during the debate.

However, her opponent is conservative Mike Simpson, who is trying to win back his seat on Bremerton City Council, Position 6, from Mockler. Simpson is an Army veteran, former corrections officer, and former deputy sheriff for the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office.

Simpson's journey to in political office has been rife with complications - he was briefly removed from office in 2021 because he had spent more than 30 days overseas in Japan, and had to be re-elected that same year. Because of an elections error where ballots were sent to voters outside of the district, the election had to be redone in 2022, and Anna Mockler won by a slim margin.

This error prompted Simpson to run unsuccessfully for Kitsap County Auditor as a Republican. During that campaign, Simpson echoed typical conservative fearmongering about voter fraud, and argued that more emphasis should be placed on in-person voting over Washington's much-loved, accessible vote-by-mail system.

While on the council, Simpson voted against making it easier for people to have small rentals on their properties, which could help alleviate the affordable housing crunch. He also pushed back on the need for a racial equity committee, which was established after the national conversation on racial justice to better address the concerns of Bremerton residents. If elected, Simpson would act on his conservative values and cut funding for the vital services that communities depend on to thrive.

Mockler is the best choice in this race. 

Chris Eck is running for Position 1 on the Edmonds City Council to create a welcoming community for the people she serves in the nonprofit sector. Position 1 on the council is being vacated by Dave Teitzel, who was appointed last year to complete the term of the late council member Kristiana Johnson.

Eck is the chief operating officer at Volunteers of America Western Washington, a Christian organization that runs food banks, crisis care, homeless prevention, and youth programs. She also brings experience in neighborhood planning from the Lynnwood and Snohomish County planning commissions.

Eck's platform is driven by her work in the human services sector, where she sees young families being priced out of neighborhoods, lower-wage workers with high rents and long commutes, and others struggling to get by. Her top priorities are providing more affordable housing, making neighborhoods more sustainable and walkable, and including the diverse voices of all Edmonds residents in decision-making. Her stance on public safety starts with empathy and respect - she knows how important it is to have non-police professionals create pathways for people struggling with homelessness, substance use, or domestic violence.

Roger Pence, former chair of the Edmonds Planning Board, is also running for Edmonds City Council, Position 1. Pence started his career as a clerk in the Washington Legislature and went on to do community outreach with King County Metro Transit.

Pence focuses on very general goals like organizing town halls, updating the website, and doing outreach for the city's next comprehensive plan. He also wants to undo the neglect of the Highway 99 corridor and protect Edmonds' natural environment. However, though he agrees that Edmonds will have to plan for growth, he opposes allowing for more density in single-family neighborhoods, something we know is necessary to address the lack of affordable homes for lower- and middle-income families.

Pence's attendees to his campaign launch include several conservative members of the current city council, and he overall lacks support from the progressive community. Chris Eck has a much more comprehensive platform that is in line with our values, and has earned the support of many progressives. Eck deserves your vote for Edmonds City Council, Position 1. 

Mackey Guenther is running for Edmonds City Council, Position 4, to develop neighborhoods with affordable, climate-adaptive homes that will allow every family in Edmonds to thrive. A young college student studying urban planning and economics, Guenther has an impressive resume that showcases his passion for housing and the environment. During his internship at the City of Edmonds Planning and Development department, he did outreach to many residents who are often underrepresented at public hearings. He also has volunteer experience building homes for people experiencing homelessness, helping people navigate the legal system as a small claims counselor, and protecting salmon ecosystems.

Both Guenther and his opponent, Michelle Dotsch, are running on platforms that almost entirely focus on housing growth in Edmonds, but they have very different visions for the city. 

Dotsch wants to keep the single-family zoning that is prolonging residents' struggle to find affordable homes and increasing urban sprawl. Dotsch is a semi-retired dentist and the current president of the Alliance of Citizens for Edmonds, an organization that opposes housing solutions that would create the affordable, plentiful homes that Edmonds needs. Dotsch sees changing zoning rules as a threat to Edmonds' "small town charm," even though the lack of affordable, multifamily homes is pricing families out of the neighborhoods where they work and is fueling homelessness.

In contrast, Guenther believes that building more affordable, green housing will create a healthier climate, and provide more choices and stability for residents who are struggling to afford rent. He supported state legislation that will allow more housing for people with middle-incomes near public transit, and would push the council to follow the Edmonds Housing Commission's 15 recommendations to improve housing affordability and opportunity in Edmonds.

Guenther would bring a fresh perspective and a dedication to housing solutions that work for all of our neighbors. He deserves your vote for Edmonds City Council, Position 4.
 

Susan Paine, one of the few progressives on the Edmonds City Council, is running this year to retain Position 6. Paine comes to the council with years of experience as an employee for the city of Seattle, former president of the Edmonds School Board, and the vice chair of AtWork!, a nonprofit serving people with disabilities. She holds a master's degree in public administration from Seattle University.

Paine has not been afraid to vote against her conservative colleagues, especially when it comes to housing. Although Edmonds has around 450 people experiencing homelessness, the city has no shelters, and does not allow affordable multifamily housing to be built on 94 percent of its land. Paine is the only council member who does not want to keep these exclusionary rules - she was the sole vote in favor of accepting a grant to study ways to provide more middle-income housing options.

Paine was also one of only two council members to oppose the decision to ban living outside within 35 miles of a shelter, a move that she said effectively "criminalized poverty." Unlike her colleagues, Paine believes that Edmonds should increase housing options, shelter space, and much needed services instead of punishing people who are struggling.

Despite being outnumbered on the council, Paine has managed to accomplish much for the people of Edmonds. During the pandemic, she funded relief for local businesses without cutting staff for essential programs like the Edmonds Food Bank. She made changes that kept kids safe from traffic around their schools, introduced a local human services program for families, and protected Edmonds' environment through initiatives that introduced more solar power, electric charging, and protections for city trees.

Kevin Fagerstrom is challenging Paine for Edmonds City Council, Position 6. He is a retired police sergeant who was one of the officers who shot and killed a civilian, Eugene Culp Jr., in 2006. Fagerstrom is a conservative who is running for office to resist Washington's efforts to build more housing that people with lower or middle incomes can afford.  Although we know that most people who lose their housing are lower-income locals who have experienced an emergency like losing their job, Fagerstrom spreads the myth that "drug addicts and mental patients" are moving into Edmonds to receive services. He would use the fear of helping "nonresidents" to justify the lack of services for people who are struggling to afford the limited housing available in Edmonds.

