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-I'm Shaun Scott, and I'm running for
Seattle City Council, District 4.
The question before us in this election cycle
is whether we want to be a city of compassion
or a city of cruelty.
A compassionate city is one that builds enough deeply
affordable housing for those already here
and for those on the way.
A compassionate city is one with a fair tax code,
where working people, renters,
and homeowners don't shoulder a
disproportionate share of our tax burden with
regressive sales and property taxes.
It's a city where every Seattleite
can enjoy public parks, free public transit,
and mental health and supportive housing services.
As a former journalist and editor of
Real Change News and a field organizer
for Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal's
2018 reelection campaign, I've worked almost
my entire life towards studying and organizing
for policies that make Seattle
a more compassionate city.
I've been endorsed in this race by Cary Moon,
the Washington State High School Democrats,
and the Sierra Club because of my commitment
to creating a more compassionate city.
Some forces in this city
would turn us into a cruel city,
a city that wastes $10 million a year
on ineffective sweeps of the homeless,
that displaces Seattle homeowners
and only builds housing for the richest among us,
a city with no treatment centers
and no investment in social services for working families,
like childcare.
I think that we can do better.
I think that we can have a compassionate city.
As a Seattle City Council member
representing District 4,
I'll work towards building a compassionate city.
And in the August primary election,
I'm asking for your vote to help build that city.
Thank you.
-Greetings, voters.
My name's Beth Mountsier.
I have ideas about how to improve and make
Seattle better, including the thorniest issues
facing our communities.
I'm running because I have a passion for working
on these issues and a wealth
of experience working with our communities and
elected officials for 28 years
at King Country and Redmond, and I want to do more.
I've been at the table when we've been building
a booming economy,
coordinated transportation,
and infrastructure for climate change.
My training and working under these conditions
and obstacles, and then finding
the most elegant solution with others within
a budget is my specialty.
Some of you are reeling from what seems
like impossible problems --
a lack of affordable housing, health
and humanitarian crisis of homelessness.
There's a fear the future won't be as bright for new
Seattleites, but we can share a vision, take actions,
and ensure this city celebrates and houses everyone.
I'm a pragmatic policy wonk, a collaborator.
I've worked on solutions at the elected level
and out in my community.
One of my proudest accomplishments
was working with council member Bob Ferguson
to develop and champion the Veterans
and Human Services Levy in 2005.
It provides housing,
mental health services,
and upstream investments in youth
and families to avoid problems later,
and it's helping seniors, also.
I have a reputation as an honest broker
going back to the '80s when I secured an agreement
to replace housing units that the
convention center wanted to tear down.
I'm also out in our neighborhoods working with you
and volunteering every day.
I've worked for better housing,
access to music programs,
helping young adults find a foothold
and future here.
Currently, I'm board chair at University Heights.
Issues have answers,
and I'm confident that Seattle's innovators,
entrepreneurs, and pioneering families
can lead the West Coast, if not the nation,
out of these challenges.
Seattle neighbors are generous, compassionate,
but want tools and actions that lead to solutions.
I get that. I'll make that happen.
Find out more about me
and my priorities at my website.
I invite you to vote for an experienced leader.
Thanks.
-Hi. I'm Emily Myers.
I'm running for Seattle City Council in District 4.
I'm a Parkinson's researcher at the
University of Washington and an
executive board member in my union
of over 5,000 academic student employees,
UAW 4121.
I'm also a renter in the "U" District.
I'm running for city council
because we need a leader
who will use data and facts
to make decisions and deliver results.
I'm a scientist. It's what I do.
I have a plan to make childcare more affordable
for all families by making it easier for people
to open high-quality childcare centers,
getting big business to chip in
and help working families,
and by supporting childcare workers
to get the training they need.
I have a plan to reduce homelessness
in our region and protect the health and safety
of all people in Seattle.
I will focus our city's spending
on evidence-based policies
that are both humane, cost-effective,
and preserve the dignity of people
experiencing homelessness.
I have a plan to make neighborhoods more inclusive
to people of all incomes
and increase housing affordability.
