-Welcome to the "2019 King County General Election Video Voters' Guide,"
your chance to hear directly from the participants appearing on the November 5th
General Election Ballot.
This is a vote-by-mail election.
Instead of going to a polling place, ballots will be sent to all registered voters.
All ballots must be returned on or before election day, November 5th.
Each statement is up to two minutes long and unedited.
The speakers appear on your screen in the order they will appear on the ballot.
The candidates appearing in this video are running for King County Assessor,
King County Elections Director, the Metropolitan King County Council,
and the Port of Seattle Commission.
All the elected positions included in this guide are non-partisan.
King County Assessor.
The King County Assessor oversees the assessment of residential
and commercial properties in King County, as well as personal property used by businesses.
These values are used to calculate property taxes and to calculate
property tax levy rates for King County taxing districts.
The Assessor serves a four-year term.
All voters within King County are eligible to vote in this race.
♪♪
King County Elections Director.
The King County Elections Director is responsible for conducting elections
and overseeing voter registration and voter education in King County.
The King County Elections Director serves a four-year term.
All voters in King County are eligible to vote in this race.
-Hi, I'm Julie Wise and it is a privilege to serve as
your King County Director of Elections.
Each day I work hard to fulfill my commitment to removing barriers
to voting while ensuring accurate,
transparent, and secure elections.
Voting in King County has never been more convenient.
During my first term we added 60 ballot drop boxes;
now 95% of voters live within 3 miles of a secure,
24-hour voting location.
We implemented prepaid postage, because you shouldn't have to
buy a stamp to vote, and added service in Spanish and Korean.
We invested in culturally specific voter outreach
through a first-in-the-country
government/philanthropic partnership.
We've also opened five new vote centers across the county
to support same-day registration.
Voting in King County has also never been more secure.
As Elections Director, I brought in the Department of Homeland Security
and State Auditor's cyber security team to ensure our elections are protected.
We've expanded our auditing practices and strengthened accountability.
We implemented a new, state-of-the-art tabulation system
that is not only more secure, but saving the county
nearly $500,000 per year.
Most recently, I spoke out about issues with the state's
new voter registration system because I believe
that even one voter left behind is too many.
I've been a nonpartisan election administrator for 19 years,
certified at the state and national level.
At a time when elections are under threat, both from international
interests leading us to question the integrity of our systems,
and domestically by those who would prevent rightful voters
from having their voice heard, the 1.3 million voters
of King County need and deserve an Elections Director
with experience, integrity, and a commitment to
making every vote count.
I am proud to be endorsed by elections colleagues statewide,
And I, Julie Wise, ask for your vote this November.
-I'm going to take this time to reach out to the youngest voters,
18 to 29 years old, the most open-minded voters of King County.
According to surveys, you're doing better, but still the most likely
demographic not to vote, but the levers of power
in the county and the nation are in your hands,
because it turns out you could be the swing voters
who tip the balance of power in one direction or another.
My campaign has no choice but to turn its lonely eyes to you,
because you, of all people, have not only seen
the chaos and turmoil of the world up close, but have had to have
the courage to live under the gun, though my generation
took mundane schools for granted, and now you have to be be
bold enough to enter a world that is increasingly unfriendly
and unwelcoming to those just starting out in adulthood.
It shouldn't be that way, however, so send them a message
by electing me, and suddenly the shock waves
that you propel will reach your peers across the state
and the nation, and the power of the people
shall indeed include a youth wing that will shake foundations
and revitalize politics.
Tell your high schools and colleges that Mark Greene
is running for Director of Elections, and he asks that you
register and vote right up to Election Day itself,
and that I support the expansion of the vote
to our 16- and 17-year-old brethren. Thank you.
-Metropolitan King County Council.
The King County Council is the legislative branch of county government.
The County Council enacts laws and sets policy.
To further county policies, they adopt the county's operating budget.
The operating budget includes spending for areas such as public health and human
services, metro transit, waste water treatment, the criminal justice system,
and regional parks and open space.
The King County Council has nine members, each representing a different geographic district.
Voters select from the candidates representing their voting district.
