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Seattle City Council.

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The Seattle City Council

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is the legislative branch
of government.

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Members set the city's direction
by enacting ordinances

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and passing resolutions.

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The council
authorizes expenditures,

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adopts regulations,
levies taxes,

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controls the finances,
and property of the city

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and performs many related
legislative tasks.

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Of the nine
city council positions,

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two -- position eight and
position nine -- are at large,

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representing the entire city
for a term of four years.

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Positions one through
seven each represent

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different districts
of the city.

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Only the two
at large council positions

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are up for election this year.

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The remaining seven
district council positions

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will be on
the ballot in 2023.

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All voters in Seattle
can vote in both

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of the at large
city council races.

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♪♪

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In the last year,

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Seattle has
had a reckoning

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with
racial inequality,

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a battle with a
devastating pandemic,

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a homelessness
state of emergency,

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and a continued
climate catastrophe.

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The question before
Seattle voters

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is straightforward.

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Will we continue to rely
on policies of the past,

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many of which

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have brought us
to this point,

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or is it time for
a fresh perspective

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rooted in
community care?

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My name
is Nikkita Oliver.

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I use they/them
pronouns.

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I am running for
Seattle City Council

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citywide Position 9.

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I'm a community
organizer,

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executive director,
artist,

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adjunct professor

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at Seattle University
School of Law,

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and an attorney who has
supported clients

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through school exclusion,
eviction,

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and anti-discrimination
cases.

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When elected,
I will serve

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with the conviction

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that we need
solutions now

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that are commensurate
with the crises

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we are facing
and an alignment

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with the vision of the
city we strive to be.

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A vote for the Nikkita
For Nine campaign

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is a vote for a city

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that embodies racial
and economic justice,

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a city with
labor protections,

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prevailing wages,
and healthcare for all,

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a city that enacts
progressive revenue

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to build housing

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and meet the basic needs
of our residents,

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a city that
takes bold action

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to address the
climate crisis,

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working towards
free transit

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and reforming
zoning codes

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that restrict our supply
of affordable housing

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and further
perpetuate racist,

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exclusionary
zoning patterns.

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Our campaign has received
more democracy vouchers

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than any
city council candidate

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because we have built
community power

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from the ground up

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from the south end
to North Seattle,

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among renters and
vulnerable homeowners,

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seniors at risk
of displacement,

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and young people
alike.

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We've been endorsed by
the MLK Labor Council,

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The Urbanist,
The Stranger,

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Seattle Democratic
Socialists of America,

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Congresswoman
Pramila Jayapal,

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Seattle City
Councilmembers

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Morales and Mosqueda,

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former Councilmember
Mike O'Brien,

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county Councilmember
Zahilay,

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and former Councilmember
Larry Gossett,

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Washington state
Rep.

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Kirsten Harris-Talley,

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and state Sen.
Rebecca Saldaña.

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Together we will
build the city

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we say we are,

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a city where all are healthy
and thriving.

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Seattle,
we've got to talk.

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We live
in a gorgeous city,

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but unfortunately,
our elected leaders

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are failing our
most vulnerable.

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We see it when

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we walk through
our neighborhoods,

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in our parks, and in
our downtown streets.

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On critical issues
like homelessness

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and public safety,

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city council is
making big promises

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but delivering few,
if any,

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measurable results.

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It's time
for a change,

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and I bring
the right experience

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to make that
change happen.

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As a former
council aide,

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I helped pass
landmark legislation

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to build affordable
housing,

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increase transit,

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and tackled
climate change.

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As co-founder of
Fremont Brewing,

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I created a neighborhood
business

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that's known for taking
care of its workers

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and giving back
to the community.

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As your council member,

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I'll be a pragmatic
progressive,

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someone with a plan
to get things done,

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providing housing for
our most vulnerable

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while restoring our parks
and playgrounds.

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And I'll be responsive,

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accountable,
and transparent.

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I have to be
blunt with you.

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There's a big contrast
in this race.

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My opponent says that
abolishing the police

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is the first step
in public safety.

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I think that's
irresponsible.

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I strongly support

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comprehensive
police reform,

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but I believe that
when you call 911,

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you should be able
to count on a fast,

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effective, and
fair response.

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That balanced approach
has earned me

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the support of police
reform leaders

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like Victoria Beach,

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chair of
the African American

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Community
Advisory Council,

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and Rev.
Harriett Walden,

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founder of Mothers for
Police Accountability.

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I'm also honored
to be endorsed

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by The Seattle
Times,

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the Seattle
Fire Fighters,

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laborers, and Iron
Workers unions,

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and many more.

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I'm in this
to solve problems

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and rebuild
the city we love.

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There is hope.

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And together we
can make Seattle

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a place
that keeps its promises

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to those
who need it most.

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I'm Sara Nelson, and
I ask for your vote.

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Learn more at
saraforcitycouncil.com.