We must allow housing options like duplexes
and triplexes citywide,
and we must build public housing with progressive revenue
raised by asking big businesses
with enough money to pay their CEOs $1 million a year
to pay their fair share so that workers
can live in this city.
I have a plan to make Seattle resilient
to our changing climate and truly be a climate leader.
Let's complete our transit plans that focus
on reducing carbon emissions,
improve east-west bus routes,
and build green infrastructure
to connect our neighborhoods.
Let's make green leases the standard
and create new, climate-friendly living wage jobs
for Seattleites.
Whether we're facing down a climate crisis,
a homelessness crisis,
or housing and childcare affordability crisis,
I'm the scientist and leader with the data
and the solutions to get things done.
Vote for Emily Myers on August 6th.
-Hi. I'm Alex Pedersen,
and I'm running for city council
to bring accountability to our city government.
Many people have lost faith in city council
because of politicians who don't listen.
I will listen to the communities in our district,
and I will deliver results for your priorities.
We should be seeing better
results on homelessness.
I will use my experience to fund
only the best strategies proven to
reduce homelessness in other cities.
I will maximize mental heath
and drug addiction programs
to achieve real results on this regional crisis.
Compassion requires results.
To increase public safety,
city council needs to support our police officers
and hold the criminal justice system accountable.
Our city's traffic and roads are a mess.
City council must wisely invest your tax dollars
to move the most people by repairing roads,
maximizing transit,
and improving sidewalks.
After earning a master's degree in government,
I worked at the Department of Housing
and Urban Development
during the Clinton administration
to reduce homelessness.
My career includes 15 years in the private sector,
preserving affordable housing.
When I worked as an analyst for the city council,
I crafted legislation,
creating the nationally-acclaimed
Seattle Preschool Program,
and I led efforts to fully fund the
Nurse-Family Partnership that empowers
low-income moms and their babies.
As a progressive Democrat focused on results,
I'm proud to be endorsed by former King County
Executive Ron Simms,
Tim Burgess, Nick Licata,
Ruth Kagi, Daniel J. Evans,
State Rep Gerry Pollet,
Port Commissioner Peter Steinbrueck,
the 46th Legislative District Democrats,
and by neighborhood businesses.
I'm Alex Pederson,
and I would be honored to earn your vote.
-My name is Cathy Tuttle.
I'd like your vote
for Seattle City Council,
position 4.
I've got the skills and experience
our city council needs now.
I've raised a family in Seattle,
and I've worked for the city.
I have a PhD in City Planning
and a master's degree
in Anthropology from
the University of Washington.
I was Executive Director
of Seattle nonprofits.
In the past few months,
I've knocked on thousands of your doors.
What I hear is this --
if you are older, like me,
you want to age in place.
If you are young and just starting out in Seattle,
like my two adult children,
you worry about being priced out.
You tell me you are disappointed in Seattle's
response to homelessness and affordable housing.
You worry about paying property taxes,
and you are concerned about climate change.
These are complex problems where I will listen to you.
That's why I'm running,
to listen to you carefully
and then to take action.
But don't just take my word for it.
The stranger said it best.
"Tuttle is action-oriented.
With a background in Seattle's Planning Commission
and in the Parks and Recreation Department,
she knows the ins and outs of the system,
and most importantly,
how to get stuff built."
As your district council member,
I promise to have a local office
with a full-time staff member
so you can swing by
to talk about local issues.
I've been endorsed by
the 46th District Democrats,
council members Richard Conlin
and Tom Rasmussen,
by community leaders
Ed Lazowska, Alan Durning,
Heather Trim, Jerry Large,
Inga Manskopf, Jake Weber, and many other people
I've worked with in my decades in Seattle.
I know how to move forward with complex projects
for people on time, on budget,
and in ways that will make District 4
and Seattle stronger.
Thank you for listening to me.
Please remember to vote for Cathy Tuttle
for Seattle City Council, District 4.
I promise to do my best for you.
-Hi, Seattle.
I'm Frank Krueger,
and I'm running for city council
in District 4.
