I was born into the silent sheltered shame of domestic violence. My lived-experience as both the survivor and aftermath of multisystemic failures to protect the vulnerable is a testimony on behalf of silent victims. My Life Purpose is to hold space for those who lack power or voice. We must remove the money from the power if we desire candidates whose waves will lift all boats, not just stakeholders’.

I support term limits and salary caps relative to area median incomes to keep our leaders’ accountable/relatable. I envision institutional reformation with participatory budgeting. We cannot marginalize the role the system has played in our generational traumas. We must aim towards reparative models with respect and humility. The violent crime cannot be curbed with human sweeps or pepperspray. We must treat the root cause: our mental health and addiction crisis. We warrant a new approach; candidates with different competencies.  I will push to expand the RADAR program and to create a King County Regional Treatment Facility so that drug-fueled crimes can have treatment-focused sentences. We need transitional, supportive and permanent affordable housing; reintegration instead of revolving doors.

I Believe that any person willing to contribute to the Public Good should not struggle to keep their lights on or pay rent. We need to grow our King County Conservation Corps towards more opportunity for stability, to rid our public streets, greenbelts and waterways of garbage, to weed-out invasives, plant native trees, protect pollinators, and to drastically expand local plastic recycling. In the face of a fragile global supply chain, we must invest in green industries like rain barrels to empower food sovereignty. We necessitate a county-wide tree ordinance.

We must let the sun set on the cycles of abuse and wanton refuse. The fate of tomorrow rests in the interventions of today.

Rod Dembowski is a hands-on, results-driven councilmember, who has never missed a vote. When the pandemic hit, Rod went to work, securing quarantine sites, delivering food and masks to senior centers, bringing vaccination sites to North King County, and helping workers and businesses recover.

An advocate for seniors. Rod secured millions of dollars to support the Northshore, Shoreline and Lake City Senior Centers. He helped hundreds of seniors with property tax relief.

An environmental champion. Rod passed the strongest local climate action plan in the country. Rod has proposed a climate bond to equitably accelerate the county’s response to climate change. He wrote the law to electrify the Metro Transit fleet. He’s protected farmland and open space, helped save the Wayne Golf Course, acquired waterfront land in Lake Forest Park, expanded Big Finn Hill Park, funded the Green Loop Trail, and cleaned up Thornton Creek.

A leader on behavioral health. Rod led efforts to fund the new Behavioral Health Institute at Harborview. In partnership with local police departments, Rod secured funding to expand the RADAR/Navigator program, pairing mental health professionals with police officers to help people in crisis. Rod worked to reform our homelessness response. He helped establish the new Regional Homelessness Authority, bringing cities and providers countywide together to fix a broken system and get our unsheltered neighbors housed and healthy.

The Municipal League recognized Rod as the Public Official of the Year. The Center for Human Services honored Rod for his commitment to human services. The Korean American Association honored Rod for his work protecting and expanding voting rights. Rod’s Endorsements include: Mayors of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Kirkland, Bothell, Woodinville. Washington Conservation Voters. Alliance for Gun Responsibility. King County Democrats. King County Labor Council. Affordable Housing Council. Attorney General Bob Ferguson. Congresswoman Suzan DelBene.