Paine is one of the few council members who consistently champions environmental stewardship, homes for working people, and services that help our communities thrive. She deserves your vote for Edmonds City Council, Position 6.
 

Demi Chatters is a working mom and progressive activist running for Everett City Council, Position 6. She is a long-time Everett resident who has served on the Everett Planning Commission and Snohomish County Human Rights Commission. She also volunteers with organizations that center youth, Black, and LGBTQ+ communities.

Chatters is running for office to center the needs of the working people of Everett. One of her top priorities is increasing housing options for people with lower or middle incomes who are struggling to keep a roof over their head. Her platform also prioritizes workers' rights, accessible green spaces, and a public safety approach that relies on social supports over policing. She points to several concrete ways she will work towards her goals, including reforming zoning laws to allow the building of more homes, requiring fair wages and working conditions on city-funded projects, increasing transit routes, creating mini-parks, and expanding the team of social workers that respond to emergencies.

Chatters' opponent, conservative Scott Bader, was an obstacle to progress on important city reforms during his time on council. Bader supported inflating the police budget by $6 million while cutting the funding for services that we know actually keep our communities safe, housed, and healthy. He also proposed expanding the controversial "no sit, no lie" ordinance that criminalizes homelessness rather than seeking real solutions. 

Chatters has earned the support of many progressive leaders and organizations. Because of her community involvement, dedication to racial justice, and concrete plans for progress, she is by far the best choice for Everett City Council, Position 6.
 

Victoria Hunt is running for re-election to Issaquah City Council, Position 6. She is a data scientist at Breakthrough Energy, where she leads research efforts on renewable energy and does climate analyses to help cities meet their climate plans. She was elected to the council in 2019 and holds a Ph.D. in ecology.

In office, Hunt has been a champion for environmental protection. During her two years as council president, she helped pass the city's climate action plan. She also advocated for the acquisition and preservation of the 46-acre Bergsma property, which was one of the few remaining unprotected areas in the Issaquah Alps. Hunt has been involved in advocating for ambitious climate action at the state level as well, supporting a bill to make the largest energy supplier in Washington transition to clean energy.

Hunt also has a good track record when it comes to affordable housing. She was the only council member to support all the recommendations from the Regional Coalition on Housing (ARCH) that would combat landlords' continued raising of rents in Issaquah. If re-elected, Hunt states that she would like to study and expand housing options so that people with lower or moderate incomes can find and keep their homes.

Her opponent is Sam Sheehan, a conservative welder and business owner. Sheehan does not have a campaign website nor has he raised any funds as of mid-October, but his voter's guide statement bemoans "individual liberties" being sidelined for the "greater good." His proposals would result in cuts to funding for roads, parks, and other services that benefit working people. 

Hunt clearly stands out in this race with her knowledge of environmental stewardship and sustainable development in Issaquah. Vote for Victoria Hunt for Issaquah City Council, Position 6.
 

Melanie O'Cain is running for re-election for Kenmore City Council, Position 1. O'Cain was first elected to the council in 2020 and was appointed deputy mayor in January 2022. She serves on the King County SeaShore Transportation Forum and the Water Resource Inventory Area #8 Salmon Recovery Council. Outside of public service, O’Cain works in accounting and records management for the Port of Seattle, where she has been for more than 20 years.

In office, O’Cain has been a strong leader on environmental protections and clean air, affordable housing, and emergency crisis response. She's proud of her work helping implement Kenmore's Climate Action Plan and for testing the asphalt plant over air quality concerns. Now, she is running to continue bringing a progressive, community-oriented response to the city’s challenges with transportation, housing, and the environment. In particular, she wants to work with voters to purchase the Lakepointe Property and turn it into an environmental innovation hub for the region with green space and mixed-use sustainable development. 

The other candidate in this race is Kara Macias, a project manager for a construction company. Macias is running on a more right-wing platform in this race with a focus on business and little mention of the most pressing issues that Kenmore residents face. She wants to protect local ecosystems but only in the service of commerce, development, and tourism.

Melanie O’Cain deserves another term on Kenmore City Council, Position 1 because of her unwavering track record and staunch, progressive endorsements. She is the clear choice in this race. 

Valerie Sasson is running for Kenmore City Council, Position 3. The seat is currently held by Angela Kugler, who is not seeking re-election. Sasson is a retired midwife who previously co-owned her own birth center serving Washington families and taught at Bastyr University. Additionally, Sasson was the director of the Midwives Association of Washington State board.

Sasson is running on a progressive platform to make Kenmore a thriving place for all. She lists affordable housing, efficient public transit, and a walkable town center as some of her top issues. If elected, Sasson wants to steward responsible growth that prioritizes equity and climate mitigation. In this race, Sasson has been endorsed by the outgoing Councilmember Kugler herself, as well as county and local Democrats, community leaders, and progressive organizations.

Sasson is facing Josh Kurcinka, a marketing and brand management professional. He has worked for a variety of large companies such as Amazon, Kellogg's, and Noom. Kurcinka is running on a vague platform to bring positive change to Kenmore through downtown growth and affordability. He also wants to engage the voice of residents but he lacks a background in community or elected leadership.

We recommend Valerie Sasson for Kenmore City Council, Position 3 because of her strong community support and progressive vision for the city.

Incumbent Kelli Curtis is running for re-election to Kirkland City Council, Position 2, to which she was first elected in 2019. Before joining the council she worked for most of her career in the technology industry as a product manager for area companies such as Aldus and Starwave.

Curtis' campaign platform prioritizes close collaboration with neighbors, implementing sustainable planning strategies, cultivating inclusivity and belonging, building affordable homes, and expanding parks and natural spaces. During her time on the council, Curtis has supported the conversion of hotels into housing with on-site services, achieving success in these projects by bringing people together.

As chair of the Parks Exploratory Funding Committee, Curtis has spearheaded a ballot measure to create an indoor aquatics and recreation facility with pools, gymnasiums, fitness classes, and a community gathering space. Additional plans involve adding restrooms to selected parks, constructing new sports courts, expanding youth recreation programs, and acquiring green space for the development of Green Loop trail segments in northwest Kirkland.

Curtis faces a challenge from Catie Malik, an associate director of Finance at the UW School of Medicine. Her platform is vague, stating that the council has a "far-left extremist mindset," which is a wild misrepresentation of the city's current leaders. She says that she wants to preserve Kirkland's character, neighborhoods, and small businesses without offering policies or ways that she would seek to do so. Malik does not appear to have any elected or community leadership experience and does not have any organizational endorsements on her site as of mid-October. 

