2023 Washington General Elections

2023 Seattle Primary Elections

King County Elections, Aaron Marshall

Aaron has lived in Seattle for more than 20 years. has an associate's degree from Seattle Central Community College.

Aaron is a police officer for the city of Seattle. He works on the community response group. He used to work in the restaurant industry as a bartender. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Aaron Marshall's campaign for city council member is his first entry into politics.

Wants to build more housing around transit and commercial areas.

- Wants to build more housing around transit and commercial areas.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Said "I believe in safe, clean shelters first, rehabilitation required, housing earned" for people experiencing homelessness.

Wants to create a new department of public safety to address addiction, mental health, and chronic homelessness.

Supports banning urban camping in the city and removing homeless encampments from sidewalks, parks, and public spaces.

Called homeless encampments "open air drug markets where drugs and crime rule."

Opposes rent control and multifamily zoning to increase density.

- Said "I believe in safe, clean shelters first, rehabilitation required, housing earned" for people experiencing homelessness. 
- Wants to create a new department of public safety to address addiction, mental health, and chronic homelessness. 
- Supports banning urban camping in the city and removing homeless encampments from sidewalks, parks, and public spaces.
- Called homeless encampments "open air drug markets where drugs and crime rule."
- Opposes rent control and multifamily zoning to increase density.

Housing & Urban Development

As of June 27, 2023, Aaron Marshall’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Environment

The Seattle Times, Seattle City Council elections 2023: Meet District 7 candidates

Opposes safe injection sites and other harm reduction policies.

Wants more funding for treatment of mental illness and drug addiction.

Supports smalland medium-sized businesses, and wants to provide tax breaks to businesses located in downtown.

Opposes taxing big businesses for each high-income employee they have.

- Opposes safe injection sites and other harm reduction policies. 
- Wants more funding for treatment of mental illness and drug addiction. 
- Supports small- and medium-sized businesses, and wants to provide tax breaks to businesses located in downtown. 
- Opposes taxing big businesses for each high-income employee they have.

Public Services

Wants to "expand[] the legal authority to intervene in cases of the most addicted and the mentally ill who clearly can no longer safely care for themselves."

Supports having neutral agencies that oversee the police, and opposes creating a new department for non-police emergency response.

Plans to fully fund the police department and give police officers bonuses after three years and again after 20 years, with a requirement that they stay with the department for an additional five years. If they left the department before that time, they would be required to pay back the bonus.

Wants to bring back laws against loitering in the city.

Supports longer sentences for people commit second or third crimes, and supports cash bail.

Wants to increase the police department to 1,400 officers.

- Wants to "expand[] the legal authority to intervene in cases of the most addicted and the mentally ill who clearly can no longer safely care for themselves." 
- Supports having neutral agencies that oversee the police, and opposes creating a new department for non-police emergency response. 
- Plans to fully fund the police department and give police officers bonuses after three years and again after 20 years, with a requirement that they stay with the department for an additional five years. If they left the department before that time, they would be required to pay back the bonus. 
- Wants to bring back laws against loitering in the city. 
- Supports longer sentences for people commit second or third crimes, and supports cash bail.
- Wants to increase the police department to 1,400 officers.

Public Safety

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Aaron Marshall

As of June 27, 2023, Aaron Marshall’s website did not contain information on this issue and Aaron Marshall did not complete our questionnaire.

King County Elections, Andrew J. Lewis

Seattle City Council, Andrew J. Lewis

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Andrew is originally from Seattle. He has a bachelor's degree in history and political science from the University of Washington, a master's degree in theory and history of international relations from the London School of Economics, and a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He lives with his wife and their baby in West Queen Anne.

Andrew is a lawyer. He used to be assistant city attorney for the city of Seattle and assistant deputy prosecuting attorney for King County.

Andrew J. Lewis is currently the member of the Seattle city council representing district 7. He was first elected in 2020 and has been in office for one term.

Supports building walkable 15-minute neighborhoods with more housing choices and amenities.

Wants to create more alternatives to driving by creating safe infrastructure to walk, while working to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries to zero by 2030.

As a city council member, he supported improving parks and open spaces.

- Supports building walkable 15-minute neighborhoods with more housing choices and amenities. 
- Wants to create more alternatives to driving by creating safe infrastructure to walk, while working to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries to zero by 2030. 
- As a city council member, he supported improving parks and open spaces.

Supports the JustCARE program, which provides outreach and transitional housing to people experiencing homelessness, and supports more housing with supportive services for addiction and behavioral mental health conditions.

Wants to provide more affordable housing, including housing that is decommodified, such as social housing, which is rental units owned by the government or a nonprofit.

Said, "[w]e need to get people out of encampments and into stable housing immediately," and supports alternatives like tiny houses.