Positions two, four, six, and eight will appear on the general election ballot this year.
♪♪
-Hi, everyone, my name is Girmay Zahilay, and I'm running
to be your next Councilmember for King County Council, District 2.
Growing up in Seattle, I always felt like we were living in
a tale of two cities.
This is a region of unprecedented wealth and also a region
where people are struggling to afford basic needs like housing.
A region known for technology and innovation,
and also a region that lacks basic infrastructure
and transportation.
A region known supposedly for progressivism
and one that continues to disproportionately
impact Black and Brown people through the justice system.
I'm running to be your Councilmember because we deserve
to live in a region that works for everyone.
I've seen firsthand how this economy fails to work
for all of our communities.
I was raised by a single mother who is an Ethiopian refugee.
We grew up in places like Rainier Vista, Holly Park,
and Skyway. Every night my mom would tuck her kids
into bed, and instead of going to bed herself, she would put on her
scrubs and work nightshift at two local nursing homes.
Even though she worked double shift every day,
she still struggled to pay rent, to pay for her car,
to pay medical bills and child care.
After a lifetime of hard work, these challenges
are even greater today.
I'm running for King County Council to design
bold solutions to these regional problems.
We can live in a county where if you work a full-time job,
you don't live in constant fear of losing your home
and being displaced because there is affordable housing
and there are opportunities for home ownership in our neighborhoods.
We can live in a County where maintaining a car no longer
traps families in a cycle of poverty and destroys
our environment because more people have access to
reliable, effective public transit.
We can live in a County where our youth can prosper because
they have limitless educational opportunities and a justice system
that seeks to rehabilitate and restore rather than incarcerate
and traumatize.
My name is Girmay Zahilay, and I know we can
work together to make this a County that truly works for everyone.
-My name is Larry Gossett, your King County Councilmember from District 2.
Please vote for me by November 5th so that together
we can finish the very important work that we've been
doing together in Martin Luther King Jr. County.
I'm an experienced legislator fighting along with a community-wide team
of people for Equity, Justice, and Freedom all toward the goal
of improving life for everyday people everyday.
My legislation positively impacts people of all races, ages,
sexual orientation, as well as our larger environment.
In concert with our youth, seniors, people of color
and workers, I am introducing to King County Council,
legislation to create the Martin Luther King County Green-New-Deal
Keep your eyes on this, it's going to be a beautiful plan.
For our children's sake, it is crucial we have a comprehensive
County-wide environmental policy that helps them
as well as the workers and everybody else benefit from
living in a healthier community.
I have also worked hard for affordable housing, and that is why
I want people to know that we have a 5-year plan
I want to be here for those five years to help lead the effort
to build 44,000 affordable housing in our County.
Vote for me, my name is Larry Gossett by November 5th.
Thank you very much.
♪♪
-I'm running a campaign to bring new energy and ideas to
the King County Council and by election day I will have personally
knocked on over 20,000 doors.
Time and time again I hear the same frustrations.
We have to address homelessness with a proven,
regional approach -- no excuses.
We need to deliver transit and traffic improvements to our neighborhoods.
And we must take a holistic approach to affordability --
through housing, child care, and health care.
And we need to be doing all that we can to address
climate change here at home.
I'm Abigail Doerr, and I'm running to bring needed change
to this often overlooked job -- where we can
and must do more for our families.
I'm proud of my experience leading coalitions and campaigns
that are transforming our region.
I led the Sound Transit 3 effort that will finally
deliver light rail to Ballard, I helped build
the state's largest movement to address climate change,
and made sure Seattle's parks receive permanent, stable funding.
I'll bring this approach to the Council and am geared up
to take on homelessness and affordability, expand our bus system
and deliver light rail early.
I will fight every day to improve public health and safety,
gun violence, and will protect Puget Sound
from unacceptable wastewater pollution.
This election is truly about change.
When the incumbent, my opponent, first entered
public office in 1992, Bill Clinton was running for President,
Nirvana's "Nevermind" was number 1 on the charts,
and the average Seattle rent was less than 700 bucks a month.