Kirkland has benefitted from Curtis's commitment to bringing community-minded leadership to the core of some of its most challenging issues. Kelli Curtis is the clear choice for Kirkland City Council, Position 2.
 

Moderate John Tymczyszyn is challenging conservative incumbent Toby Nixon for Kirkland City Council, Position 4. Tymczyszyn is a Navy veteran and an attorney at his own practice, focusing on criminal cases and civil rights. He has also served on the city’s Planning Commission since 2017, including as the chair, and was previously a prosecutor for the City of Everett. Tymczyszyn has also been a long-time advocate for veterans, offering some pro bono legal services to the community and serving on the board of the Washington State Veterans Bar Association.

Tymczyszyn is running on a platform to ensure that Kirkland remains an affordable and livable city in this time of growth and change. He wants to take a strategic, community-oriented approach to managing growth and utilize his law background in municipal policy. His goals include improving infrastructure, supporting local, small businesses, and problem-solving on public safety. However, he has been more skeptical of making zoning changes that would improve housing affordability in Kirkland. In this race, he has earned support from a number of local Democratic groups as well as some key elected leaders. 

Nixon is running for a fourth term on Kirkland’s city council. His campaign ideas and track record in the office reflect Republican stances that are out of touch with the needs of most Kirkland residents. In particular, Nixon is a longtime opponent of fighting climate change and protecting our green areas. Last year, he was one of only two votes against strengthening the city's tree code to protect and expand the city's tree canopy, which is especially important for a growing city. In July, Nixon was the only member of the council to oppose the levy that funds funds Kirkland's parks and green spaces to preserve them as places we can all enjoy. In mid-October, Nixon was a keynote speaker at an event held by Moms for Liberty, a far-right organization labeled as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

With no true progressive in this race, John Tymczyszyn's background in law and advocacy, his attention to community needs, and his Democratic endorsements make him the best choice for Kirkland City Council, Position 4.
 

Incumbent council member Amy Falcone is running for another term on the Kirkland City Council in Position 6. Falcone previously served as a founding member and co-chair of the Kirkland Human Services Commission before being elected to this seat in 2019. She was called to public service when she started advocating for safer sidewalks in her neighborhood. Now, she also serves as the PTO co-president at her daughter's middle school and on the City of Kirkland/Lake Washington School District Coordinating Committee.

Falcone focuses on both inclusivity and sustainability lenses in order to build a future for Kirkland that provides opportunities for everyone. She has been an advocate for community funding to support everyone’s needs preventatively before people face housing or food insecurity. If re-elected, she hopes to continue fostering collaboration and engaging resident voices, particularly those that have been historically silenced or ignored by city leadership. Falcone has earned a diverse set of endorsements in this race, including from the local Democrats, the state’s leading community organizations, and progressive elected officials.

Also in this race is "Ryan James" Turok who owns and operates a small art gallery. Turok is running without party affiliation or endorsements. He serves on the Greater Kirkland Chamber of Commerce and the board of the Bellevue Arts Museum. In this race, he has emphasized economic development, workforce housing, and neighborhood upgrades.

We recommend Amy Falcone in this race because of her clear vision for improving Kirkland and the impressive support her campaign has earned.
 

Moderate Wendy Weiker is running unopposed for re-election to Mercer Island City Council, Position 3. She has served in a multitude of community leadership roles, including as a board member of EarthShare, an active member of three PTAs on the island, and as a liaison to the Sound Cities Association. If re-elected, she will maintain her focus on public safety, protecting the community from gun violence, investing in infrastructure, and ensuring Mercer Island remains a great place to live and raise a family.

Moderate Craig Reynolds is running for re-election to the Mercer Island City Council, Position 5. Reynolds works as an actuary and believes his financial planning skills translate well to his work on the Mercer Island City Council. 

During his last term, Reynolds was proud to support the city's first climate action plan and worked to protect Mercer Island's parks and open spaces. He is running once again to focus on the city’s financial challenges as well as transportation, growth, and land use. 

Reynolds faces a challenge from planning commissioner Michael D. Curry. He is also focused on maintaining local parks but places a greater emphasis on crime in his campaign materials. Curry has not earned broad community endorsements, though he is supported by the King County Republican Party. 

We believe Craig Reynolds deserves your vote once again for Mercer Island City Council, Position 5, based on endorsements from our progressive partners and trusted community leaders.
 

Osman Salahuddin is running for Position 1 on the Redmond City Council after Councilmember Varisha Khan declined to run for re-election. Salahuddin works as the communications and community engagement manager for King County Councilmember Sarah Perry. He is currently on the board of directors for the Muslim Association of Puget Sound and previously served as student body president at the University of Washington. 

Salahuddin is running to reduce the cost of housing in Redmond and ensure everyone feels safe in their community. If elected, he would improve neighborhood walkability and invest more in affordable housing solutions like the Together Center. In addition, he would work to modernize Redmond's building codes to encourage green construction and promote energy efficiency. 

Salahuddin is facing Nate Niederhausern in the general election. Niederhausern works in digital streaming and online learning for corporations. He is active with the Redmond LDS Boy Scout troops, particularly on environmental conservation. Niederhausern appears to be newer to politics. While he made it through the primary election himself, he had not voted in a primary in 15 years. In addition, he supported Republican Mitt Romney's 2012 campaign against President Obama. 

Salahuddin is the clear choice for Redmond City Council, Position 1.
 

Incumbent Councilmember Jessica Forsythe is running unopposed for re-election to Position 3 on the Redmond City Council. Before joining the council in 2019, she served on the executive committee of the League of Women Voters Seattle-King County and executive board for the 48th Legislative District Democrats. Forsythe has been exceptionally active in the community, co-founding the Seattle Symphony PRIDE contingent, joining campaigns for Washington’s most progressive initiatives, and participating in a global network to donate her creative skills where needed. Outside of public and community service, she serves as a creative director for her own studio, Little Hinka Design.

Forsythe brings an important voice to the council as a renter and younger elected official. Some of her greatest policy achievements in office have been equity-related; honoring Black history by recognizing Juneteenth, addressing islamophobia within the Redmond community, and working to uproot systemic racism through action and community engagement. Forsythe has four top priorities in this race including protecting the environment, supporting local small businesses, fostering a sense of community, and upgrading infrastructure. As Redmond grows, Forsythe is committed to making sure that the economic benefits of that growth are felt by all, not just a privileged few. She also believes that sustainable growth must take our climate and local ecosystem into account, and Forsythe wants to set green guidelines and promote LEED building standards. 