As a city council member, he helped create the Unified Care team, which moved people out of encampments and into shelters, reducing encampments by 42%.

- Supports the JustCARE program, which provides outreach and transitional housing to people experiencing homelessness, and supports more housing with supportive services for addiction and behavioral mental health conditions. 
- Wants to provide more affordable housing, including housing that is decommodified, such as social housing, which is rental units owned by the government or a nonprofit. 
- Said, "[w]e need to get people out of encampments and into stable housing immediately," and supports alternatives like tiny houses. 
- As a city council member, he helped create the Unified Care team, which moved people out of encampments and into shelters, reducing encampments by 42%.

Wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and increase electrification of heating and appliances.

Said, "[w]e are running out of time to combat climate change. Seattle must confront the emergency with housing planning that emphasizes dense, walkable communities, electrification of buildings, and safe, reliable public transportation."

As a city council member, supported getting community centers to zero carbon emissions.

- Wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and increase electrification of heating and appliances. 
- Said, "[w]e are running out of time to combat climate change. Seattle must confront the emergency with housing planning that emphasizes dense, walkable communities, electrification of buildings, and safe, reliable public transportation." 
- As a city council member, supported getting community centers to zero carbon emissions.

As of June 27, 2023, Andrew J. Lewis’s website did not contain information on this issue.

The Seattle Times, Seattle City Councilmember Andrew Lewis to seek reelection

Wants to address crime in high-crime areas of the district and, as a city council member, supported increasing the police presence in these areas.

Previously supported reducing the police department budget by 50%, but later said "50% was a mistake," and now supports fully funding the police department and jail.

Plans to create an alternative response system to 911 and supported creating a civilian behavioral health response to respond to mental health crises instead of the police.

As a city council member, supported hiring 28 park rangers to patrol city parks rather than regular police officers.

As a city council member, supported fully funding the police departments hiring budget each year.

- Wants to address crime in high-crime areas of the district and, as a city council member, supported increasing the police presence in these areas. 
- Previously supported reducing the police department budget by 50%, but later said "50% was a mistake," and now supports fully funding the police department and jail. 
- Plans to create an alternative response system to 911 and supported creating a civilian behavioral health response to respond to mental health crises instead of the police. 
- As a city council member, supported hiring 28 park rangers to patrol city parks rather than regular police officers. 
- As a city council member, supported fully funding the police departments hiring budget each year.

Andrew J. Lewis

As of June 27, 2023, Andrew J. Lewis’s website did not contain information on this issue and Andrew J. Lewis did not complete our questionnaire.

King County Elections, Bob Kettle

Bob has a bachelor's degree from Boston University and a master's degree from Georgetown University, and a master's degree from the University of Washington. He also graduated from the U.S. Army's Command and General Staff College. He lives with his wife, Sarah, and their family in Queen Anne.

Bob is a stay-at-home dad. He used to be an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy.

Bob Kettle's campaign for city council is his first entry into politics.

As of June 27, 2023, Bob Kettle’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Opposes homeless encampments and said, "City Council has enabled open drug use and drug dealing in our neighborhoods including downtown."

Supports converting unused office space downtown into housing.

- Opposes homeless encampments and said, "City Council has enabled open drug use and drug dealing in our neighborhoods including downtown." 
- Opposes rent control. 
- Supports converting unused office space downtown into housing.

Supports more mental health hospital capacity and addiction treatment centers.

- Supports more mental health hospital capacity and addiction treatment centers.

Supports more funding for the police, including recruitment, training, and hiring non-police first responders.

Said, "[t]he Council's pledge to defund [the police department] by 50% was irresponsible and undercut our public safety and our ability to implement reform."

Supports efforts to remove graffiti downtown.

Wants to increase the police department's hiring to 1,400 officers.

Supports prosecuting individuals to public drug use.

- Supports more funding for the police, including recruitment, training, and hiring non-police first responders. 
- Said, "[t]he Council's pledge to defund [the police department] by 50% was irresponsible and undercut our public safety and our ability to implement reform." 
- Supports efforts to remove graffiti downtown. 
- Wants to increase the police department's hiring to 1,400 officers. 
- Supports prosecuting individuals to public drug use.

Bob Kettle

As of June 27, 2023, Bob Kettle’s website did not contain information on this issue and Bob Kettle did not complete our questionnaire.

King County Elections, Isabelle Kerner

Isabelle is originally from Seattle. She has an associate's degree from Seattle Central College and a bachelor's degree in political science from American University. She lives in the downtown corridor.

Isabelle owns Seattle Spy LLC, which does private investigations, is a certified ethical hacker at EC-Council, and is the founder of Isabelle Kerner Art & Design. She used to be an administrative assistant and junior recruiter at ABM Industries, reservation supervisor at Chihuly Garden and Class, and international filing specialist at Banner & Witcoff, Ltd. She is a licensed certified ethical hacker, a professional investigator, and a private investigator.

