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Axios
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Meet the 7 people challenging Bruce Harrell for mayor
Seven people are competing to unseat Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, including a progressive activist, a former T-Mobile executive and a resident who has recently experienced homelessness. Why it matters: This year's election will decide whether Harrell — a lawyer who previously served three terms on the city council — will be the latest in Seattle's string of one-term mayors or if he will break that political cycle, which dates back to 2010. During Harrell's first term as mayor, he has focused on efforts to boost police hiring and improve the business climate downtown, among other issues. Flashback: Seattle's last mayor to win two terms was Greg Nickels, who lost his reelection bid in the 2009 primary. Here's a look at the candidates who filed to run against Harrell ahead of last week's deadline to get on the 2025 ballot. Katie Wilson: Wilson is the co-founder and general secretary of the Transit Riders Union, a progressive advocacy organization that pushes for better public transit. She has argued that Harrell has been too focused on removing encampments around the city while failing to provide adequate services and shelter beds, among other criticisms. As of Tuesday, Wilson had raised more than $190,000, the most of any of Harrell's challengers so far, according to campaign finance records. Ry Armstrong: Armstrong, who previously ran for the city council in 2023, is an actor, union representative and leader of Sustainable Seattle. In recent months, Armstrong supported the successful campaign for Proposition 1A, which will enact a new tax to pay for social housing in Seattle. (Harrell supported a no-new-taxes alternative, Proposition 1B). Joe Molloy: Molloy's website says he lives the " daily reality" of homelessness in Seattle, having lost his housing last year. His platform calls for more shelter units and a basic income pilot program. Joe Mallahan: Mallahan ran for mayor in 2009, losing to Mike McGinn. In an endorsement interview this week, the former T-Mobile executive criticized the mayor's management of the police department, saying the agency "needs huge reform." Mallahan also touted his support for social housing as an area of contrast with Harrell. Isaiah Willoughby: Willoughby previously announced a city council campaign in 2023, but withdrew and didn't appear on that year's ballot. He pleaded guilty to arson for setting a fire outside the Seattle Police Department's East Precinct during the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) in 2020. Thaddeus Whelan: Whelan is an Army veteran who rents in North Seattle, a campaign website says. Whelan's platform suggests implementing congestion pricing in Seattle and enacting a tax on unused land, among other changes. Clinton Bliss: Bliss is a medical doctor whose platform focuses on campaign finance reform and rejecting donations from all organizations.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sound Transit has found its preferred next CEO. Will he survive a board vote Thursday?
King County Executive Dow Constantine has been nominated to become the next CEO of Sound Transit and could be approved Thursday to lead the regional public transit agency of which he currently sits on the board. Sound Transit announced Monday that the Democrat is the preferred candidate among three finalists under consideration following a search that began with 60 applicants. In a joint statement, the agency board's leadership trio, including Vice Chairman Ryan Mello — the Pierce County executive — said it was 'pleased' to put Constantine forward for a vote. The other board leaders are Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, who chairs the board, and King County Council member Claudia Balducci, who's also a vice chair. 'We are confident he has the knowledge, experience, and commitment to achieve Sound Transit's goals and complete the ST3 package,' the group said of Constantine and in reference to a third phase of capital investments approved by voters. Sound Transit's 18-member board, absent Constantine, will vote on Constantine's nomination during its regular public meeting Thursday. His appointment will require a supermajority vote, meaning that he will need support from 12 of the 17 remaining board members. The estimated $4 billion-plus Tacoma Dome Link Extension will be a key project in Pierce County to be advanced under the next CEO. The confidential search to lead the agency, which maintains a $4 billion-plus budget and constructs and operates transit service throughout Pierce, King and Snohomish counties, was marked in part by criticisms of Constantine's candidacy and concerns over transparency. In February, the Transit Riders Union wrote to the agency's board that Constantine was directly or indirectly responsible for appointing 10 board members and would be tasked as CEO with evaluating a King County government complex project put forward under his leadership as county executive. The letter was reported by The Urbanist. Conflict-of-interest concerns were shared by the grassroots transit-advocacy group, Seattle Subway, which urged the agency to release the full list of finalists and invite public dialogue before any final decision. Sound Transit has said it would not have received as many qualified applicants if they weren't assured confidentiality and that Constantine recused himself from all matters related to the search. The CEO job's publicly advertised salary range is $450,000 to $650,000 per year, although the Seattle Times reported it could be as high as $675,000, which would exceed the $500,000 annual rate of retiring interim CEO Goran Sparrman. Constantine's salary as King County executive in 2022 stood at slightly less than $260,000, according to the Association of Washington Cities. 