Forsythe has earned an impressive list of the most progressive leaders and organizations in Redmond and Washington broadly. We recommend her for another term on the Redmond City Council in Position 3.
 

Vanessa Kritzer is running unopposed to continue serving in Position 5 on the Redmond City Council. Kritzer was first elected in 2019 and now serves as council vice president. Outside of elected office, Kritzer is the executive director of the Washington Association of Land Trusts, which connects conservation efforts across Washington to protect local ecosystems for generations to come. She has also served in community leadership roles including as a student appointed by Governor Inslee to serve on the UW Board of Regents, as a board member of OneRedmond (the city’s chamber of commerce), and as the current vice chair of the WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council.

On the council, Kritzer has been a tireless progressive advocate. She established the city’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion-focused staff, advocated on behalf of the Redmond Senior and Community Center, and invested in public recreational spaces like parks, trails, and pickleball courts. Now, she is running on an inclusive platform to continue making investments that strengthen Redmond’s public services, infrastructure, and community identity. In this race, Kritzer is supported by a long list of progressive elected leaders, community organizations, and local unions.

Vanessa Kritzer has earned your vote for another term on the Redmond City Council in Position 5.

U.S. Navy veteran and insurance agent Angie Nuevacamina is running for Redmond City Council, Position 7. She serves on the Redmond Planning Commission and has been a committee member with the Boys & Girls Clubs of King County for the last 5 years. 

Nuevacamina is running to make housing more affordable, keep our communities safe, and improve transparency in local government. As a proponent of the "Nothing About Us Without Us" principle, she would ensure decisions in Redmond are made more equitably and every voice is heard. As Redmond continues to grow, she also wants to make the city more welcoming for all residents. 

Nuevacamina is facing incumbent David Carson. Carson, a software test lead, is a business-oriented candidate running to push for the completion of infrastructure projects in Redmond. Carson has an antagonistic approach to homelessness, stating that he wants to prosecute people found with shopping carts off-premises. He has been cited in the Washington Post and elsewhere stating that those suffering from addiction must hit "rock bottom" before seeking treatment.

Nuevacamina's lived experience and deep experience in the community makes her the clear choice for Redmond City Council, Position 7.
 

There are two dedicated candidates running for Renton City Council, Position 3. Incumbent and current council president Valerie O'Halloran was first elected in 2019. Like many city council members across the state, she found the position challenging but rewarding during the pandemic and is running to continue her work on climate change, community health, and more.

In our interview with O'Halloran, she stated that she first ran to bring climate action plans to the council, which she is proud to have accomplished with a 240-page plan for the city to reduce greenhouse emissions and prepare for potential climate disasters. 

Challenging O'Halloran this year is Erica Conway, who is running to bring her lived experience to city hall. Conway is a supervisor with King County Superior Court's criminal division. In our interview, she said she was motivated to run because she had begun to attend council meetings and felt that the city was not doing enough on affordable housing, gun safety, and more. Conway is serving her second term as elected vice president 2 for the Seattle King County NAACP and also sits on the Renton Police Chief's Community Council. 

While both candidates have spoken about the need for the city to continue addressing homelessness, one difference between their positions is the handling of the shelter opened in the former Red Lion Motel during the pandemic. The shelter was open from April 2020 to June 2022 and housed nearly 200 individuals. O'Halloran stated that she vote to close the facility because of extreme fire safety issues, a lack of safe evacuation for mobility-challenged residents, and a shortage of staff. Conway said that she would not have voted to close the shelter and that it was a shame that the building sits vacant today, while O'Halloran said that the building is uninhabitable from smoke and water damage. 

Moving forward, O'Halloran points to projects like the shelter at the Extended Stay as the way forward on transitional housing, which she says is successful because of a joint partnership with the county. If re-elected, she wants to continue expanding needed shelters that offer wraparound services as well as low-income housing.

Though we appreciate that Conway would bring a new perspective to city hall, her policy proposals weren't convincing enough for us to recommend her over the incumbent. For example, Conway wants to tackle police accountability by introducing children to their local police early in life, which wouldn't go far enough to ensure community safety. In addition, she was unsure about her positions on some critical policies, like how much additional housing the city needs or how the city might bring down the cost of housing.

O'Halloran has made some controversial choices in the past with which we disagree, including an endorsement of conservative King County Council member Reagan Dunn. However, we lean toward O'Halloran because of her track record as a highly engaged and detail-oriented member of the council. 
 

Incumbent Ryan McIrvin is running for re-election to Renton City Council, Position 4. McIrvin, who is serving his second term, works for the University of Washington in government relations. He has been a leader in bringing affordable housing options to East King County, serving on the King County Regional Affordable Housing Task Force and voting in favor of Renton’s five-year affordable housing action plan. Prior to being elected, he served as the vice-chair of the city of Renton's Human Services Advisory Committee. The culmination of McIrvin's experience has resulted in a council member who has been enthusiastic about improving rapid bus transit, making housing more affordable, conservation, and more.

Challenging McIrvin is Sanjeev Yonzon, a civil service commissioner of the Renton Regional Fire Authority, on his second run for Renton City Council. A former civil contractor with the U.S. military in Iraq, Yonzon states that his harrowing journey escaping civil war in Nepal has led him to a life of assisting others. He wants to represent those who are less fluent in English to show that they can improve the community, expand affordable housing, and improve traffic. 

McIrvin is the best choice for Renton City Council, Position 4.  

Sid Gupta is running for Sammamish City Council, Position 3. The seat is currently held by Rituja Indapure who is not seeking re-election. Gupta is a restoration and native plant steward with the Washington Native Plant Society. He has also served on both the city’s parks commission and on the Sammamish Friends board as president.

Gupta is running on a sustainability platform with three major priorities: transportation, the environment, and public revenue. He does not own a car and wants to ensure Sammamish is accessible via walking, biking, buses, and regional light rail. If elected, he also wants to leverage his expertise in environmental stewardship to ensure a green future for the city, particularly through the Climate Action Plan. Gupta will also work to secure grants and manage federal funding to make investments in community needs. Gupta's knowledge and expertise in sustainability would be a valuable addition to the council. 

Wastewater management specialist Pamela Randolph is the other candidate in this race. Randolph has worked for the county and a number of cities in the region in both operations and wastewater treatment. Now, she is running a more conservative campaign that parrots Republican ideas about safety, public services, and economic development. Randolph has been active in local Republican politics and even donated to Tim Eyman's disastrous campaign for governor. 

