By Hannah Saunders

Ya’ll asked, and we promised to deliver. With November elections less than a week away, TtS has created a short and sweet voting guide to assist you with busting through your ballot. This Seattle and King County-focused guide prioritizes progressive measures and candidates that, if elected, will be a breath of fresh air to the overwhelmingly conservative city representation. Let’s get into it. 

APPROVE: Senate Joint Resolution No. 8201

This resolution would amend the state constitution to allow for money in Washington’s Long-Term Care Fund (WA Cares) to be invested, including in the stock market, to try and grow numbers. Any investment earnings would only go towards long-term care benefits and the costs of the program. While the economy and markets have been a rollercoaster, the aging population is growing, and we must find ways to ensure our seniors are cared for, which is partially why this resolution received bipartisan support. 

APPROVE: King County Proposition No. 1 Medic One – Emergency Medical Services Replacement of Existing Levy

To replace the expiring levy that funds county-wide Medic One emergency medical services, King County is suggesting a property tax of no more than $0.25 per $1,000 of assessed property value for six years beginning in 2026. The Medic One System relies on the community to report when citizens need medical care and assist those experiencing an incident until Medic One arrives. King County Medic One offers emergency care with a vast array of equipment, medication, and training. 

GIRMAY ZAHILAY: King County Executive

Girmay Zahilay and Claudia Balducci are strong candidates with proven track records of hustling for the communities in which they have served. But it is Zahilay’s upbringing and understanding of the struggles of experiencing poverty and homelessness, combined with his dedication to expanding substance use disorder care centers and increasing the housing supply, which has our yes vote. As chair of the King County Council, Zahilay funded new substance use recovery centers, and Balducci has also impressively created thousands of new homes, emergency shelters, and affordable housing units.  

KATIE WILSON: City of Seattle Mayor

Instead of texting rich men about how disgusting nude LGBTQIA+ beachgoers are, Wilson has spent her career fighting for working people and families, having helped push the highest minimum wage in the country. Even though Seattle is a city where there are more dogs than children, Wilson is advocating for affordable childcare so that more young people have the opportunity to grow their families, rather than experiencing financial challenges due to the high costs of having a child or forgoing having children altogether. 

Wilson plans to expand mental health and substance use disorder treatment, invest in alternative response models for nonviolent 911 calls, and create 4,000 emergency housing units to support those experiencing homelessness. 

Incumbent Bruce Harrell is laden with scandals and has emphasized how he created the CARE (Community Assisted Response and Engagement) department as a public safety branch while simultaneously hiring hundreds of new Seattle Police officers, resulting in a decrease in crime and overdose deaths. Harrell said he will continue to hire officers while expanding alternative responses to behavioral health crises. 

Let’s not forget, Harrell was arrested in 1996 after he pulled a semi-automatic handgun on a pregnant woman who was eight months pregnant, and police tend to follow orders from the top down. 

Out with the old and in with the new. 

ERICKA EVANS: City of Seattle City Attorney

Incumbent Ann Davison is at risk of losing her bar license for removing a sitting judge from the bench through a blanket affidavit policy— an abuse of power. Need we say more? 

ALEXIS MERCEDES RINCK: City of Seattle Council Position No. 8

“Who the fuck is Rachael Savage?” our notes read. 

Savage is a business owner of 25 years, whose campaign is focused on tackling substance use disorder. Savage supports public camping bans and said people using substances in public need to be jailed or directed to long-term residential treatment, and that she will amend Seattle law to enforce mandatory arrests for using substances in public. 

Rinck is running for re-election for this position, which represents all constituents in the city. Since taking office, Rinck has been working to create progressive revenue streams and make the most out of the city’s current budget to support working Seattle residents. She is data-driven and said she will continue to create protections for workers and increase the affordable housing supply. 

Earlier this year, Rinck sponsored a council bill that established the “Roots to Roofs” bonus pilot program, which creates an opportunity for community-based organizations to collaborate with housing developers to increase height and density. 

DIONNE FOSTER: City of Seattle Council Position No. 9

Foster is ready to push back against the Trump regime’s cut in essential services by using her expertise as a City policy analyst, nonprofit executive, and social work educator. Affordable housing is a top-of-mind issue, as is the inaction of the Seattle City Council. 

Incumbent Sara Nelson, owner of Fremont Brewing, said new funding for public safety will be dedicated to treatment for substance use disorder, and has outwardly been accused of inaction by a Seattle resident during one of her press conferences. Similarly to Harrell, Nelson is galvanized in scandals and has been accused of creating a toxic work environment that included gaslighting and undermining— so much that it led to the forced resignation of former Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales. 

APPROVE: City of Seattle Proposition No. 1 Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy

This proposition would replace an expiring levy that funds childcare and preschool; academic, health, and safety supports for all K-12 students; college and job readiness; among others. If approved, it would jumpstart a six-year levy starting in 2026 that would gather an additional $0.72 per $1,000 of assessed value, with a maximum levy rate of $3.02; Seniors and disabled people are exempt. 

Schools and youth need as much funding and supportive services as can be provided, particularly since the Annie E. Casey Foundation released a report earlier this year, citing Seattle K-12 education as being ranked 27th in the nation. 

APPROVE: City of Seattle Proposition No. 2 Changes to the Business and Occupation Tax

In short, this proposition would raise taxes for larger corporations and lower taxes for smaller businesses. Vote yes.

SARAH CLARK: Seattle School District No. 1 Director District No. 2

Candidates Sarah Clark and Kathleen Smith both have a wealth of experience. Smith is more data-driven and compassionate about the mental health of students, while Clark has been entrenched in the Seattle Public Schools (SPS) system since she was a child, and has served as a board member since April of 2024. Clark has shown that she will not hesitate to speak out against plans that would harm students, like proposed school closures, and will hone in on the budget crisis and school safety. 

JOE MIZRAHI: Seattle School District No. 1 Director District No. 4

Laurie Marie Rivera is running for transparency and accountability purposes, as she’s said there’s a disconnect between board leadership and student experiences. Joe Mizrahi is running for reelection, and has spent his time addressing budget challenges and rebuilding community trust. Mizrahi understands the real-life impacts board decision-making has on youth, and advocated to prevent school closures. 

VIVIAN SONG: Seattle School District No. 1 Director District No. 5

Similarly to other school board candidates, Vivian Song is ready to address the $100M budget shortfall as a finance professional. She’s a former school board member and SPS parent, and will work to “push for long-term planning, not short-term cuts.” 

Opponent Janis White has a disability education background, and said she will create additional supports for youth experiencing mental health distress. While her work to increase access and equity for disabled students is crucial, her campaign falls short of much else. 

JEN LAVALLE: Seattle School District No. 1 Director District No. 7

Both Jen Lavalle and Carol Rava have over a decade of experience navigating the SPS system, and while Rava’s career in the nonprofit sector would play to her advantage in addressing the budget crisis, LaValle repeatedly turns out: she rallied hundreds of families to fight against proposed school closures and launched the Billion Dollar Bake Sale, which works to fund all schools in Washington. LaValle’s consistent on-the-ground organizing for youth shows her dedication and perseverance towards improving outcomes, and that she will not back down on some of the most pressing issues.

Ballots must be turned in by 8 p.m. on November 4. Click here to find your closet ballot drop-box.

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