I’m often asked what “progressive” means to me. American Progressivism is rooted in the belief that government should function as a living body, adapting to the needs of it’s people. I firmly believe that Seattle needs a new toolbox with robust, practical, and creative solutions to rebuild what is fundamentally broken around us.

I know my neighbors join me in my commitment to addressing our cities most critical issues, which are addressed in my platform:

A Focus on Public Health & Safety

I’ll begin by establishing a baseline of shelter and facilities for our unhoused neighbors, in addition to providing access to basic human necessities such as restrooms and security, we will finally gauge the true scope of our homelessness crisis. We must simultaneously address our deficient rental market and reduce the barriers to affordable homeownership by adjusting regulations and increasing density in our urban centers. Lastly, I will look at the results of our new “Health One” pilot program and take the steps necessary to create a first responder division focused on providing medical assistance and support services to residents in distress.

A Fast Lane to Improved Transportation

I will work with regional partners to expand our vital network of varied and functional public transit systems. I want to grow transit options that work and are demonstrably cost-effective, add Ballard and Lake Washington routes to our water-taxi system, and explore ride-sharing incentives to reduce congestion. I will stop dysfunctional transportation projects in their tracks and reroute funding to more effective programs. I will follow through on our city’s promise to complete our bicycle network, expand bus routes, and increase last-mile transit options.

A Progressive Plan for a 21st-Century City

I will work to protect personal privacy by advocating for facial recognition bans. In a city that maintains thousands of contract workers, I will work towards access to fair wages and benefits. While establishing a forward-looking plan to shore-up our city’s infrastructure, my commitment to reducing Seattle’s environmental impact will be paramount in every decision made - we have no room to regress.

I’m asking for your vote because together we will set our district and our city back on track towards a dignified future. Together we will stand up to corporate influence while protecting our economy. Together we will shelter the homeless while saving our environment. Together we will bring common sense to our government and save our city.

Education: Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center Academy

Occupation: City Of Seattle Police Officer

Statement: Working as a police officer, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges we face in D6. I will not criminalize homelessness, however, the discarding of needles and human waste in our shared spaces is not okay. It must stop. We must demand accountability, not only among our elected officials and police officers, but also among those they serve. We need to ensure sure that parks, and green spaces are not being degraded because we are afraid to have tough conversations.

To address the homelessness crises, we need to acknowledge the actions we have taken thus far are not effective. We need a data-driven approach, and we must collaborate with our regional partners. In addition, with a 6-billion-dollar city budget, we need to do a better job with the revenue we have.

We’ll work with developers and city leaders toward common sense solutions so that our neighbors and families can thrive in a Seattle we are proud to call home. This means working with local businesses, King County, non-profits and human service agencies to build affordble housing fast while providing more mental health and drug treatment services. 

I’m a first-generation American. My parents immigrated from Honduras in pursuit of the American Dream. My wife immigrated from Brazil for the same reason.

The Seattle Police Department hired me, in part for my zeal to be part of this wonderful and thriving community. I love the city’s charm, it’s natural integration with the surrounding Puget Sound’s beauty, and its progressive approach towards a better quality of life.

I love Seattle and chose this city because of cultural diversity, progressive values and proximity to nature. I was also attracted by the willingness of the voters here to adopt innovative new approaches to governance and civil society in order to create a better quality of life for everyone including immigrant, refugee and LGBTQ communities.  

I am proud to be endorsed by over 25 District 6 businesses including: Tide & Pines, Mike’s Sweets, The Sunset Tavern, Hattie’s Hat, Bongo’s, Market Street Shoes, Space Oddity, Roots, Ballard Consignment, Ballard Home Comforts, Magnum Storage, The Noble Fir, Phinney Ridge Painting, Savoir Faire Salon, Gracia, GenCare Seattle, Ballard Landmark, Stoneburner, Ballard Annex, Torasco, Anchored Ship, Little Tin Goods & Apothecary Cabinet, Bollyhoo, Studio RA, Kula Movement and Venue. 

I’d be honored to have your vote.