We recommend Sid Gupta for Sammamish City Council, Position 3 because of his strong community support and detailed campaign plan for building a more sustainable Sammamish. 
 

Incumbent city council member Pam Stuart is running for another term serving in Position 6 on the Sammamish City Council. Stuart served her first term after being elected in 2017 and rejoined the council by appointment last year to fill the Position 6 vacancy left by Ken Gamblin. Outside of public service, she works as a principal program manager at Microsoft and has been active in the community, including serving as the PTA president and on the board of the Eastlake Little League. 

In her previous term, Stuart was a strong voice for sustainable development and environmental stewardship. She played an instrumental role in securing funds for salmon recovery efforts in our watersheds and participated in a countywide initiative to establish goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Stuart was also pivotal in developing countywide affordable housing and transportation planning policies and was a vocal advocate to extend emergency relief housing for our unsheltered neighbors.

Now, Stuart wants to build on her past accomplishments and continue improving government transparency, addressing the climate crisis, and providing shelter for all residents of Sammamish. Additionally, she wants to foster more inclusion and belonging in the city and build greater trust between residents and the council. Her optimistic campaign shares a vision for a sustainable and healthy Sammamish for generations to come. 

Stuart is being challenged by conservative Josh Amato, who runs his own marketing and communications company. Previously, Amato served as a combative spokesperson for the Washington State Republican Party. If elected, he would oppose policies that would reduce the sky-high cost of housing in Sammamish. He criticizes the city for what he views as financial mismanagement yet offers few details about how he would improve the budget if elected. 

Pam Stuart's experience, detailed policy knowledge, and track record of leadership make her the clear choice for Sammamish City Council, Position 6. 
 

Progressive Elizabeth Greninger is running for SeaTac City Council, Position 3. With more than 15 years of social work experience, Greninger has helped people who have faced domestic violence, sexual assault, and housing instability. 

Greninger has a comprehensive plan to deliver safe, affordable, and accessible housing to all SeaTac residents. For example, she would make it easier for homeowners to convert or build accessory dwelling units on their properties. Along with advocating for higher minimum wages, Greninger also wants to ensure SeaTac uses union contracts whenever possible. If elected, she would expand local initiatives helping women, queer people, and people of color start their own businesses.

Greninger also has the most complete vision for protecting the environment and residents’ well-being. She advocates protecting the North SeaTac Park and preventing it from being developed by the Port of Seattle. Moreover, she would expand farmer’s markets and leverage the recently passed Crisis Care Levy to build behavioral health resources in the city. Finally, Greninger is focused on reducing air traffic noise pollution and aviation emissions. Overall, her policies would lead to a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for SeaTac.

Greninger is challenging incumbent Peter Kwon, who has been a council member since 2016. Kwon was the deputy mayor of SeaTac from 2020 to 2022. Professionally, he is a systems engineer, president of the Asian Pacific American Municipal Officials, and founder of the Neighborhood Locking Mailbox Program. 

Kwon focuses his campaign on his non-partisanship. His main priority during his tenure has been reducing SeaTac’s debt position while trying to not cut services. SeaTac has been successful in this aim as it now has a budget surplus without a reduction in city services. Another priority for Kwon was the adoption of a lockable mailbox program in SeaTac to address rising mail theft. Recently, Kwon has also initiated talks with the Port of Seattle to acquire the 220-acre North SeaTac park.

Unfortunately, Kwon has also been quoted as stating that SeaTac already has "enough" affordable housing, which disregards the pressing need for accessible and affordable housing options in our community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kwon voted to ban the effective strategy by King County to convert unused hotels into housing with on-site services within SeaTac, leaving people without shelter in a time of crisis.

Elizabeth Greninger's progressive values and impressive record of community service make her the choice for SeaTac City Council, Position 3.
 

Maren Costa is the progressive candidate in the race to replace Lisa Herbold on the Seattle City Council from District 1. A former Amazon principal designer, Costa advocated for a climate action plan that eventually became the company's official Climate Pledge. In 2020, Costa was illegally fired from the company after sending out an email to rally her coworkers around poor warehouse conditions for workers. With the backing of an open letter from nine U.S. senators, including Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, Costa won her case against Amazon and continued advocating for workers and her community.

Costa is now running to bring her tenacity and experience in management to city hall. In our interview with Costa, she spoke about the importance of raising more money to maintain services as the city faces a $100 million dollar budget shortfall. Her proposals, including a vacancy tax, were squarely aimed at making the wealthiest pay their share. 

Costa wants to look out for working people as well as the vulnerable to make Seattle more livable for all. She spoke to a desire to improve affordability by allowing more mixed-use developments and “four floors and corner stores” in neighborhoods. She believes well-designed, denser neighborhoods are critical as the state faces a severe housing shortage, making living here hard for teachers, nurses, and other working professionals. On homelessness, Costa wants the city to take a housing-first approach, working on getting people into secure housing instead of criminalizing them for sleeping outside. On public safety, Costa offers a vision that funds gun violence prevention, community policing, and alternative response models. 

The other candidate in this race is Air Force veteran and cybersecurity lawyer Rob Saka. He formerly served on the county's charter review commission, which helped move the county sheriff from an elected position to an appointed one. However, Saka's campaign is somewhat low on specific details that make it unclear exactly how he would vote if elected to the council. In his interview with the Stranger, he said that the city needs more police officers, but declined to say how many or how the city could increase the number of unarmed officers, which he has also proposed. Saka was a no on increasing the JumpStart tax on businesses grossing over $8 million to pay for affordable housing and rent control, but a yes on continuing sweeps of people experiencing homelessness according to the Seattle Times. 

In addition, since the primary election, every one of the six candidates who ran in this race endorsed Costa over Saka, many citing her experience, management skills, and growth during the campaign.

Costa's experience managing million-dollar budgets and successfully advocating for corporate climate action makes her stand out as a progressive among the top candidates in the district. That experience plus an impressive set of endorsements, including every other candidate who ran in this race in the primary, make her the best choice for Seattle City Council in District 1. 
 

Community organizer and incumbent Councilmember Tammy Morales is running for her second term serving District 2 on the Seattle City Council. Morales was first elected in 2019 and has been a vocal, progressive advocate for this diverse district. Previously, she worked with the Rainier Beach Action Coalition to advocate for affordable housing, food security, and other pressing community needs. Beyond the city council, Morales has also served as a legislative director and city budget analyst.

