The Daily, City and County Council candidates clash at UW town hall debate

King County Elections, Sarah Reyneveld

- Supports a progressive tax system and said, "I am tired of living in a state with the most regressive tax structure, where big business and wealthy individuals aren't paying their fair share...I am going to advocate, if elected, for the legislature to obtain local jurisdiction taxation authority to impose an excise tax on big business."
- Plans to "invest[] in solutions that center equity and opportunity." 
- Supports "progressive revenue solutions." 
- Wants to pass a countywide dedicated transit revenue package to fund a King County Transportation Benefit District to restore and increase transit service, implement an updated Metro Connects, and transition to zero emission buses. 
- Supports investing in more child care subsidies.

Taxes & Budget

The Seattle Times, King County Council races begin to take shape

Promises to "champion frequent, reliable, and safe transit service," and wants to transition to electric buses and help develop sustainable fuel for airplanes.

Supports building a light rail to Ballard and new electric vehicle charging stations.

Wants to make transit free for low-income people and incentivize employers to pay for their employee's annual transit passes.

- Promises to "champion frequent, reliable, and safe transit service," and wants to transition to electric buses and help develop sustainable fuel for airplanes.  
- Supports building a light rail to Ballard and new electric vehicle charging stations. 
- Wants to make transit free for low-income people and incentivize employers to pay for their employee's annual transit passes.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Plans to build affordable housing, expand emergency shelters, and build permanent supportive housing.

Supports more behavioral and physical healthcare access for people experiencing homelessness, and wants to expand county programs that provide these services, including JustCARE and Health Through Housing.

Wants to acquire, construct, preserve, and subsidize affordable and social housing, which are rental units owned by the government or a nonprofit.

Supports more multifamily affordable housing connected to transit, services, schools, and amenities.

- Plans to build affordable housing, expand emergency shelters, and build permanent supportive housing. 
- Supports more behavioral and physical healthcare access for people experiencing homelessness, and wants to expand county programs that provide these services, including JustCARE and Health Through Housing. 
- Wants to acquire, construct, preserve, and subsidize affordable and social housing, which are rental units owned by the government or a nonprofit. 
- Supports more multifamily affordable housing connected to transit, services, schools, and amenities.

Housing & Urban Development

Wants to address climate change and protect the environment, including passing a climate bond ordinance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector and existing buildings.

Said, "I will partner with frontline and environmental justice communities to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help to create sustainable and resilient communities."

Plans to protect waterways and prevent pollution "to enhance health, protect tribal treaty rights, and further salmon and orca recovery," including expanding the county wastewater treatment systems to prevent spills and discharge.

Wants to reach zero waste of resources by 2030 by investing in the county's solid waste infrastructure, creating new recycling markets, and increasing the purchase of recycled materials.

- Wants to address climate change and protect the environment, including passing a climate bond ordinance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector and existing buildings. 
- Said, "I will partner with frontline and environmental justice communities to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help to create sustainable and resilient communities." 
- Plans to protect waterways and prevent pollution "to enhance health, protect tribal treaty rights, and further salmon and orca recovery," including expanding the county wastewater treatment systems to prevent spills and discharge. 
- Wants to reach zero waste of resources by 2030 by investing in the county's solid waste infrastructure, creating new recycling markets, and increasing the purchase of recycled materials.

Environment

Wants more behavioral healthcare, substance use treatment, reproductive healthcare, and services for survivors of gender-based violence.

- Wants more behavioral healthcare, substance use treatment, reproductive healthcare, and services for survivors of gender-based violence.

Public Services

Plans to "enact upstream solutions to improve public safety, prevent gun violence, and end racial disparities in our criminal legal systems."

Opposes enforcing paying transit fares through punishments.

Wants to address the opioid crisis by building crisis care centers, increasing treatment beds, more substance use disorder treatment, and providing more behavioral health services.

Supports a goal of zero youth incarceration, expanding diversion programs like the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Program, and creating a county pilot program to help people released from prison reentry society by providing services and support.

- Plans to "enact upstream solutions to improve public safety, prevent gun violence, and end racial disparities in our criminal legal systems." 
- Opposes enforcing paying transit fares through punishments. 
- Wants to address the opioid crisis by building crisis care centers, increasing treatment beds, more substance use disorder treatment, and providing more behavioral health services. 
- Supports a goal of zero youth incarceration, expanding diversion programs like the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Program, and creating a county pilot program to help people released from prison reentry society by providing services and support.