I’ll be your advocate at City Hall. For residents and small businesses who want safe neighborhoods. For seniors who built Seattle and are being priced out of their homes. For children who deserve clean parks and open community centers. For our maritime industry that provides high-wage jobs.

I’m an experienced coalition builder who will listen to everyone and ensure that we have a strong voice in decisions affecting us.

My family has lived in the district for 16 years. As a working mom, small business owner, and longtime non-profit director specialized in youth development, I’m running to create a more affordable, equitable, sustainable and business-friendly city.

I’m the ONLY candidate who has done this job. On the council 20 years ago, I expanded rate assistance so more low-income people and seniors could qualify. I worked to expand transit and provide more affordable housing and human services. I led investments in renewables. I have a proven track record in problem-solving.

We need effective leadership now more than ever:

Addressing homelessness: The city can no longer condone people sleeping in tents in our parks and open spaces. It’s unsafe and unhygienic and does nothing to move them toward self-sufficiency. Dirty syringes in our community are a public health concern. Seattle can’t solve this crisis in a silo. We need to engage regional partners to address the root causes. We need immediate short-term solutions like modular homes and long-term solutions that include permanent supportive housing. To be successful and fiscally responsible, we must coordinate services.

Public safety: This must be a priority. Our police department is small compared with cities our size. We need to address vacancies stretching the department too thin, a lack of diversion programs, and prosecution of repeat offenders.

Focusing on the basics: We need transportation infrastructure improvements to ensure Seattle is safe to walk and bike while prioritizing public transportation and freight mobility. Seattle must lead in tackling climate change and reducing our carbon footprint.

Housing affordability: We need more housing of all shapes and sizes for people of all incomes so teachers, nurses and firefighters who contribute so much to our city can live close to where they work.

Endorsed by: Sierra Club, Seattle Restaurant Alliance, 46^th District Democrats, Humane Voters of WA, Gov. Gary Locke, King County Executive Ron Sims, Mayor Greg Nickels, Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz, Port Commissioner Peter Steinbrueck, and many other community leaders.

Hello, Neighbors.  I am an aerospace engineer with a strong civic sense and desire to fix the problems that vex us and encourage every Seattle resident and visitor to enjoy the town and prosper.

Today’s problems have upstream causes that can be mitigated.  Actions taken to correct them have downstream consequences.  The current city council representatives have not listened to us nor accepted responsibility for their lack of results on homelessness, drug addiction, mental health, public safety, and mobility problems.  I will listen to you and take responsibility.

I volunteer in the community and participate in civic life.  I help students with their homework at the library, ran several merit badge fairs, and recently helped pick up trash and used needles near a shack encampment.

Who isn’t moved by the sight of the homeless suffering on our streets?  Homelessness and its frequently overlapping factors – mental illness, drug addition, unexpected personal emergency, and unlawful behavior – need to be addressed head on.  I will not look away and enable this situation.  I will push for policies and legislative solutions that pick people up off the streets and put them on the return path to dignity, self-sufficiency, and contribution to society.

I Back The Blue.  Thank you SPD for all you do.  I will introduce legislation to untie the hands of our understaffed, hard-working police officers so they can properly handle illegal behavior.  The North Precinct should be split in two and needs to be replaced with a modern, functional facility.

Business is booming.  We all benefit if we set policies and legislation that do not overly restrict business and commerce.  The time is now to prepare for a future rainy day while not hampering businesses, employees, or their customers.

Curb to curb, there is room for all.  We will accommodate all road users without demonizing some.  Car-hating has no home here.  I support increased transit routes and busses.  This will reduce traffic, a mutually beneficial result for transit riders and cars drivers.  I will fight against congestion pricing and will fight to replace the Magnolia Bridge.

Our Seattle has a bright future of Dignity, Safety, Prosperity, and Mobility.  You’re invited.  As your council representative, I will work with my colleagues, talented municipal employees, and the public to guide policy and lead on legislation to fix our current, and prevent future, civic problems all while honoring our American freedoms and liberties.

Terry is the practical progressive choice in the district 6 council race. He is a Pacific Northwest Native and has lived in Seattle for the last 12 years. 