In her current role, Morales has pushed for safe and walkable streets, corporate accountability, social and other affordable housing measures, and climate crisis emergency responses such as extreme heat and smoke shelters. She is running to build on her previous term to push for Green New Deal funding and environmental protections that will keep Seattle a healthy place to live for generations to come. If re-elected, Morales will continue to champion affordable housing policies, neighborhood revitalization investments, and tenant rights. She has received an extensive and diverse list of endorsements in this race including from fellow city council members and other local progressives.

Chinatown-International District (CID) small business owner Tanya Woo is challenging Morales in District 2. Woo’s family ran the Mon Hei Bakery and later renovated the historic Louisa Hotel to have 84 units of workforce housing. She is a longtime advocate for the CID, including starting the CID Community Watch volunteer group in 2020 that walks the neighborhood to provide support and diffuse conflicts. Unfortunately, last year, Woo led a series of rallies against King County's proposal to expand a homeless shelter near the CID. County Executive Dow Constantine eventually canceled the project, which would have included 150 shelter beds and a tiny house village, because of the "community feedback." Woo is now running for Seattle City Council to give a voice to CID residents who don't feel heard by elected leaders. She would focus on improving public safety, expanding community outreach in more languages, and protecting the neighborhood from gentrification.

Morales has the proven track record and the progressive vision necessary to advocate for District 2 on the Seattle City Council. She has earned your vote for re-election.
 

Ron Davis is running for Seattle City Council, District 4 as an outspoken progressive for affordable housing, community safety, and more. Davis has served in the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association and has been a board member at Futurewise, which advocates for sustainability and livable communities. In our interview with Davis, he emphasized that he's running to be the opposite of retiring incumbent council member Alex Pedersen, who stood in the way of many progressive policies, including efforts to build more housing that's affordable to middle-income Seattlites. 

If elected, Davis would focus on housing supply, subsidizing housing so that everyone has more affordable access, and increasing stability for renters. Many policies are on the table for Davis to achieve this, including prohibiting rent price gouging, funding social housing, expanding midrise housing, ensuring the "right to return" for people displaced by developers, and offering square footage and height bonuses. Davis is also rigorously pro-science when it comes to treating homelessness as a housing problem. He points out that many challenging and displacing life events like domestic abuse, addiction, and job loss are less catastrophic when people can afford rent and stay off the streets. Aside from the many housing policies above, Davis wants to see 3,500 permanent supportive housing units built. 

In the primary election, Davis was one of the few candidates, not just in the district but citywide, to acknowledge that even Seattle's own police don't think they can hire 400 more officers during a nationwide shortage. Rather than lowering standards on hires and pouring more money into bonuses, he wants to see aggressive expansion into alternatives to policing for people in crisis. Other top priorities for Davis are worker's rights, including subsidized childcare, closing minimum wage loopholes, and more.

Davis' opponent, Maritza Rivera, works in Mayor Bruce Harrell's office as Deputy Director of the Department of Arts & Culture. Her number one campaign priority is public safety, specifically in the form of getting 5-minute response times to 911 calls, taking "home and car break-ins seriously," and aggressively targeting drug users. The lack of details on how she would achieve this or any of the city's many other needs does not instill confidence. Rivera doesn't support rent control and wants the city to continue its expensive and inhumane sweeps of encampments. She has no firm stance on increasing revenue for all the 400 additional officers she wants to hire, despite a projected city budget shortfall in the years to come.

Rivera was also highlighted in a Stranger article around the contents of a letter that the majority of the staff at the Seattle Arts and Culture Department (ARTS) signed, citing "defensive, hostile, and condescending interactions with Rivera." She has taken a large number of donations from corporations and conservatives, including those who often donate to Trump and other Republican campaigns. 

Vote for Ron Davis for progressive change on the Seattle City Council from District 4.  

Incumbent Dan Strauss is seeking re-election to the Seattle City Council from District 6. Strauss was first elected in 2019 and previously served as a senior policy advisor to Councilmember Sally Bagshaw and worked for the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. 

Strauss is running for a second term to continue bringing community-focused leadership to District 6. On the council, Strauss has prioritized creating more affordable housing options and strengthening tenant rights. With investments of $250 million in 2022, permanent supportive housing was purchased in Green Lake, Ballard, and Greenwood. As the land use chair, he also points to how he has cleared encampments without sweeps by connecting people to services. Unfortunately, Strauss recently voted in favor of allowing Republican City Attorney Ann Davison to prosecute people for drug use. In addition, Strauss disappointed many advocates by pushing for larger police budgets, which would increase the presence of militarized police in our communities instead of making us safer. 

If re-elected, Strauss will continue to develop Ballard Commons Park as a community green space, support the local small business economy, and ensure corporations and the wealthy pay what they owe. While he has not been the progressive leader some had hoped for, his opponent would be a step backward for the district and the city overall.

Pete Hanning is challenging Dan Strauss for this city council seat. Hanning owned Red Door in Fremont for twenty years and is currently the executive director for the Fremont Chamber of Commerce. Hanning's platform was one of the most conservative in the primary race for this seat. Hanning does not want to increase revenue from large corporations through the Jumpstart tax. His questionnaire with The Seattle Times states that he does not want the city to raise any additional revenue at all, leaving voters to wonder how he intends to pay for proposed infrastructure revitalization on the West Seattle Bridge or continue the expensive and inhumane practice of sweeping homeless encampments. 

Strauss has earned the majority of endorsements from progressive leaders and organizations and is the clear choice for city council from District 6.
 

Councilmember Andrew Lewis is running for re-election to the Seattle City Council from District 7. Lewis was first elected to the seat in 2019 and previously served as an assistant city attorney, including working on the Seattle Human Rights Commission. He also serves as the president of the Seattle Metropolitan Park District where he has worked to create jobs, ensure the cleanliness of public green space, and advance environmental goals for the city.

In his first term on the council, Lewis prioritized funding affordable housing programs, ensuring community safety, and achieving greater climate protections to make Seattle a healthier place for all of us. He secured funding to fully renovate the Queen Anne Community Center and expanded the JustCARE program, which offers outreach, shelter, and wrap-around services to Seattleites without housing. In this race, he is running on a progressive platform to expand crisis support services, invest in social and transitional housing options, and improve the city’s public transit infrastructure to reduce both traffic and greenhouse gas emissions.

Navy veteran Bob Kettle is challenging incumbent Lewis for the District 7 seat. Kettle is not running a progressive campaign. He would ignore the public call for policing alternatives and community investments that would actually keep our neighbors safe. If elected, Kettle also wants to criminalize addiction and increase inhumane sweeps that don’t alleviate our housing crisis. 