Isabelle Kerner previously ran for city council to represent seat 7 in 2019 but did not win.

Wants to deal with waste in the city and its perimeter.

- Wants to deal with waste in the city and its perimeter.

Wants to "[i]mplement common sense solutions that will address the crises that have left thousands on Seattle's sidewalks, streets, and parks where criminal activity continues to run rampant."

- Wants to "[i]mplement common sense solutions that will address the crises that have left thousands on Seattle's sidewalks, streets, and parks where criminal activity continues to run rampant."

As of June 27, 2023, Isabelle Kerner’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Wants to "balance a budget and conduct regular audits to ensure the needs of the general public are prioritized over 'special interest(s).'"

Supports creating training sites for people displaced or unemployed to increase the supply of skilled workers and incentivize education in science, technology, engineering and math.

Said, "Seattle has a 'spending' problem, not a 'revenue' problem."

- Wants to "balance a budget and conduct regular audits to ensure the needs of the general public are prioritized over 'special interest(s).'" 
- Supports creating training sites for people displaced or unemployed to increase the supply of skilled workers and incentivize education in science, technology, engineering and math. 
- Said, "Seattle has a 'spending' problem, not a 'revenue' problem."

Supports prosecuting people for public drug use.

Wants to rebuild trust between the public and the police.

Supports increasing the amount of police officers to 1,400.

- Supports prosecuting people for public drug use. 
- Wants to rebuild trust between the public and the police. 
- Supports increasing the amount of police officers to 1,400.

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Isabelle Kerner

As of June 27, 2023, Isabelle Kerner’s website did not contain information on this issue and Isabelle Kerner did not complete our questionnaire.

King County Elections, Olga Sagan

Olga has lived in the U.S. for 24 years. She attended North Seattle Community College, Bellevue Community College, and the University of Washington. She lives in downtown Seattle with her two children.

Olga owns Piroshky Piroshky Bakery. She is also the founder of catch22delivery.com, which offers e-commerce tools for the food industry.

Olga Sagan's campaign for city council is her first entry into politics.

Supports "maintain[ing] critical infrastructure."

Wants more safe, reliable, ADA accessible, and affordable public transportation as an alternative to driving.

- Supports "maintain[ing] critical infrastructure." 
- Wants more safe, reliable, ADA accessible, and affordable public transportation as an alternative to driving.

Supports addressing homelessness through police enforcement, by hiring more police officers and adding new crisis responders for non-violent calls.

Wants more affordable housing options, and more mental health, addiction services, job training, and employment opportunities for people experiencing homelessness.

Supports "protecting small landlords from burdensome bureaucracies," and wants to establish a security deposit process and incentivize on-time rent payments with early payment discounts instead of late fees.

Plans to make downtown more dense by using more than 20,000 currently vacant homes, rezoning single family areas to allow denser housing options, and speed up the construction of affordable housing.

Wants "to create diverse housing options where people of all income levels can find housing that meets their needs."

- Supports addressing homelessness through police enforcement, by hiring more police officers and adding new crisis responders for non-violent calls. 
- Wants more affordable housing options, and more mental health, addiction services, job training, and employment opportunities for people experiencing homelessness. 
- Supports "protecting small landlords from burdensome bureaucracies," and wants to establish a security deposit process and incentivize on-time rent payments with early payment discounts instead of late fees. 
- Plans to make downtown more dense by using more than 20,000 currently vacant homes, rezoning single family areas to allow denser housing options, and speed up the construction of affordable housing. 
- Wants "to create diverse housing options where people of all income levels can find housing that meets their needs."

Wants to "meet environmental commitments."

Supports sustainable development practices, renewable energy sources, and green infrastructure.

Promises to protect waterways and green spaces.

- Wants to "meet environmental commitments." 
- Supports sustainable development practices, renewable energy sources, and green infrastructure. 
- Promises to protect waterways and green spaces.

Wants to bring more small and minority owned businesses and community events to downtown Seattle.

Supports getting rid of government regulations on businesses and giving downtown businesses tax breaks.

Wants to do an audit in order to reduce spending on government services, and opposes the city looking for new sources of funding to address budgetary shortfalls.

Said she "is dedicated to protecting workers' rights and ensuring they are given the respect they deserve."

Supports more affordable, accessible, and comprehensive childcare.