The most important issue facing Seattle, and the rest of the globe, is climate change. Seattle must take bold action to reduce our emissions to zero by 2050. It is imperative that we have a climate champion on the Seattle City Council. 

Terry got into this race because this is a moment when we need substantial and meaningful policy that will shape us into a more livable, equitable, and greener city in the coming decades. 

We must reduce our city’s emissions, reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness, increase funding and expedite permitting for mass-transit projects and add density to this beautiful city. We must do this now and we must do it by building a broad coalition that works with all stake-holders. 

Terry began his career working on small passenger vessels based out of Fisherman’s Terminal cruising to Alaska and back. Working on small ships taught him how to work with everyone at the table, not just the people who you want to work with. This was an early indicator that he is a leader with a knack for finding common ground. Terry quickly moved into management before leaving the small ship industry to work in tech.

Terry led a team for a startup for two years before joining Porch.com. At Porch Terry worked on app development and user experience. Terry plans to bring the same principles that made him successful in the tech industry to city government: improving user experience, finding efficiencies, and effectively leveraging data.

For the last four years Terry has been the Managing Director of Savor Seattle, an iconic tourism company with offices at Pike Place Market.  As a small business leader, he has seen first hand the challenges and opportunities associated with Seattle’s economic boom.

Terry currently speaks on the topic of data informed decision making, is a board member of the Global Food Tourism Association, and serves on the Washington State Senate’s Environment, Energy & Technology Advisory Group.

A City Councilmember Who Listens

I’m running for Seattle City Council to empower our neighborhoods, engage all voices, and bring accountability back to the Council. On the campaign trail, I’ve heard repeatedly that residents do not feel the current City Council hears their concerns or spends their tax dollars wisely. It’s time to bring representation and responsiveness back to City Hall. I’ll bring thoughtful, pragmatic solutions to tackle the growth-related issues facing Seattle today: housing affordability, homelessness, crime & safety and traffic congestion.

Smart Growth, Protecting Neighborhoods

Our city is expanding rapidly. Yet, the City Council isn’t managing this growth in a balanced way. Our infrastructure, parks, and roads are not equipped to manage the booming population. We must mitigate the impact of growth by expanding Seattle’s infrastructure. Growth must pay for growth, and developers must pay to offset the costs of infrastructure, parks, and roads. That’s why I co-founded Seattle Fair Growth whose mission is to maintain Seattle’s livability while accommodating its rapid growth. Seattle neighborhoods deserve a voice in shaping the changes to their communities.

Action Now on Homelessness

The City’s response to homelessness hasn’t worked. People shouldn’t be living on the streets, especially when Seattle’s economy is booming as never before. As an entrepreneur and former small business owner, I understand that investment now will save money later. We must invest money in the proven solutions for homelessness, like the Housing First model, and disrupting the cycle of homelessness before it starts through rental vouchers, transitional housing, job training, and domestic violence support programs.

My Experience

As a resident of Ballard for nearly two decades and successful small business owner, I’ve been deeply involved in our community - with the Ballard Little League Board and Salmon Bay School FOSB. Recently, I helped found SCALE, a grassroots coalition of 29 community groups to appeal the City’s Mandatory Housing Affordability Environmental Impact Study, which will impact neighborhoods throughout Seattle.

It’s Time For Change

As I campaign throughout District 6, I hear the similar frustrations over and over again from voters: we’ve lost trust with the Council and we want change. We can keep electing the same insiders promising the same solutions, or we can elect a leader who built coalitions and advocated for the residents of Seattle instead of special interests. If you want change, then I’d be honored to earn your vote and be the change you deserve.

Occupation:  Currently PT co-manager of family farm; PT caregiver/senior advocate

Education:  University of Denver, CO.  Brookdale College, NJ.  Blasco Film & TV Makeup School, CA.  Life.  Lots of life!

Having lived in Seattle 26 years, I see changes that concern me, and changes that delight me.  To me and many others, it appears we do need to get back to some basic standards:  fair taxation, a better environment, city services that work well for all, and what may simply encapsulate all our needs:  clean air & water, a roof, food, Locke’s Inalienable Rights (life, liberty, property, right to rebel against an unjust law or government).  Seattle still beats many cities in many ways, and I want to help ensure that all citizens here are truly treated well and equally, a topic much discussed in recent months.