'Being CEO of Sound Transit is a tough job with many constituencies to serve, and Dow has proven over his career in public service that he can deliver large capital projects, successfully oversee a major transit agency, and foster partnerships across our region that are essential to make Sound Transit function at the highest possible level,' the board's leadership said Monday. The trio called it 'a crucial time for the agency,' citing the need to address operational and maintenance challenges, increased accountability measures and rising financial pressure from inflation and economic uncertainties. 'The search for a new CEO was competitive,' board leadership said. 'The Board started with 60 applicants from around the world and narrowed the field from 15 to 5 to 3 and finally to 1. It was a thorough process with significant public input, vigorous discussions, and multiple panels that included transit riders, disability advocates, other regional transit agencies, and labor and economic development organizations. 'We are grateful to the many board members, agency staff, and community partners who provided valuable insights and have put their time and skills toward making sure we had an extensive and thoughtful CEO search process. We look forward to the Board's decision on Thursday.' The Sound Transit board meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. inside the Ruth Fisher Board Room in Union Station at 401 S. Jackson Street in Seattle. The public may attend virtually. Information on how to participate can be found at and by clicking 'Board meetings.'
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Burien battles over minimum wage
A battle in Burien – over minimum wage. The city just filed a lawsuit claiming that a ballot measure, approved less than three weeks ago by voters, is unconstitutional. At the start of the year, the city's new minimum wage law kicked in at $21.16 an hour for businesses with more than 20 employees. Measure 1, passed earlier this month, would put Burien's minimum wage at $21.10 an hour, regardless of business size, to match with the City of Tukwila. The city referred KIRO 7 to a statement on the city's website, reading in part, 'Understanding that Burien residents, employees, and employers require absolute clarity on Burien's minimum wage law, Burien has asked the superior court to provide guidance. Burien will continue to inform its community about these proceedings.' Katie Wilson with the Transit Riders Union, a group that helped lead the charge for Measure 1, says the lawsuit does not have any merit. 'The city has been trying to mess with the citizen's initiative, really, since the beginning, so we're not surprised that this lawsuit is here but we're confident that we'll prevail,' said Wilson. David Meinert owns Huckleberry Square, a family restaurant with 42 employees. 'I'm all for raising the minimum wage, but most democratic cities in the country that have a high minimum wage also have a tip credit, and Initiative 1 did away with Burien's tip credit – actually lowered the minimum wage for a lot of people and then did away with the tip credit,' said Meinert. He says Measure 1 will force businesses to make unwanted changes. 'We're already planning on raising prices substantially and cutting staff, for sure,' said Meinert. The initiative is set to take effect at the end of March.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Burien Special Election: Minimum wage increase measure close by hundreds of votes
As early results rolled on Tuesday night, a measure in Burien to create a minimum wage increase is leading by several hundred votes. Measure 1A aimed to raise the wage to $21.10 and have future increases tied to inflation, like how Tukwila and other south King County communities have established. The measure would also have a phase-in period for small and local businesses as well as require businesses to offer more hours to part-time employees before hiring new ones. 'This just shows that minimum wages are popular and successful,' said Katie Wilson, an organizer with the Transit Riders Union, who helped in the campaign. By 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 'yes' and 'no' were separated by 441 votes, 54.35% to 46.67%. 'The cost of living in our region is so high and we know that people are struggling to make rent and struggling to put food on the table. I think that people know that people need to make minimum wage and the state minimum wage isn't enough,' Wilson said. The increase comes after the Burien City Council increased the minimum wage, but carved out exceptions for union workers, counted tips toward wages, and, in some situations, counted benefits towards employee's pay. As of Tuesday night, 16.9% of votes had been cast with King County Elections of an expected 33%.