I'm a small business owner,
engineer,
and renter in Wallingford,
and I want to use my
skills and experience
to make sure Seattle
is a livable city for everyone.
We have a growing population
of homeless people,
some by choice, but many
because the city has failed them.
Fixing this will be a process
that takes time, money,
and votes.
We can work to prevent homelessness
with outreach and treatment centers,
and we can reduce
the number of people
living on the street
with low-barrier shelters
and a housing first policy.
We can keep people
from cycling back into homelessness
through long-term,
personalized care and treatment.
To do that,
I want to partner with state
and business allies alike
to fund a bold plan --
1,000 new social workers
to address addiction,
mental health,
and other barriers
to stability.
I am pro-income tax
to pay for ambitious social programs like this,
but that's gonna take time.
In the short-term,
I support thoughtfully crafted taxes
on large businesses
and streamlining partnerships
with private companies
that want to be a part of our community
and not just take advantage of it.
With increased population and demand
on public infrastructure,
we need to acknowledge that both
single-occupancy vehicles
and single-family zoning
are not priorities anymore.
Let's open our neighborhoods
to everyone
with new housing and more transit.
Seattle's access to renewable energy
enables us to be
a shining example of a green city.
Let's welcome protected bike
and electric device lanes
and green public transportation.
We have the resources
and the responsibility to create a
climate-conscious city.
The engineer in me
knows how to find solutions
when none seem in sight.
The businessman in me
knows how to make compromises
and come to a consensus to make progress.
Elect me, Frank Krueger,
and I will work tirelessly
to improve this city for you.
Thank you.
-My name is Ethan Hunter.
I am running for city council in District 4,
and I am often asked, why am I here?
I'm here because Seattle lacks a clear moral voice,
calling attention to the issues that threaten our future.
I am here because we need safe schools
where we teach reading and writing,
not duck and cover.
I am here because suicide rates
among 15 to 24-year-olds
are at their highest level
since 2000, and action is required.
I am here to speak
for our most vulnerable
so they have access to services
that have been stripped away.
I am here to support salaries
that draw exceptional civil servants.
I am here to fight
the landslide of unsheltered,
a problem which has increased by 46% since 2017.
I am here for families like mine,
devastated by an opioid crisis
that has spiked 70%
in our area since 2018.
And I am here,
for it is time to make
uncomfortable decisions
about things like the environment
so that we can look back with pride
in the 2050s
at what we did in the 2020s.
So, when those running the city
and for council want the issues to be
places and things instead of people,
it is up to us to stand up,
speak up, and say,
"This is not right."
That is why I am here.
And I do this even though others may take
special interest money,
which I will not,
even though I am young
and most have more experiences,
and even though I am the only
working class candidate running.
But the battles we must tackle
are generational.
The battles we must tackle
will not be solved easily
or in a few years,
but we are in the battle of our lives,
and because of that,
it is time for the next generation
to take the helm in Seattle
as is happening nationwide.
Thank you, and I look forward
to serving you on city council.
-Hi, D4.
My name is Sasha Anderson,
and I hope to earn your vote
so we can work together
to make our city more affordable,
inclusive, and climate-conscious.
So, I was 8 years old
the first time I heard the term
"trailer trash."
Walking to school,
I overheard a few classmates
say that people who lived in trailers
were lazy and worthless,
and I was so hurt and confused
because their words
didn't match my reality.
My family lived in a trailer,
but my mom is a nurse,
and dad a construction worker,
and we worked hard
for everything we had.
Around this time,
I also started realizing
that I liked girls,
not just because
they were smart and funny,
but I also found them
physically attractive.
So, here I am, 8 years old,
realizing I'm poor and gay,
and now I knew how poor people were viewed
thanks to my classmates,
but now how gay people were looked at.
So, I started looking
and listening, and it turned out,
gay folks were disliked
as much as the poor,
not only that,
so were people of color
and immigrants,
and that was just the tip of the iceberg.
And then something happened that made me
into the person I am today.
My 3rd-grade self realized that
other people who were
different like I was
had also overheard similar conversations
and were just as hurt and confused
as I had been.