We are a different city now, with different priorities and challenges --
locally and globally -- that must be addressed.
And it's time we expect more from our elected leaders.
I am proudly endorsed by the Washington Conservation Voters,
the King County Democrats, Labor Unions,
Transportation for Washington, Lt. Governor Habib,
the National Women's Political Caucus, and many more!
I'm Abigail Doerr and I would be honored to earn your support!
-I'm Jeanne Kohl-Welles and I'm running for
a second term on the King County Council.
Our County is among the best places to live and work,
but our successes have brought challenges --
increasing unaffordability, income inequality,
housing displacement, homelessness, behavioral health issues,
congestion, and pollution.
As a budget writer and Housing Committee Chair,
I obtained funding for hundreds of new shelter beds
and affordable housing units.
And I'm the lead on our regional homelessness response system
to alleviate homelessness and increase public health and safety.
I take the bus everyday, and will continue fighting for
additional bus routes, service hours, and accessible,
affordable, and safe service.
And I've secured millions of dollars to protect Puget Sound
and orcas from toxins and will continue working to speed
up Metro's transition to a zero-emissions fleet, to combat
climate change regionally and ban new oil infrastructure.
As Chair of the County Board of Health, I'm known for
working collaboratively and getting progressive results,
such as on affordable child-care, sexual and gun violence prevention,
opioid drug treatment, and access to justice.
Just some of my endorsers include Ballard News Tribune,
Washington Conservation Voters;
Transportation for Washington;
Washington Housing Alliance Action Fund;
the Alliance for Gun Responsibility Fund;
King County Democrats, the 32nd, 36th, and 46th
District Democrats; MLK Labor Council, over 15 unions;
The National Women's Political Caucus of Washington,
Planned Parenthood, NARAL; Culture PAC;
Washington State Progressive Caucus, Maria Cantwell,
Bob Ferguson, Hilary Franz, Dow Constantine,
and all the County Councilmembers.
Please visit my website at JeanneKohlWelles.com
And thank you; it's been a tremendous honor
to serve you on the Council.
♪♪
-Hello! I'm Joe McDermott.
As your King County Councilmember, Sound Transit Boardmember
and member of the Seattle King County Board of Health --
building a just, equitable, and thriving King County
is the mission for my work every day.
Strong transit options mean opportunity for everyone.
That's why I fought to include West Seattle in light rail expansion
and am leading the effort to secure a tunnel
for light rail in West Seattle.
It's also why I'm delivering Rapid Ride bus service
to Delridge and Burien, and ensuring Metro and Sound Transit
prioritize equitable fares and equitable fare enforcement.
Solving our homelessness crisis means solving our housing crisis.
That's why I passed legislation dedicating
$660 million in lodging taxes to affordable housing and am shaping
the Council's work creating a coordinated, regional response
for homelessness services.
With firearm deaths in America exceeding 35,000 a year,
gun violence is a public health crisis that we must address.
That's why I introduced and passed the King County Gun Safety Action Plan,
common sense laws and programs focused on saving lives.
And a thriving King County means we must be a welcoming King County.
When I joined the hundreds of people at Sea-Tac airport
protesting Trump's first illegal travel ban targeting Muslims,
it became crystal clear that we needed to step up locally
to support our immigrant and refugee friends and neighbors.
I partnered with Executive Constantine and the Seattle Foundation
in developing the Immigrant and Refugee Resilience Fund
and sponsored the creation of the King County Immigrant
and Refugee Commission to support residents across King County.
A just, equitable, and thriving King County is possible,
no matter the challenges we face.
I would be honored to continue this mission with you
for the next four years.
♪♪
-Port of Seattle Commission.
The Port of Seattle Commission is a county-wide municipal corporation.
Port Commissioners oversee the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport,
the Seattle Seaport, Fisherman's Terminal, three recreational marinas,
and two cruise terminals.
Commissioners also appoint and evaluate the ports Chief Executive Officer,
approve the annual port budget, establish financial policies, and approve labor agreements.
Port Commission positions two and five will appear on the November
general election ballot this year.
All voters in King County are eligible to vote in this race.
Commissioners serve a four-year term.
