Councilmember Rob Saka's Staff

Email Hadia

Hadia Khanani brings experience in policy communications, digital strategy, and public engagement. She most recently worked as a Policy and Communications Associate at Florida For All, where she translated complex legislative and election information into accessible content for the public through articles, digital updates, and social media.

Earlier in her career, Hadia served as an Organizing and Communications Fellow with People Power for Florida and as a Policy and Communications Intern with the CLEO Institute, supporting civic engagement, voter education, and climate policy advocacy through research, messaging, and legislative outreach.

Hadia earned both her Bachelor of Science in Political Science and her Master of Science in Political Science from Florida State University. She recently moved to Seattle to work in the heart of progressive policymaking and is excited to support efforts that strengthen civic engagement and connect communities with local government.

Email Brendan

Brendan brings a strong commitment to public service and a mix of policy and cross-department experience. Most recently, he served in a management role with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services in the Human Resources Division, supporting complex, people focused work across teams. Earlier in his career, Brendan served with the Seattle Police Department, working in both the North and West Precincts and later supervising work in the department’s Policy Unit. He holds a BA in Political Science from Gonzaga University and an MA International Affairs from Marquette University.  A constituent and now a work colleague, Brendan and his wife Danielle live in West Seattle’s Delridge neighborhood with their three children. The family are avid Gonzaga basketball and Seattle Mariners fans, are deeply involved in the community.

Email Erik

Erik Schmidt was born and raised in the Seattle area and spent seven years working for the Victorian State Government in Melbourne, Australia, where he held a variety of roles focused on economic strategy, trade promotion, and investment attraction. Before that, he worked with the United Nations Capital Development Fund, contributing to programs aimed at fostering financial inclusion. 

Erik recently relocated home with his husband, Jay, who is originally from Australia and runs a non-profit providing veterinary services to the pets of people experiencing homelessness. Erik is particularly passionate about supporting small businesses, drawing on his experience helping businesses of all sizes recover from the COVID-19 pandemic during his time in Australia. 

Erik holds a master’s degree in International Business from the Cologne Business School in Germany and a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Santa Clara University.