Lewis has earned an impressive list of endorsements from elected officials and key community leaders and is the most progressive choice in this race. Vote Andrew Lewis for Seattle City Council from District 7. 

Lisa Brown is a former state representative, senate majority leader, and chancellor of Washington State University Spokane. She has also served as the Washington State Director of Commerce. Brown has spent many years advocating for and volunteering in Spokane, including organizing the first Take Back the Night rally to bring awareness to victims of domestic violence.

She wants to use her experience to see the city invest in improving the quality of life for all residents. According to Brown, one of the most pressing issues is balancing the city's budget crisis while making sure that residents have the opportunity to safely live, work, and play in Spokane.

A keystone of her campaign is increasing affordable housing to help the many residents who are struggling to find shelter or stay in their homes with housing cost increases. Some of the strategies she wants to implement include making sure that the city has fully applied for available affordable housing funds from the federal and state government, and expanding "missing middle housing," or the mid-cost housing that many professionals like teachers or firefighters need to stay in the community. Brown wants to improve community safety by investing in proven strategies like expanding mental health services, offering job apprenticeships, and building more affordable housing.

Brown is running against incumbent and former news anchor Nadine Woodward, whose conservative platform includes prioritizing her big-dollar donors and trying to make us fear those turning to cars and tents for shelter while she makes it impossible for many of us to afford any place to live.

Like many conservative incumbents running this year, Woodward has taken the stance that public safety has declined under her watch. But in this year’s budget, police have again received the most funding, with 32 percent going to police, compared to 4 percent for libraries or just 2 percent going to housing and human services. At the same time, Woodward has refused to authorize an investigation into Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl's relationship with wealthy downtown business owners with whom he shared non-public information to attack his political opponents, potentially a violation of state and local law. 

On top of this, Woodard faced calls for her resignation and widespread condemnation for her decision this August to join far-right former state representative Matt Shea at an event. A state House investigation deemed Shea a domestic terrorist for provoking a civil war, intimidating political opponents, and writing violent religious manifestos. Despite this clear record, Woodard accepted his blessing and endorsement as she stood with him onstage at the event.

Spokane has had conservative mayors for the last twelve years and Brown offers the chance to transform city and local government in Spokane. Vote for Lisa Brown for a more compassionate and affordable Spokane. 

Lindsey Shaw is running for Spokane City Council in District 1 to advocate for the residents of Northeast Spokane. Shaw served as chair of the Logan Neighborhood Council for five years and sees a chance in her candidacy to bring light to issues in District 1, like the North-South Freeway and the Children of the Sun Trail development, as well as making Spokane a better place to live for all across the city.

Shaw wants to usher in a citywide affordable childcare program to help families in the years of early childhood and boost the local economy. She states that low-barrier youth programs, young adult skill development, and other interventions are crucial for communities to thrive. On public safety, Shaw wants to see the city clean up neighborhoods, invest in substance abuse treatment and behavioral health programs, provide more affordable housing options so that no one is forced to live on the street, and make upstream investments before anyone is put into the criminal legal system.

Shaw is running against incumbent Michael Cathcart, who has served on the Spokane City Council since 2020. Previously, he was an aide for the far-right state Sen. Michael Baumgartner, who voters may remember for his anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion stances. As former executive director of the pro-business Better Spokane, Cathcart's campaign coffers and agenda are flooded with big developer money. He takes a conservative and hypocritical stance on issues like the possibility of a new jail, stating that "jail is going to make you a better criminal," but also advocating for building an expensive new one.

In the years since he lost his run for Spokane County Council, Cathcart has voted against a local Pride crosswalk and opposed a resolution that would prevent any Spokane city employee, including law enforcement, from aiding prosecution and investigations against abortion care providers or patients. Cathcart will continue to be an obstacle to progress on the council if re-elected.

Shaw's much stronger agenda and care for all residents of Spokane shows her commitment to the city, and she is the best choice for Spokane City Council, District 1. 

Paul Dillon is running for Spokane City Council, District 2 as an experienced and fearless advocate of opportunity for all in the city. 

There's no doubt about the breadth and depth of Dillon's experience working and volunteering for the residents of Spokane. He currently works as the vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho. Dillon is also the former Eastern Washington director for the YMCA Youth and Government Program and has served as a board member for the Center For Justice, Washington Bikes, and Pedals2People.

If elected, Dillon wants to raise the minimum wage to boost the local economy and support struggling families. As someone who once ran an environmental advocacy news site published by The Spokesman-Review, Dillon wants to revisit local laws on oil and train derailments to protect the environment. Also high on his priorities is to build new affordable housing units to alleviate rising housing costs for everyone in the community and fund transitional shelters and behavioral health rather than criminalizing homelessness. 

Dillon's community safety stance is more detailed and more progressive than his opponent's. He notes that due to racist incarceration policies, we have a system where African Americans, who are two percent of the population in Spokane, make up 14 percent of the jail population. He would invest in alternatives to incarceration, and use public health and behavioral health interventions instead of police where applicable, like sending unarmed officers or mental health responders. By fully funding the Office of Civil Rights and Equity, working to uplift working families, and promoting community safety, Dillon demonstrates his desire to lead from progressive values. 

His opponent is Katey Randall Treloar, who previously ran for Spokane School District Director in 2019. She is the founder of the program Bite To Go, which supplemented meals for hungry students. This year, she states that she will work on affordable housing, mental health, and addiction resources, but has yet to offer any details on her website about how she would tackle those issues if elected to city hall. 

In her previous run for school board, Treloar wanted to see armed officers put in schools and protested against COVID-19 safety protocols. She also opposed a supplemental school levy that aimed to provide resources for the district's children if the legislature didn't provide enough funding for schools. Treloar's previous campaign positions and lack of detail in her current campaign don't point to a progressive candidacy. 

Dillon's broad endorsements from labor, environmental organizations, and Democratic elected officials speak to the power of his campaign to make the city a better place to live for all. Vote Paul Dillon for Spokane City Council from District 2.
 

Former U.S. Army reserve medic Kitty Klitzke is running to bring her transportation expertise to the Spokane City Council. As the former chair of Spokane's Community Assembly Pedestrian, Transportation, and Traffic Committee and president of the Spokane Regional Food Policy Council, Klitzke has been deeply involved in the community. She also led Complete Streets Spokane, which successfully advocated for bike and pedestrian infrastructure requirements when planning and building streets.