Public Safety

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Sarah Reyneveld

King County Elections, Becka Johnson Poppe

Hacks & Wonks Podcast, Becka Johnson Poppe

- Wants to provide high quality childcare options for babies and toddlers, particularly for low-income and dual language families. 
- Said, "a budget is about our values - it's about our priorities and how we make those real, and that's a unique skill set that I bring." 
- Wants to make sure that nonprofits have the funding to pay their employees more, especially people doing social service work, adjust wages to keep up with inflation, and provide more benefits. 
- As a county employee, she was responsible for King County's $16 billion budget, including funding for metro transit and parks.

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Wants safe, reliable, emissions-free public transportation in District 4 and plans to create a Transportation Benefit District that will create a new tax in the area to expand bus service.

- Wants safe, reliable, emissions-free public transportation in District 4 and plans to create a Transportation Benefit District that will create a new tax in the area to expand bus service.

Wants the county to be a leader on address homelessness and said that "[h]elping the unhoused is an urgent priority, [sic] we must scale up supportive services that save lives and build healthy communities for everyone."

Supports "scaling up the King County Regional Homelessness Authority's work to center lived experiences, data, and evidence-based practices.

Wants to provide support for first-time home buyers, create more housing rental options managed by the county or a nonprofit, and require developers to include affordable housing units in their development projects.

As a county employee, she created a $20 million Climate Equity program to build affordable housing and convert homes to run on sustainable sources of energy.

- Wants the county to be a leader on address homelessness and said that "[h]elping the unhoused is an urgent priority, [sic] we must scale up supportive services that save lives and build healthy communities for everyone." 
- Supports "scaling up the King County Regional Homelessness Authority's work to center lived experiences, data, and evidence-based practices. 
- Wants to provide support for first-time home buyers, create more housing rental options managed by the county or a nonprofit, and require developers to include affordable housing units in their development projects. 
- As a county employee, she created a $20 million Climate Equity program to build affordable housing and convert homes to run on sustainable sources of energy.

Said, "I will also increase investments in renewable energy and green development in public and private projects to ensure our region, and the world, are livable for generations to come."

Plans to reduce emissions by changing county zoning, codes, and processes , protect waterways from pollution, and provide more equitable access to green spaces throughout the county.

Supports environmental and racial justice, and wants the county to be a leader on climate change.

As a county employee, she incorporated a "social cost of carbon" into the county's decisions about infrastructure projects, and she helped update the building codes to require sustainable construction.

- Said, "I will also increase investments in renewable energy and green development in public and private projects to ensure our region, and the world, are livable for generations to come." 
- Plans to reduce emissions by changing county zoning, codes, and processes , protect waterways from pollution, and provide more equitable access to green spaces throughout the county. 
- Supports environmental and racial justice, and wants the county to be a leader on climate change. 
- As a county employee, she incorporated a "social cost of carbon" into the county's decisions about infrastructure projects, and she helped update the building codes to require sustainable construction.

Plans to provide safer and more effective behavioral health services while improving wages for behavioral health workers.

As a University of Washington employee, she worked to make higher education more affordable by expanding financial aid for lowand middle-income students from Washington.

- Plans to provide safer and more effective behavioral health services while improving wages for behavioral health workers. 
- As a University of Washington employee, she worked to make higher education more affordable by expanding financial aid for low- and middle-income students from Washington.

King County,  Zero Youth Detention launching the Regional Peacekeepers Collective

Wants to evaluate "use of force" policies and training for the police and to staff public safety teams with mental health professionals trained to respond to crises.

Plans to expand community courts to include misdemeanor crimes, community diversion programs, and community-based alternative to prison sentences.

Wants more behavioral health support for people in prison, more access to legal representation, and more "human-centered, criminal legal strategies."

Said, "[g]un violence is a public health crisis that disproportionately harms black and brown men," and wants to scale up the King County Regional Peacekeepers Collective, which addresses violence as a public health issue by providing support to at-risk youth and families.