I’ve always appreciated those who speak their minds.  But we must also have those who listen.  A good leader needs to do both.  These are traits I have practiced as a leader of several non-profits, the Wallingford Chamber of Commerce, chairing a state political party, co-owner/manager of Not A Number Cards & Gifts, and much more.  More at my website:  HeySeattle.vote

"When enough people make enough false promises, words stop meaning anything, and there are no answers, just better lies.” - Jon Snow

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead

I’m Dan Strauss and I was born and raised in Ballard. I’m running for City Council to ensure all residents and small businesses of District 6 are heard. I understand the challenges we’re facing, and I will be an advocate for everyone in this community, whether you’ve been here one year or forty.

I’ve dedicated my life to public service. I served with AmeriCorps in low-income communities across America, working on projects from disaster relief to after-school programs.

I helped craft the Extreme Risk Protection Order gun responsibility bill in Olympia, and when it failed to pass, I went to work on the successful initiative campaign. On council, I’ll implement gun violence prevention by investing in community-based programs interrupting violence.

I have nearly a decade of legislative experience and I know how to make change happen. As a chief policy advisor, I bring governments, organizations, and communities together to solve problems. I have coordinated with the state, county, city, and local groups to fund transportation projects, develop green building codes, and improve our parks. I’m uniquely qualified to solve our city’s issues.

Homelessness: I’ll prioritize policies that get people experiencing homelessness into four walls and a door that locks, with the services needed to address chemical dependency and mental health. I’ll use relationships I’ve built collaborating across governments to ensure our regional partners do their part.  

Housing Affordability: I am a renter. My parents are homeowners in the district. I understand the housing pressures facing all residents. I’ll ensure longtime residents aren't pushed out of our community while creating affordable homes for families and new residents.

Transportation: We can’t wait for light rail - our community needs better transit now. I’ll bring reliable transit to our district, create dedicated bus lanes that freight can use, and connect our protected bike lanes so everyone is safe and separated.

Affordable Childcare: It’s wrong that childcare in Seattle costs more than UW tuition. I’ll push for more access to high-quality childcare everyone can afford.

Representation: I will listen to you, follow through for you, help you navigate city bureaucracy, and open a district office so you don’t have to come downtown to be heard.

I have deep roots in our community and am endorsed by SEIU 1199NW, UFCW 21, Councilmember Bagshaw, King County Young Democrats, former State Rep. Jessyn Farrell, and many more community members. I ask for your support and your vote.

People are hungry for new leadership on the Seattle City Council. We want a Councilmember who thinks boldly and broadly; who organizes individuals, the private and public sectors, and the community for the common good; and who leads strong local action on the urgent issues of affordable housing, homelessness, transportation, and climate change.

Developing local community partnerships is the most immediate and efficient means of addressing affordable housing and homelessness. Congestion pricing would allow expedited construction of light rail, bicycle networks, and other transit options. Incentives from Seattle City Light for on-site solar electrical generation and energy storage in buildings would reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For the past 30 years, it has been an honor to work for the City of Seattle in a variety of public service roles. Currently, at Seattle Parks and Recreation, I work with community stakeholders to build great parks and recreational facilities throughout our city. Previously, I worked for the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods for almost 20 years as a liaison and a Neighborhood Matching Fund grant funder. Prior to that, I worked at Seattle City Light to protect natural resources in the North Cascades National Park, host to City Light’s hydroelectric projects. These roles have taught me that strong government-community partnerships can address a wide range of issues and opportunities, including public safety, ecodistricts, thriving communities and neighborhood business districts.

My volunteer work has included: the Phinney Neighborhood Association (past-President), the Washington Environmental Council’s Political Action Committee (WENPAC), the Seattle Metrocenter YMCA, and Listen and Talk.

As someone committed to civic education, I have participated in Leadership Tomorrow and helped establish the People’s Academy for Community Engagement, a program of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods that teaches hands-on engagement and empowerment skills to emerging leaders in a multicultural environment.

