In a few weeks, by August 6th, Seattle voters will be selecting the primary candidates for Seattle City Council – by district. Those who live in East Fremont (east of Aurora Avenue,) are in District #4, along with residents of Wedgewood, U-District, Laurelhurst and Ravenna.
Currently, Abel Pacheco has been selected to serve to fill out the seat representing District #4, until voters choose a new person to speak on their behalf at the Council. Currently there are 10 candidates registered, with the King County Bureau of Elections, for this open seat. The candidates are: Sasha Anderson, Ethan Hunter, Frank A. Krueger, Beth Mountsier, Emily Myers, Joshua Newman, Shaun Scott, Heidi Stuber, Cathy Tuttle, and Alex Pedersen
According to a press release from the 43rd Democrats, at a capacity crowd gathering, the organization chose to endorse many candidates – but none of the Seattle City Council candidates in this crowded race received more than 60% in ballots. A full list of 43rd District Democrat endorsements can be found on the official website (click here.)
This summer, the District #4 candidates are out and campaigning, with updates coming in from:
- Heidi Stuber – In June, the campaign knocked on over 1,000 doors, and the candidate received the highest rating for District #4 from the Downtown Seattle Association. In a recent newsletter, Stuber describes hers as a solutions-focused campaign, determined to make Seattle a more livable, affordable, and sustainable city! You can learn more about Studer, and her platform, on the official website (click here,) as well as how to assign your Democracy Vouchers to her campaign.
- Alex Pedersen – Early endorsements for Pedersen have included Ron Sims and Nick Licata, but he’s also recently received support from Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and the Machinists Local 289. See all of his endorsers on Pedersen’s official website (click here,) as well as information about Pedersen’s refusal to accept contributions from political action committees (PACs) or real estate developers. As a self-declared progressive democrat, Pedersen is focused on accountability and getting results. From his direct doorbelling this past spring, Pedersen has heard the number one concern as homelessness. The District #4 residents he’s spoken with are compassionate, and they want results – and with his experience at the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) during the Clinton Administration, and his private sector experience in low-income housing, Pedersen believes he can deliver.
- Cathy Tuttle – Every week this campaign has door-bell and phone bank sessions, and they are asking all their supporters to volunteer to get the word out – and the VOTE! Tuttle has posted her priorities and policy platform on her Cathy4Council website last week (click here,) in regards to climate action, transportation, homelessness, workforce housing and healthy neighborhoods. Tuttle has stated her platform clearly, for all voters to see, read and understand what she has to offer as a representative for District #4.
The August 6th primary will contain important levy votes, but the choice of which Seattle City Council candidates will continue on to the General Election in November may be the most important vote on the ballot – as the representative from each district (voters will only be electing a single councilperson to represent the district in which they are registered to vote,) will serve on the Council and be part of decisions affecting the City for the next four years.
Please get to know the candidates for your district, soon, and make a wise choice before voting by August 6th.