- Wants to evaluate "use of force" policies and training for the police and to staff public safety teams with mental health professionals trained to respond to crises. 
- Plans to expand community courts to include misdemeanor crimes, community diversion programs, and community-based alternative to prison sentences. 
- Supports closing the King County Jail. 
- Wants more behavioral health support for people in prison, more access to legal representation, and more "human-centered, criminal legal strategies." 
- Said, "[g]un violence is a public health crisis that disproportionately harms black and brown men," and wants to scale up the King County Regional Peacekeepers Collective, which addresses violence as a public health issue by providing support to at-risk youth and families.

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Becka Johnson Poppe

King County Elections, Jorge L. Barón

- Plans to secure funding from the state government and said, "I believe that we will not be able to make sufficient progress in any of these issue areas if we do not address the way that county services are funded." 
- Wants more funding for public transportation, including expanding public transit options such as buses, light rail, and commuter trains.

Supports dense, walkable neighborhoods and robust, reliable public transportation as an alternative to individual car usage.

- Supports dense, walkable neighborhoods and robust, reliable public transportation as an alternative to individual car usage.

Promises "to develop affordable and dignified housing for all and lead on comprehensive strategies to support our unhoused neighbors."

Wants to build affordable housing for low-income families, seniors, and individuals experiencing homelessness, while also providing shelter and support services in the short term.

Supports rent stabilization and tenant protections, and wants to prevent unfair evictions and displacement.

Believes that "[a]ccess to safe, affordable housing is a fundamental human right and essential for building strong and equitable communities."

- Promises "to develop affordable and dignified housing for all and lead on comprehensive strategies to support our unhoused neighbors." 
- Wants to build affordable housing for low-income families, seniors, and individuals experiencing homelessness, while also providing shelter and support services in the short term. 
- Supports rent stabilization and tenant protections, and wants to prevent unfair evictions and displacement. 
- Believes that "[a]ccess to safe, affordable housing is a fundamental human right and essential for building strong and equitable communities."

Supports climate resilience initiatives and plants to "approach this issue as one of climate justice, prioritizing the mitigation of impacts of the crisis on marginalized communities."

Plans to increase the use of sustainable energy sources, including solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Promises to conserve natural resources in the Puget Sound, protect biodiversity, and making sure that land is used sustainably.

- Supports climate resilience initiatives and plants to "approach this issue as one of climate justice, prioritizing the mitigation of impacts of the crisis on marginalized communities." 
- Plans to increase the use of sustainable energy sources, including solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 
- Promises to conserve natural resources in the Puget Sound, protect biodiversity, and making sure that land is used sustainably.

Supports universally affordable childcare.

Wants to expand behavioral health services, including substance use treatment.

Said, "I believe it is essential to use a racial justice lens when evaluating policies in all these issue areas."

- Supports universally affordable childcare. 
- Wants to expand behavioral health services, including substance use treatment. 
- Said, "I believe it is essential to use a racial justice lens when evaluating policies in all these issue areas."

Plans to focus on preventing crime, community-based policing, and using data to improve public safety.

Said, "I recognize the importance of a holistic approach to public safety that goes beyond traditional law enforcement measures."

Supports reforming the police, by providing more oversight, training in de-escalation, and prioritizing transparency.

Wants to get rid of discriminatory practices and promote fairness within the criminal justice system.

Supports alternatives to prison time, including rehabilitation, diversion programs, and restorative justice initiatives.

- Plans to focus on preventing crime, community-based policing, and using data to improve public safety. 
- Said, "I recognize the importance of a holistic approach to public safety that goes beyond traditional law enforcement measures." 
- Supports reforming the police, by providing more oversight, training in de-escalation, and prioritizing transparency. 
- Wants to get rid of discriminatory practices and promote fairness within the criminal justice system. 
- Supports alternatives to prison time, including rehabilitation, diversion programs, and restorative justice initiatives.

Jorge L. Barón

- County council members work together to set and implement county policy.
- County Council is tasked with approving the county budget, setting local tax rates, approving plans for land use in the county, and appointing county officials.
- County council members work to improve the county’s education system, ensure safety, make environmental and business policy, and run the county transportation network.
- There are nine county council members, who represent specific areas of the county.
- County council members are elected to four-year terms, with even numbered and odd numbered districts being up for election on an alternating basis every two years. Elections are nonpartisan, but county council members often make their party affiliations a matter of public record.