While I have experienced significant hearing loss since birth, I have trained myself to understand people with the use of cochlear implants and through reading lips. Although surmounting this challenge is a lifelong pursuit, it has given me valuable perspective, including a firm grasp of and commitment to the fight for equity, and the ability to listen closely to people.

As the campaign progresses, I very much welcome your thoughts and ideas on how to address the challenges and opportunities ahead for District 6 and our city. I would be honored to have the opportunity to serve you.

Dr. Jay Fathi — Lifelong Commitment to a Healthy Seattle

Seattle can and must be a safe, welcoming and affordable home for all. Our City Council desperately needs new, experienced voices to address complex challenges with a focus on the needs of our neighborhoods and families.

I’ve lived here my entire life. As a family doctor caring for our community, I’ve learned to first listen when solving problems, and I’ll bring that same approach to the Council. Seattle is a wonderful city, with a progressive commitment to equity and innovation, but too often our Council doesn’t listen. That is not healthy and must change.

I was raised in North Seattle by a single mom who worked hard to find both affordable rent and family-wage employment. My dad was an immigrant from Iran when America welcomed those who sought freedom and opportunity. These are values my wife Joelle (a nurse practitioner and UW professor) and I are instilling in our two sons.  

Homelessness: I’m the only candidate across the city who has provided care to low income, homeless and vulnerable populations—and expanded affordable health care to serve thousands across our state. My unique experience strengthening our social safety net is critical to tackling the public health crisis on our streets. There are no easy solutions, but inaction while unsheltered people—and our quality of life—suffer is inexcusable.

Affordability: Seattle’s growth is both energizing and marginalizing, forcing working people, young families and seniors out of our neighborhoods—and too often out of Seattle. I’ll target growth along new transit and urban centers, build affordable family-sized homes, and help seniors and fixed income households.

Public Safety: The disconnect between City Hall and the problems of neighborhood crime must end. Everyone deserves to feel safe in our city. I’ll step up efforts to implement reforms while providing the resources to protect our communities.

Public Schools: I’ve volunteered and coached in our schools, and served as Medical Director at the Ballard High School clinic—helping teens make smart, safe decisions. As a proud SPS graduate and with kids in public schools, I will advocate for our students, educators, and stronger school partnerships.

I believe in Seattle and its people, and I’d be honored to earn your vote.

Proudly endorsed by: SEIU Healthcare 1199 and 775, UFCW 21, former Mayor Tim Burgess, and neighbors across Seattle

My name is Jeremy Cook, and I am running for Seattle City Council because the people deserve someone who is responsive to their needs. During council meetings, I promise to turn off my cell phone, take notes, and actually listen when someone is addressing the council.

We face many problems as a city, and here are some I would like to work towards improving.

Seattle has a drug addiction problem. We need our police to enforce the law and arrest people when they commit crimes. There needs to be a system that provides medically assisted treatment to those who need it, as well as halfway houses, job training, work release programs, and continued monitoring upon release. Rhode Island has been successful using this type of approach and it would probably work well here.

Seattle has an affordable housing shortage. The City should not approve building permits so developers can tear down affordable units and replace them with “market rate” housing. They are able to do this by paying a small fee. That option should be eliminated. They should fulfill their requirements to build affordable housing in addition to the “market rate” housing that they want to build. The city should also leverage its resources to build more affordable housing.

We need to increase density in areas where it makes the most sense, such as near mass transit. The current upzoning passed by the city paints with too broad a brush and doesn’t allow people enough input about what happens in their neighborhood.

Seattle has a tax addiction problem. The city council has implemented regressive taxes that disproportionately harm those with lower incomes. These include the bag tax, sugar tax, and ammo tax. I would like to repeal all of them.

Our city government also has a transparency and accountability problem. Seattle has a 5.9 billion dollar annual budget. That should be enough money to run a city this size. For comparison, Denver has a similar population and its city budget is about 1.5 Billion. I would like a complete and independent audit of the cities expenditures and make their report public. As a city council member, I would like to work towards finding efficiencies and reducing waste rather than working to figure out ways to take more of your money.

