Everyone deserves a safe, stable place where they can afford to live, equitable access to education, opportunity, health, and well-being and government representation that listens to and understands their concerns and works toward effective, practical solutions for our region’s challenges. As your King County Council member , I am committed to these priorities:

Housing & Homelessness

We need to ensure that people of all backgrounds–students, working families, seniors and veterans are able to work AND live in King County.

As Founder and Chair of the Regional Affordable Housing Committee and Governing Board Member of King County Regional Homelessness Authority, I am bringing together cities, employers, housing non-profits, and community to  develop transparent and accountable housing affordability and homelessness action plans. Together, we will generate more affordable housing at every income level and help neighbors living unsheltered  across our region get into permanent housing and get back on their feet.

I’ll continue looking for new opportunities to expand the County’s role in providing effective and available human services, so we can reduce and prevent homelessness, providing meaningful help for those in need.

Transportation

Transit can be a key opportunity creator, it expands access to jobs, schools, and housing. King County has the best metro service in the country, but as our region grows and its needs change, we must respond with sustainable and affordable opportunities to connect our region. I’ve fought to add more than 25,000 additional hours of transit service throughout King County. I was also an early and unwavering advocate for light rail on the Eastside, and as we get closer to the opening of the East Link light rail expansion, I’ll work to make sure it opens as quickly as possible so that we can make this once-in-a-generation investment available to the public. I’m also committed to providing excellent ACCESS bus service, so people with disabilities can better take advantage of our public transit systems.

On the County Council, I’ll always look for ways to build a better transit system to connect us all.

Investing in Our Kids

Every kid in King County should have the best start in life and equitable access to an education that allows them to fulfill their potential.  

I’ve been a longtime supporter of KidsQuest Museum in Bellevue, early learning programs, and STEAM education. By improving outreach and giving kids from every community the tools to learn and explore, we can create long term positive outcomes and opportunities for personal and economic growth.

I was pleased to lead the County’s work to plan for investment of a projected $300 million in new resources from the state-approved Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability fund. We committed as a county to direct those funds over about the next 20 years to expand access to early learning/child care, enhancements in equitable education in the middle and high school, and the King County Promise Scholarships.  

The next generation of King County leaders are students today. I will ensure the County is an active partner, working with the state, cities, and school boards, to make sure every kid has the opportunity to reach their full potential. 

Safe, Healthy Communities

As a mom, I want to ensure every kid can grow and thrive in a safe and healthy community. As an elected leader and throughout my career, I have prioritized proven solutions to reduce crime, investing in the root causes rather than responding after the fact. I will continue to lead with proven best practices to keep kids and communities safe.

Healthy communities also require protecting the air, water and land that makes our region so special and leading with the urgent action required to mitigate climate change. I will ensure our county continues to lead on environmental and community health.