♪♪
-Hi.
My name is Sam Cho and I'm running for Port of Seattle Commission, Position 2.
I'm running because I want to see a Port of Seattle that's working for
the people of greater Seattle.
If you've driven down to Sea-Tac Airport and you've been stuck in that traffic,
that's not working for the people.
If you've stood in that security line that wraps around the terminal.
That's not working for the people.
If you are in South King County, and you are
disproportionately affected by the noise pollution,
you need representation!
My parents immigrated to this country though the Port of Seattle
and they worked as Dry Cleaners.
They scrubbed, washed, and pressed shirts for a living.
And they hoped through their hard work, that their son
would one day wear a dress shirt.
Well today, I'm wearing one.
I'm running because as King County continues to grow,
I want to ensure that we share in that growth
and provide opportunities for everyone.
Because as the tides of prosperity rises, it should lift all boats!
That means workforce development and careers with living wage jobs.
I want to tackle climate change more aggressively.
I want to bring accountability and transparency to the port.
And lastly, I want to stop human and labor trafficking at the port.
And I have the experience to get it done!
I'm a small business owner in exports and trade.
And at a time when our President is waging trade wars,
we need someone with export experience to protect
our economy where 40% of jobs are dependent on trade.
I've worked on policy on the national level as a political appointee
under President Barack Obama.
I've also worked as a legislative assistant in the state legislature
and for a member of Congress.
As commissioner, I believe the sum of my experiences
will allow me to hit the ground running and get things done.
As of now, I'm endorsed by the King County Young Democrats, the Longshoreman,
Local Laborers 242, and eight democratic legislative districts
throughout King County.
My name is Sam Cho and I am running for the Port of Seattle Commission, Position number 2.
And I'm asking for your vote, because together, we'll get it done.
-I'm Grant Degginger,
candidate for Port of Seattle commission,
Position 2.
Our port facilities are the "front door" to our region and must be
welcoming places for all who visit, work,
or come seeking a better life.
I am committed to making the Port of Seattle a transparent
and innovative partner, delivering the infrastructure,
living wage jobs, and environmental sustainability
our economy and communities need and deserve.
During my twelve years as Bellevue Mayor and Councilmember,
I helped deliver light rail to the Eastside,
the new 520 bridge with increased transit service
and bike access, and have fought for water quality,
and needed affordable housing.
As your Port Commissioner, I will build on my proven record
of bringing people together around shared values to get things done.
As past Chair of our Public Disclosure Commission,
I'll ensure greater transparency and taxpayer accountability
in Port budgeting, capital investments, and in contracts
and executive compensation.
I will make the right investments at the airport
to expand opportunities for family wage jobs, ensure equity in
contracting to create more opportunities for minority
and women-owned businesses, and reduce lines at the airport by
implementing remote luggage check-in locations in
Seattle and Bellevue.
Travelers will be able to check their bags, enjoy a luggage-free day,
and retrieve their belongings at their final destination.
I will protect Puget Sound and our climate by continuing to
invest in cleaner aviation fuels and in powering ships, trucks,
and service vehicles in port with electricity.
We must reduce carbon emissions on the ground and in the air,
and be a better partner with neighboring communities.
I will give the airport the serious attention that it clearly needs.
The traffic getting to the airport, and the long lines
in the terminal demonstrate we must make the right investments
to keep this vital facility working for passengers,
the airlines, and the people who work there.
Billions of dollars and thousands of jobs are at stake.
I will ensure that you have a voice in the outcome.
♪♪
-Hello, I'm Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman.
Thank you for your strong support of my re-election
to the Port of Seattle Commission.
I bring 30 years experience in Seattle as a conservation leader
protecting our marine environment and those dependent upon it,
from killer whales to tribal communities.
As a Commissioner, I've built upon that foundation,
securing environmental safeguards while expanding
the economic benefits of trade, tourism, fishing, and recreation.
I've increased integrity by hiring the new Port Executive Director
and championed the new position, Director of Equity,
Diversity, and Inclusion.
As founding Chair of the Energy & Sustainability Committee,
I've helped reduce the Port's impacts on the climate
and communities while expanding opportunities
for quality careers in King County.
