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Announcer: King County Council.
As the legislative branch
of county government,
the nine members of the
Metropolitan King County Council
set the policies,
enact the laws,
and adopt the budgets that guide
the largest jurisdiction
in Washington state.
The council's mission
is to protect public health
and safety,
enhance quality of life,
and ensure public trust.
Council positions
are nonpartisan,
and council members are elected
to four-year terms.
This year, five of the nine
council positions will appear
on the general election ballot.
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Hi. My name is Dr. Shukri Olow,
and I'm running for King County Council District 5.
Our diverse South King County communities
deserve authentic representation.
As an immigrant, a former refugee,
and a product of Kent public housing,
I am of this community.
I have lived the challenges
that so many members of our community face
and have felt the beauty of this community
that supported my family when we needed it most.
And for 15 years,
I have served our South King County community,
connecting families to life-changing resources
like public housing, affordable child care,
education, and health care.
And our neighbors have spoken.
It's time for new leadership with lived experience.
And together we will create an environment
where every corner of our district can thrive
and our community-created priorities reflect this
and include building affordable housing as a human right
and increasing tenant protections
to prevent housing instability and displacement,
bending the legal system toward justice
by investing in alternatives to incarceration
through a public health response to social safety,
investing in public health and human services
to provide mental health and trauma-informed care
to our communities reeling from the COVID-19 crisis
and supporting small businesses overlooked by federal
and local pandemic assistance
to fully recover from the economic downturn.
And if elected, it will not just be my voice
on the King County Council,
it will be yours.
It will be the voices of all residents
looking to be heard and valued by our democracy.
I am proud to be endorsed by organizations
such as King County Democrats,
Washington Housing Alliance Action Fund,
SEIU 775,
925, and 1199 Northwest,
and OneAmerica Votes,
as well as a number of elected officials,
including state Reps.
Debra Entenman and David Hackney.
I would be honored to have your vote
and your voice by Nov. 2.
Hi. My name is Dave Upthegrove,
and I'm running for reelection
to the King County Council in District 5,
which includes all or parts of the cities of Kent, Renton,
SeaTac, Des Moines, Burien, Normandy Park, and Tukwila.
I am honored to be endorsed by more than 100 leaders
from communities of color in South King County,
and I work hard to treat everyone in our community
with respect.
You know, the first COVID death in the nation
was right here in King County,
and our county public health department
is the front line of defense.
I'm proud that by following the science
and supporting our public health professionals,
we have the lowest COVID rate of any major urban county
in the continental United States.
As we emerge from this pandemic, however,
our region faces serious challenges.
We need to get homeless individuals off the streets
and into housing with services.
We need to prioritize public safety and our first responders
while improving accountability, transparency,
and justice for all.
We all deserve to feel safe in our community,
and we need to support local small businesses
to help boost our economy and create jobs
and economic opportunity for all.
The solutions to homelessness, public safety, and our economy
aren't going to come from Seattle.
They will come from those of us here in South King County
working together to solve problems.
These are serious times,
and I will use my experience and proven leadership
to fight for our community and deliver results.
Nobody will work harder for South King County.
I'm proud to be endorsed by the King County Democrats,
King County Labor Council,
Sierra Club, teachers, nurses, and firefighters,
Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Congressman Adam Smith,
King County Executive Dow Constantine,
and many other trusted local leaders.
My name is Dave Upthegrove,
and I would be honored to earn your vote.