2023 Washington General Elections

2023 Seattle Primary Elections

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Blaine is originally from Fort Peck, Montana and is an enrolled member of the Assiniboine-Sioux tribe. She attended American Indian Heritage School (AIHS), Shoreline Community College, and North Seattle Community College. She has six children, five of whom attend or attended Seattle Public Schools.

Blaine is working class and has worked in grocery and retail.

Blaine Parce's campaign for school district director is her first entry into politics.

Said, "throughout the years I have been a part of many fights to preserve the legacy of AIHS, including applying Native American curriculum to Licton Springs K-8, where several of my children have been/are students."

Plans to center "inclusive indigenous practice."

Wants to provide students with ways "succeed within systems to develop long lasting life skills to pursue a life they desire. Whether [sic] that is with a career in STEM, technical labor skills or within service."

Plans to provide workshops for families to help them navigate the school system, including special education supports.

Said, "[v]olunteering in our schools, I have seen the day to day our teachers pace."

- Said, "throughout the years I have been a part of many fights to preserve the legacy of AIHS, including applying Native American curriculum to Licton Springs K-8, where several of my children have been/are students."
- Plans to center "inclusive indigenous practice."
- Wants to provide students with ways "succeed within systems to develop long lasting life skills to pursue a life they desire. Whether [sic] that is with a career in STEM, technical labor skills or within service."
- Plans to provide workshops for families to help them navigate the school system, including special education supports.
- Said, "[v]olunteering in our schools, I have seen the day to day our teachers pace."

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Blaine Parce

Debbie is originally from Auburn and Kent. They have lived in Seattle for 27 years. They have a bachelor's degree in political change through feminist and ethnic studies from Seattle University. They live with their partner and child, who attends Seattle Public Schools.

Debbie is a consultant who helps nonprofits with leadership, equity, and inclusion. They used to be the interim policy director at the National Alliance on Mental Illness Washington, a co-founder and executive director of LGBTQ Allyship, a community organizer for Hotel and Restaurant Employees (HERE) Local 8, and an English as a second language instructor at Renton Technical College. They have a teaching certification.

Debbie Carlsen's campaign for school district director is their first entry into politics.

Said, "\[a\]s an out LGBTQ+ person I want to champion a LGBTQ+ and racial equity lens on the school board. I want children and youth to know that they deserve to be safe and treated fairly."

Wants to teach skills like self-regulation, stress management, and other social and emotional skills to young children.

Said, "\[t\]he inequities in academic achievement still need urgent attention and focus to make the Seattle School District an excellent learning environment."

Wants both teachers and parents to be included more in big decisions made by the board of education.

- Said, "\[a\]s an out LGBTQ+ person I want to champion a LGBTQ+ and racial equity lens on the school board. I want children and youth to know that they deserve to be safe and treated fairly."
- Wants to teach skills like self-regulation, stress management, and other social and emotional skills to young children.
- Said, "\[t\]he inequities in academic achievement still need urgent attention and focus to make the Seattle School District an excellent learning environment."
- Wants both teachers and parents to be included more in big decisions made by the board of education.

Debbie Carlsen

Liza is originally from Seattle. She attended Seattle Public School. fine art in scenic design for theater from Brandeis University. She lives with her husband and two children, who attend Seattle Public Schools.

Liza was a faculty member at the City University of New York, Queens College and a freelance designer and painter on- and off-Broadway.

Liza Rankin is currently a school district director representing district 1. She was first elected in 2019 and has been in office for one term. She is the vice president of the school board.

Wants schools to be more inclusive of students with disabilities, and worked to get students who receive special education services to spend more time learning and engaging with their peers.

Said, "\[o\]ur policy is a state model for preventative and restorative practices that address high needs and cultivate safe, culturally responsive learning environments that benefit all children."

As a school district director, she worked on "inclusive education policy changes in Instructional Philosophy and Special Education."

As a school district director, she helped get more access to career and technical education.

As a school district director, she opposed cutting school staff.

- Wants schools to be more inclusive of students with disabilities, and worked to get students who receive special education services to spend more time learning and engaging with their peers.
- Said, "\[o\]ur policy is a state model for preventative and restorative practices that address high needs and cultivate safe, culturally responsive learning environments that benefit all children."
- As a school district director, she worked on "inclusive education policy changes in Instructional Philosophy and Special Education."
- As a school district director, she helped get more access to career and technical education.
- As a school district director, she opposed cutting school staff.

Liza Rankin

Michael attended Seattle Public Schools. He has an applied science degree in electronic engineering. He has three children, who attend Seattle Public Schools.

Michael is a technical consultant in the software industry.

Michael Christophersen previously ran for school district director three times before but did not win.

Wants to outsource some school departments and reduce the school district's budget.

- Wants to outsource some school departments and reduce the school district's budget.

Michael Christophersen

- The School Board of Directors runs the public school system. The School Board of Directors is entirely independent from the rest of the county government.
- School District Directors work together to make school policy, set the budget, decide what is taught in schools, and appoint the superintendent to run the schools day to day.
- School District Directors are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections.

Part of the board that governs your county's public school system

Washington School District Director, Seattle

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