Immediately, my feelings turned
to anger and indignation,
and I made a vow
that I would always work hard
to even the playing field
and fight for people
who were being hurt and left behind
simply for who they were.
And that's what I've done.
I became the first person in my family
to graduate from college,
working my way through school
to supplement grants and loans.
I've continued working two
and sometimes three jobs to make ends meet
because I've dedicated myself
to public service with the Peace Corps
and nonprofits such as
EarthShare Washington
and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
I made sure I got my master's degrees
in Sustainable Development
and Consensus Building.
All of this I've done in order to gain
the skills and experience needed
so that I can get a bigger platform
and help more people.
That's what being on
Seattle City Council
means to me,
working hard for all of us.
And I hope to earn your vote
on August 6th
to make our city more affordable,
climate-conscious, and inclusive.
-Hi. My name is Joshua Newman.
I live in Ravenna
with my wife and our four kids.
I've been a lifeguard,
a preschool teacher,
and for the last 13 years,
an engineer and union member
of IFPTE 2001 at Boeing.
I've coached my sons' baseball teams,
served on the board of my synagogue,
and I've been the president of both
the Maple Leaf Community Council
and Seattle Subway.
I'm a policy wonk,
and I dig deep into the data,
but when we get stuck fighting
over this rule or that street,
we aren't talking
about the big picture.
We aren't talking about
the fear and uncertainty
we feel for the future.
Our parents and grandparents
were confident that our lives
would be better than theirs.
How many of us feel that way
for our children and grandchildren?
It's not clear what will become
of the city we love
or if our children
will have a place here.
Seattle has grown
by over 167,000 people
in the last 20 years.
Climate change is already here.
If Seattle is to thrive
in our uncertain future,
we need leadership who can turn
that uncertainty into opportunity.
We can do this by staying true
to our progressive values
and letting some pieces
of Seattle evolve.
Our future needs to be
different from the past
in three critical ways.
First, cars are not our future,
and we need to make it easy
for most people to get around
without them.
Second, we have to build
more homes of more shapes
and more sizes
so people can find a home
to fit their needs,
and so our most vulnerable neighbors
don't end up on the streets.
And third, we need to build
enough renewable energy
in the next 10 years
to match and replace
all of our fossil fuel needs.
We can do this together.
If we are brave,
we can manage these challenges
and plan for the future.
We can give our children and grandchildren
lives that will be better than our own.
-My name is Heidi Stuber,
and I'm running for Seattle City Council,
District 4
because I believe
in a better future for our city.
I've lived in Seattle for 16 years,
in District 4 for 7 years with homes
both in Wallingford and Ravenna,
and I raised my son here.
I am proud to live in a city
where we share many liberal values.
But lately,
I've become increasingly concerned
that city council
is disconnected from the needs
of everyday Seattleites.
This is a beautiful,
well-resourced city
with people moving here
from all over the world,
and I look around and think,
"We have to be able
to do better than this."
We need a new kind of leader in Seattle,
someone who will take action
to solve the big problems
facing our city, like homelessness,
affordability, transportation,
and climate change,
and someone who is capable of taking
a big-picture strategic approach
to ensure we are creating
a more livable, affordable,
sustainable city right now
and for the next generation.
I started my career
as an environmental science teacher
in inner-city Chicago.
I earned my MBA at Seattle University,
and I've spent more than a dozen years
specializing in organizational change,
both in local small businesses
and at places like Woodland Park Zoo
and North Seattle College.
I'm also an outspoken
and effective advocate
for education rights,
autism, and have worked tirelessly
to protect special education students,
small businesses,
and women in the workplace.
Seattle needs a leader
who will get results.
I bring a deep personal history
with advocacy
combined with the working experience
and leadership style
that means I know
how to get things done.
I'm running to bring balanced,
common-sense solutions
to city hall
and to speak for families,
small businesses,
and regular Seattleites
just like you.
Help me change Seattle
for the better.
I hope I can count on your vote
August 6th.
Thank you very much.