In my next term I'll continue to partner with governments,
business, and labor to reduce the Port's carbon emissions
by promoting green innovations, such as the electrification of marine terminals,
while protecting jobs dependent on the working waterfront.
I'm committed to reducing traffic on airport drive
and TSA wait times to improve your travel experience.
I'm also championing the use of renewable fuels to protect the environment
and health of disproportionately impacted communities
while expanding job opportunities.
I'll work to inspire youth to pursue Port-related jobs
of the future by providing apprenticeships and internships
as well as on-water experience.
We can all share in the natural wealth, economic opportunity
and livability of the Puget Sound region with Port policies
rooted in ecological integrity, social equity and fiscal responsibility.
I respectfully ask for your vote.
My Endorsements include: The Stranger, Seattle Times,
Martin Luther King Labor Council, OneAmerica Votes,
Washington Conservation Voters, Sierra Club,
King County Democrats, and many more.
Thank you so much, go to FredForPort.com.
-Hello King County Voters, I am Garth Jacobson a candidate
for Port of Seattle Position number 5.
First let me explain why I am well-qualified to hold this position,
second, I'll discuss my ways to make the airport better,
and third I'll make recommendations for the Seaport.
First, briefly, I obtained my BA in Economics and Philosophy,
a Law Degree and a Master's in Public Administration
from the University of Montana.
I also hold a Master of Tax Law degree from the University of Washington.
I practiced law in both the public and private sectors.
I hold leadership positions in the American Bar Association in their
Science and Technology Section and Business Law Sections.
I am active in the community.
As a frequent flyer, I see the airport suffers greatly
from expansion. We need to do better.
That airport traffic is brutal, parking can be a pain,
the TSA lines are often too long with too much
plastic bottle waste.
Busing passengers to planes is harsh.
I recommend we make changes in the traffic flows.
Identity parking spots, like they do in the Portland airport,
add more TSA lines and have water bottle refill stations
throughout the airport so people can reduce plastic bottle waste.
For the Sea Port, the Port Commission needs to hit
the pause button on new cruise line terminals.
I don't want to deny someone their bucket list cruise to Alaska
but cruise ships pollute three to four times more per passenger mile
than jet planes.
We need to think about the affect on the environment.
Likewise, we don't need a new cruise terminal in the Sodo area.
Potentially it just makes traffic worse for those going to games
and those getting on the ferry.
Let's hit the pause button with new terminals until we know the impacts.
We need growth, we need progress, but we also
need to think about how to do it right without asking
for more taxpayer money.
For these reasons we should change direction.
I ask you vote for Garth, a vote to make the ports better.
Vote Garth Jacobson.
♪♪
-You have just seen the video statements submitted by candidates
running for King County Assessor, King County Director of Elections,
King County Metropolitan Council, and the Port of Seattle Commission.
Ballots will be mailed to all registered voters on October 16th.
All ballots must be returned on or before November 5th.
For questions regarding voter registration, your ballot, or answers to other
election-related questions, visit the King County Elections website at
www.kingcounty.gov/elections or call 206-296-VOTE.
You can return your ballot to a ballot drop box -- no stamp required.
Ballots returned to a drop box must be delivered by 8 p.m. election day November 5th.
Or, you can return your ballot by mail.
You do not need a stamp to return your ballot by mail.
Just drop your completed signed ballot in a USPS mailbox.
It must be post marked by election day November 5th.
We recommend mailing your ballot by November 1st, to make sure it gets postmarked in time.
Or you can go to a vote center.
King County vote centers are available to voters who need assistance
completing their ballot.
Trained staff and specialized equipment are available to help voters with disabilities
cast a private independent ballot.
To find a vote center or a drop box in King County, visit the King County
elections website at www.kingcounty.gov/elections or call 206-296-VOTE.
Thanks for joining us.
This program is a collaboration of Seattle Ethics & Elections Commission,
the Seattle Channel, and King County TV.
We'd like to hear from you about the Video Voters' Guide.
To comment on this guide, please call 206-684-8500.