-My name is Nick Duda and I'm running for King County
Council. I'm running because our region needs more
accountability from its leaders on how we tax, how we
spend, and most importantly whether our policies are
actually producing the outcomes they promised.
Right now families are paying more for everything,
Many businesses are struggling, and government at every level
is facing budget deficits.
That is not something that happened to us, but rather
it's the result of policy choices that have gone
unchallenged for too long.
This lack of accountability shows up most clearly in
homelessness and public safety.
We have spent enormous sums on housing, but far too little
on treatment and recovery.
Any honest assessment has to admit that our priorities
are out of balance.
Simply put, we are losing more lives, degrading more public
space, and eroding public trust through fiscal mismanagement
all at the same time.
We all want our region to be compassionate and well-governed.
In so many ways, we're just not doing either very well.
My opponent has been on the other side of many of these
issues for years, and it's fair to connect her record to the
results people see every day.
Attempting to defund the police was a mistake that cost our
community in multiple ways.
Layering taxes and regulations onto businesses have
made it harder to operate and more expensive for their
customers and community.
Recent surveys show that only 12% of local small
businesses are making ends meet and that only 9% of the
businesses in the state are considering expanding here.
That's not good for business or workers.
And our approach to housing and homelessness, which
lacks expectations around treatment and recovery,
is not compassionate if the results are continued suffering.
These are policy choices, and elected officials
have to own the outcomes of the policies they champion.
I believe in good governance.
I believe in programs that work.
I support fair wages and a good quality of life
for people who work hard.
But when policies falter, we should be honest enough
to say so and brave enough to change direction.
I'm a West Seattle resident, the father of two young kids,
the son of a union mailman, and I've spent my career
managing budgets and driving growth
all deeply rooted in data.
I'm running to bring balance, accountability,
and measurable outcomes back to King County.
I'm Nick Duda, and I hope to earn your support.