Through the Static

By Gray Trammel

After ‌ten ‌years ‌in Olympia, Sen. Rebecca Saldaña is ready to bring her experience to the King County Council District 2 position, with a focus on housing costs, behavioral health care, and public safety.

“I have always been really committed to being of service,” Saldaña told Through the Static (TtS). “I never thought it was about politics.”

After ‌completing ‌theology ‌and humanities studies at Seattle University, Saldaña went into union work, organizing on the ground and advocating for farm workers and janitors. When the recession hit, she took a job as a congressional caseworker where she helped veterans and homeowners that were facing foreclosure. Later came her leadership position at Puget Sound Sage, where she served as executive director, before being appointed to the Washington State Senate in 2016. Saldaña said those experiences shaped her approach to public service.

“I wanted to do something about changing systems, to make life just a little bit easier for people,” she said.

Housing ‌affordability ‌continues ‌to rank among King County’s most prominent issues. Saldaña cited bills she backed in Olympia, from statewide rent stabilization to bigger investments in affordable housing. She said state and local leaders need to work more closely if they expect to slow the climb in housing costs.

Pertaining to public safety, Saldaña said the county must invest in more than traditional law enforcement, emphasizing behavioral health services, crisis response, and violence prevention.

“Build out our behavioral health system,” Saldaña said. “Build the crisis centers. Make sure that we’re bringing everyone off the streets into a safe place and disrupting the violence that we’re seeing in our streets.”

Finance contributions Saldaña has received in previous campaigns include from the Council of Police Political Support, the Washington State Troopers PAC, the Washington State Fraternal Order of Police PAC, and the Sabey Corporation. Former Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best donated to her campaign this year. Saldaña said campaign contributions do not influence her decisions as a legislator.

“Whether it’s standing with moneyed interests, or standing with the people, I stand with the people every time,” Saldaña said.

She added that she does not accept contributions from tobacco companies, pharmaceutical companies, or military contractors, and that she avoids donations that conflict with community-supported boycott campaigns. But in 2022 she accepted $250 from Eli Lilly. Legislative leaders are often expected to raise money not only for themselves but also to help elect Democratic candidates across Washington, Saldaña said.

“The father that started this business was someone that I actually respected in this work,” Saldaña said. “I don’t have a lot of businesses that are investing in me. I was like, you know, fine, I can take those dollars.”

She acknowledged that concerns surrounding data center development have become more prominent in recent years, but maintained that the contribution has not influenced her votes or policy positions. Saldaña ‌said ‌her years working in Olympia sets her apart from the rest of the field. She cited the ties she has developed through nearly a decade in the legislature, and that those connections would help King County bring in resources for residents, as well as work more closely with state leaders.

As voters get ready for the primary election, Saldaña said the county needs experienced leadership that is able to address the interconnected challenges including housing, behavioral health and public safety.

“I’m ready to work, and I’m ready to come home,” she added. “Now I want to come home and support our local folks to actually save lives.”

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