- Wants to bring more small and minority owned businesses and community events to downtown Seattle. 
- Supports getting rid of government regulations on businesses and giving downtown businesses tax breaks. 
- Wants to do an audit in order to reduce spending on government services, and opposes the city looking for new sources of funding to address budgetary shortfalls. 
- Said she "is dedicated to protecting workers' rights and ensuring they are given the respect they deserve." 
- Supports more affordable, accessible, and comprehensive childcare. 
- Plans to promote and fund the arts.

Opposes reducing the police department's budget, wants more funding for the police, and supports increasing the department to 1,400 police officers.

Promises to "address the rampant crime and unchecked drug use currently plaguing downtown."

Supports universal background checks on gun sales, more storage requirements for guns, and strict penalties for people who manufacture and sell "ghost guns," which are unregistered and untraceable homemade firearms.

Believes that people who use drugs in public should be criminally prosecuted.

- Opposes reducing the police department's budget, wants more funding for the police, and supports increasing the department to 1,400 police officers. 
- Promises to "address the rampant crime and unchecked drug use currently plaguing downtown." 
- Supports universal background checks on gun sales, more storage requirements for guns, and strict penalties for people who manufacture and sell "ghost guns," which are unregistered and untraceable homemade firearms.
- Believes that people who use drugs in public should be criminally prosecuted.

Olga Sagan

King County Elections, Wade Sowders

Wade is originally from the Midwest, and he has lived in Seattle for seven years. He has a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Oakland University. He lives in Denny Triangle.

Wade Sowders' campaign for city council is his first entry into politics.

Wants to create more walkable neighborhoods and make transit a more viable option.

Supports making roads more safe for pedestrians and building more sidewalks.

Wants to "make and encourage large infrastructure investments."

Supports light rail and tram construction, starting with completing the Center City Connector streetcar line.

- Wants to create more walkable neighborhoods and make transit a more viable option. 
- Supports making roads more safe for pedestrians and building more sidewalks. 
- Wants to "make and encourage large infrastructure investments." 
- Supports light rail and tram construction, starting with completing the Center City Connector streetcar line.

Wants to build more housing, improve housing affordability, reduce income inequality, and reduce homelessness.

Supports making zoning rules more flexible, streamlining the development process for housing to "require only a minimum of paperwork," and creating tax incentives for building more affordable housing.

Wants to expand homeless shelters and outreach programs to make sure that no one has to sleep outside or in their cars.

Supports changing areas zoned for single family homes to allow more dense forms of housing, and said, "[r]egulate only the general form and overall structure of a building, not its usage, to open up the most possible options for unit county, size, and design. Additionally, do not distinguish between residential and commercial usages, universally permitting area-appropriate multi-use buildings."

- Wants to build more housing, improve housing affordability, reduce income inequality, and reduce homelessness. 
- Supports making zoning rules more flexible, streamlining the development process for housing to "require only a minimum of paperwork," and creating tax incentives for building more affordable housing. 
- Wants to expand homeless shelters and outreach programs to make sure that no one has to sleep outside or in their cars. 
- Supports changing areas zoned for single family homes to allow more dense forms of housing, and said, "[r]egulate only the general form and overall structure of a building, not its usage, to open up the most possible options for unit county, size, and design. Additionally, do not distinguish between residential and commercial usages, universally permitting area-appropriate multi-use buildings." 
- Opposes rent control.

As of June 27, 2023, Wade Sowders’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Wants to change the tax system to move from property, sales and business taxes to a tax on land values, which would be used to fund housing construction and help fund major transit projects.

Said, "[o]ur taxes are aggressive and unstable, and the city faces major budget shortfalls."

Supports expanding services to treat addiction and reduce drug use and overdoses.

- Wants to change the tax system to move from property, sales and business taxes to a tax on land values, which would be used to fund housing construction and help fund major transit projects. 
- Said, "[o]ur taxes are aggressive and unstable, and the city faces major budget shortfalls." 
- Supports expanding services to treat addiction and reduce drug use and overdoses.
- Wants to redesign downtown.

Wants to increase funding for the police and increase the number of police officers by two to three times current staffing levels.

Believes that low-level property crimes should be addressed by social services rather than by the police.

- Wants to increase funding for the police and increase the number of police officers by two to three times current staffing levels.  
- Believes that low-level property crimes should be addressed by social services rather than by the police. 
- Supports prosecuting people for public drug use.

Wade Sowders

As of June 27, 2023, Wade Sowders’s website did not contain information on this issue and Wade Sowders did not complete our questionnaire.

- City council members work together with the rest of city council to set and implement city policy, including passing legislation about the police, fire department, parks, libraries, electricity, water, solid waste, and drainage utilities. 
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department.
- City council members serve four year terms, and elections are nonpartisan. City council members are either elected to represent specific districts or are elected at-large, meaning that they represent the entire city. 

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Seattle City Council Member, District 7

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Transportation & Infrastructure

Housing & Urban Development

Environment

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