I thank you very much for taking the time to cast your ballot and I respectfully ask for your vote.

Education: BS Geography Florida State University, JD Washington University in Saint Louis

Occupation: Attorney at Smol Law

Statement:

Melissa Hall moved to Seattle with her wife in order to start a family in a place where they would be safe, and where her daughter would be free to write her own story. A Floridian by birth, Melissa is a Seattleite by choice who is proud of living in a district that overwhelmingly voted for marriage equality.

Land use -- the planning and law -- are why Melissa is running. Melissa believes that livable big cities are really just “collections of small towns that just happen to be right next to each other”. As a councilmember, she’ll focus on gentle densification for less disruptive development. Her goal is to increase regulatory incentives for commercial developers to build nearby housing, so that the number of car commuters into the city doesn’t increase. Melissa is an advocate for environmentally-friendly modes of transportation with a focus on safety and quality of service.

Seattle has made a good start in accommodating rapid growth, but we have to do more. Change that brings us closer to each other will strengthen communities, bring amenities, improve transit, and lead to a way of life that is both more connected and better for the environment than the congested, car-dependent patterns we suffer with today.

She believes in community broadband, believing that reliable internet access should be available to all residents just like power and water.

Before moving, Melissa worked in emergency management, helping respond to the largest oil spill in America -- the Deepwater Horizon spill. Later, she worked to bring local government’s land use and zoning codes into compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program. She regularly donates time to the QLaw legal clinic, and helped secure space for women’s athletics in city facilities.

In planning “with, not for” Seattle’s diverse citizens she hopes to create housing security for all Seattleites, including those currently unhoused.

As a lawyer with experience in local governments, Melissa understands the limitations placed on the City of Seattle by state law – like what revenue the city can collect - and will work creatively within those restrictions to achieve our collective goals. Rather than making empty promises, she is seeking accountability partners to keep everyone on course to getting things done.

We need your ideas so we can build a stronger community together.

The biggest challenges that Seattle faces are fixable.

Every day out on the campaign trail, people tell me they’re more than ready for results from our public and private investments in the crisis of broke and broken people. We see with our own eyes that things are getting worse, not better. Denial and public relations smooth-overs by City Hall will not convince us otherwise.

More locals and transplants are becoming homeless, lawlessness and disorder rule, mental illness and addiction go untreated, affordable housing and business spaces become harder to find or hang onto and moving around our inadequate transportation system has become more difficult.

The basic services we should expect from our government are bungled, underbudgeted, or left undone.

I represent the change that’s needed.

A “small d” democrat, conservative progressive, and professional planner and designer with decades of involvement in neighborhood, city wide and school district issues, I have a passion for great public policy and a deep understanding of the issues. My problem-solving skills allow me to bring forward practical, affordable, and creative solutions.

We must get at the sources of our problems, not just treat symptoms.

The systems feeding our crises must be addressed, or we won’t make much progress. For instance, we can make strategic investments that better support the first 1000 days of children’s lives, improve education so that it engages teenagers, and increase our support for foster children transitioning into adulthood at 18.  

Owner-occupied Communities are the answer.   

City Hall’s plan for growth that displaces everyone already here is ridiculous and their efforts to set the table for Real Estate Investment Trusts to greedily gobble up the goodness of our neighborhoods are corrupt. Single-family zoning rebranded to Sustainable Families and Groups, with incentives for homeowners to tuck housing for others onto their lots, would bring us the affordable housing we need.

The cost of healthcare is killing the middle class and hurting businesses.  

We could all have great coverage at an affordable price, if we opened the City of Seattle self-insured healthcare pool up to anyone who lives or works in Seattle. Access to that pool would benefit residents, workers, and businesses tremendously, while costing the city nothing.

Count on me to bring an unending stream of ideas that work to District 6 and beyond.   

Your Democracy Vouchers and volunteer efforts will assure my victory.

Visit  https://www.putkateonthecouncil.org/volunteer/

- Kate Martin (206) 579-3703, katemartin@putkateonthecouncil.org