In our local interview, Klitzke had thoughtful progressive answers to many of the issues facing Spokane. She agreed that the police ombudsman should be granted the power to independently investigate community complaints, which voters overwhelmingly approved. She also believes that Spokane needs to stop incentivizing housing that is unaffordable and start incentivizing the development of vacant lots, buildings, and parking lots. On homelessness, she supports a housing-first approach that helps people find shelter and secure homes as well as needed services.

Running against Klitzke is former respiratory therapist Earl Moore, who states that she's running a nonpartisan campaign though she was awarded the 2022 Republican Hero award by the county Republican party. Moore joined a rally this May to defend Spokane Police Chief Meidl from an investigation about potentially inappropriate relationships with wealthy downtown business owners, including sharing non-public information and using the police budget to attack his political opponents. Moore was also one of a number of candidates who joined far-right former state representative Matt Shea at an event this August to receive his endorsement and blessing.  As of mid-October, Moore's campaign remains thin on details about what she would prioritize if elected. Aside from her dedication to always supporting police, Moore promises a regional approach to the housing crisis but includes nothing about how she would implement policies in the city to achieve more stable or affordable housing. 

Klitzke is an accomplished transportation advocate who is excited to take on the city's needs for long-term planning and vision. Kitty Klitzke is the clear choice for Spokane City Council in District 3.  

Olgy Diaz is running to retain the At-Large position on the Tacoma City Council. Appointed to the position in the summer of 2022, Diaz is the first Latina to serve on the council. Diaz has deep roots in advocating for the community, including with groups like OneAmerica and Planned Parenthood, in the state legislature, and alongside local candidates. Reflecting her commitment to protecting our clean air and water, she serves as the deputy legislative director for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and serves as the vice chair of the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition.

Diaz has hit the ground running as a council member. In her first year, she has passed ordinances to protect gender-affirming healthcare and the right to abortion. She is excited to continue work on the city's climate action plan, which has so far funded wildfire smoke filter fans for low-income households and a city litter crew, among other priorities. When it comes to community safety, Diaz supports the city's overhaul of police use-of-force policies, the body camera program, and a community trauma response team. She also supported investments directly in the community through more affordable and accessible homes and shelter, increasing the tree canopy, and more. Diaz's work has earned her a huge slate of endorsements, including from Tacoma City Council members, state representatives, and many progressive organizations. 

Diaz is being challenged from the right by Kristen Wynne, an event venue owner and former King County deputy prosecutor. She is running to represent the business community, in her words, and wants to make Tacoma more business-friendly. But her method of doing so has failed time and time again - by pouring more money into law enforcement to tackle the issues of public safety. 

Relying on police, penalties, and prisons to tackle the addiction crisis, lack of affordable housing, and dealing with people having mental health crises has yet to work here or elsewhere in the country. Wynne takes issue with the 30 vacant officer positions in the Tacoma Police Department, but this isn't just a local issue - cities across the state and nation have seen a deficit of qualified individuals seeking to become police officers. This is yet another reason that relying on traditional law enforcement is unlikely to solve issues of addiction, mental health, or homelessness.

Wynne is closely aligned with the downtown business community and would likely pull the council to the right if elected. Diaz has been a principled and proactive member of the Tacoma City Council, and she has earned her vote to continue her work on the council. 
 

Deputy Mayor Kristina Walker is running for re-election for At-Large Position 8 on the Tacoma City Council. Prior to serving on the city council, Walker spent nine years as the executive director of Downtown on the Go, a Tacoma-based transportation advocacy organization that aims to encourage the use of biking, walking, and transit. 

During her first term in office, Walker has prioritized addressing racial disparities, expanding shelter options, and investing more in affordable housing. She supported the Home in Tacoma initiative to promote a greater range of housing options in more neighborhoods and reduce the cost of housing. She has also used her experience in transportation advocacy to improve access and keep our streets safe, including supporting legislation to lower the speed limit to 20 mph in residential areas. Unfortunately, Walker was part of a 6-3 majority on the city council that banned people without a home from sleeping outside near services. 

If re-elected, Walker would prioritize creating jobs, improving transportation access, and preserving local green spaces for all Tacoma residents. In addition, she is committed to reducing gun violence and improving public safety.

Walker faces a challenge this year from Todd Briske. Briske is a web developer who ran for state legislature last year against Speaker Laurie Jinkins as part of the Forward Party. He does not appear to have much community or political leadership experience. He states that he would focus on paving potholes, hiring more police officers, and building more shelter beds, though he doesn't say how he would accomplish this. 

Walker's track record on the council and strong support from our Progressive Voters Guide partners makes her the clear choice in this race.
 

Kate Kruller, a current Tukwila City Council member, is running to be the city’s next mayor. Kruller was first elected to the city council in 2011 and also serves on a number of community boards, including chairing the Transportation and Infrastructure Services Federal Advocacy Committee. Outside of public service, she has spent more than three decades in IT and communications (primarily for municipal government offices), and she currently works for the county as a senior IT project manager. 

Kruller is running on a community-focused platform focused on affordable housing, safety services, public transportation, and responsible budgeting. She recognizes that Tukwila has seen major changes in the past few years and she wants to continue working on solutions to the rising cost of living, gentrification and rapid development, and the displacement of local, small businesses. In this race, Kruller has been endorsed by an impressive list of progressive elected officials, labor groups, and nonprofit organizations.

Fellow city council member Thomas McLeod is running against Kruller for Mayor of Tukwila. McLeod is a tax accountant who first joined Tukwila’s city council in January 2016. He previously served on the city’s planning commission for five years. If elected mayor, he wants to build on some police accountability measures and secure upgrades for roadways and sidewalks. He also wants to create more affordable housing and steer Tukwila’s growth in a responsible way.

We recommend Kate Kruller for Tukwila mayor due to her strong track record of city leadership and numerous key endorsements in this race.
 

Vancouver native Leah Perkel is running to help Vancouver stay affordable and safe. She has been involved in community organizations like Stone Soup, the Northwest Neighborhood Association, and the Clark County Food Bank.

Perkel is a progressive candidate who is looking to improve life for all in Vancouver, from creating family-wage jobs to improving infrastructure. She wants to use her position on the council to increase the city's transportation capacity as well as housing options for all income levels. 

She believes one way the city could improve housing is to do more outreach to community organizations. In addition, Perkel supports the extension of the moratorium on warehouses, which use large amounts of land while producing fewer jobs than other industrial uses. She also approves of the city's climate action plan and states that if elected she wants to help expand solar power and incentives to bring green employers to Vancouver.