Early this month, Seattle’s municipal candidates participated in a heated mobility and housing forum co-sponsored by a coalition of organizations, including The Urbanist.
This forum showcased significant differences among the candidates regarding the taxation of the wealthy for social infrastructure investments.
However, a shared agreement emerged on the need to enhance Mayor Bruce Harrell’s proposed One Seattle Comprehensive Plan, particularly in expanding housing capacity.
The forum, held at the Centilia Cultural Center in Beacon Hill, saw participation from 18 candidates across three council races and the mayoral contest, with political consultant and Hacks and Wonks podcast host Crystal Fincher moderating the event.
The forum was structured into three rounds, beginning with the District 2 candidates, followed by the citywide council races, and concluding with the mayoral candidates.
Upcoming city council races are intensifying, especially as recent polling suggests that incumbent Seattle councilmembers are increasingly facing unpopularity.
In particular, Council President Sara Nelson may encounter a challenging race, whereas Alexis Mercedes Rinck, who took office earlier this year, remains one of the most favored city elected officials.
Due to the resignation of Councilmember Tammy Morales in January, South Seattle’s District 2 is particularly crucial this election season, as it is occurring two years ahead of schedule.
Among the notable candidates participating in the forum for Seattle City Council District 2 were Jeanie Chunn, Adonis Ducksworth, Eddie Lin, and Jamie Fackler.
For the Citywide Position 8, candidates included incumbent Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Ray A. Rogers, and Rachael Savage.
In Citywide Position 9, the candidates competing against incumbent Sara Nelson included Dionne Foster, Mia Jacobson, and Connor Nash.
A prominent point of discussion in the election is the stances on social housing, particularly regarding the recent Proposition 1A ballot measure.
This measure aims to fund social housing through an excess compensation tax and garnered a significant 26-point victory when it was presented to voters in February.
During the District 2 race, candidates like Jamie Fackler, a union steward, and Jeanie Chunn, an advocate for small businesses and workers’ rights, expressed their strong support for Proposition 1A and social housing.
Conversely, Adonis Ducksworth, who advises Mayor Bruce Harrell on transportation, stated his support for Prop 1A but did not vote in the special election.
Eddie Lin, a Seattle Office of Housing attorney, voted but supported the competing Proposition 1B.
Both Lin and Ducksworth pledged to honor the voters’ will, support the Seattle Social Housing Developer, and defend its funding source, aligning themselves with other social housing skeptics, including Mayor Harrell.
In the citywide races, candidates again expressed varied views on social housing funding.
Incumbent Alexis Mercedes Rinck supported Prop 1A and advocated for the scaling up of social housing, while challengers Rachael Savage and Ray Rogers refrained from disclosing their voting positions.
In Position 9, Council President Sara Nelson attempted to undermine Prop 1A by supporting Prop 1B, a move seen as catering to the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.
Meanwhile, frontrunner challenger Dionne Foster expressed her support for Prop 1A and has a history of advocating for progressive tax reform in her previous role as executive director of the Progress Alliance of Washington.
Connor Nash also supported Prop 1A, while Mia Jacobson chose not to reveal her voting history.
A notable consensus emerged during the forum regarding the expansion of bus lanes, bike lanes, and sidewalk infrastructure.
All council candidates expressed unified support for dedicating lanes to bus and safe cycling routes, as well as increasing funding for sidewalk development.
Ducksworth, who has experience at the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), demonstrated a clear understanding of the complexities involved in executing multimodal projects.
This forum was significant not only for the clarity it brought to candidates’ positions but also for the alignment of values across various candidates.
Regardless of the upcoming election outcomes, District 2 can anticipate representatives committed to safe streets and sustainable mobility options.
Despite this consensus, the District 2 candidates did diverge on several issues.
All of them, however, agreed on the need to enhance Mayor Harrell’s One Seattle Comprehensive Plan for increasing housing capacity while proposing slight variations in their approaches.
Fackler advocated for expanding neighborhood centers throughout the city and emphasizing density around investments, including parks and transit hubs.
Lin echoed the need for neighborhood centers while highlighting the residential zones’ potential for adding gentle density, suggesting the city should facilitate walk-up apartments and stacked flats instead of just townhomes.
Chunn proposed a bold approach, emphasizing the need for developers to include affordable units in every new building moving forward.
Ducksworth expressed the need for greater density along high transit corridors and proposed expanding the inclusion zone from 800 feet to two to three blocks off high transit corridors.
The candidates also discussed the forthcoming Seattle Transit Measure (STM), which is due for renewal in 2026.
This measure currently raises about $50 million annually to enhance transit services.
However, both Fackler and Chunn criticized its reliance on sales tax for funding.
Fackler remarked on the need for progressive revenue sources instead of placing the burden on working families, stating, “This should be funded by the wealthiest corporations in our city.”
In contrast, Lin and Ducksworth focused on prioritizing transit investments, especially the augmentation of bus service levels.
Ducksworth emphasized the importance of increasing reliability and service levels, as well as expanding the free ORCA card initiative for students and employees.
The forum also spotlighted a striking contrast between two leading candidates for Position 9: Council President Sara Nelson and challenger Dionne Foster.
Nelson exhibited resistance towards initiatives for new taxes on the wealthy, while Foster advocated for progressive tax reform.
Nelson expressed skepticism towards the affordable housing requirements associated with Seattle’s Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) program, arguing against obligatory developer-set asides.
Foster, however, was vocal in her support for strengthening tenant protections.
Despite their differences, all Position 9 candidates agreed on the necessity for increased apartment zoning beyond what is proposed in the comprehensive plan.
Even though Nelson, Jacobson, and Nash have not participated in Seattle’s Democracy Voucher program, they all signaled their support for its renewal.
Jacobson introduced a unique perspective on democracy reform, suggesting the harnessing of online data mining and social media conversations to create a more participatory process in local policymaking.
Jacobson expressed her concern that the existing local policymaker process is inaccessible to citizens, asserting that many voices go unheard unless they are directly involved with the council or specific committees.
During the forum, Jacobson appeared hesitant about increasing housing density in areas previously zoned for single-family homes, despite evidence suggesting that such policy changes command popular support.
Incumbent Alexis Mercedes Rinck faced contrasting perspectives in her Position 8 race, as her challengers signified markedly different views on taxation and social issues.
Rachael Savage expressed skepticism about taxing the wealthy, presenting herself as a Trump Republican.
Ray Rogers occupied a centrist position, demonstrating some hesitancy toward aggressive tax measures compared to Rinck.
The upcoming election has set the stage for a critical three-week voting period starting on July 18, with primaries taking place on August 5.
The Urbanist Election Committee is expected to announce its endorsement mid-July.
This forum, co-hosted by The Urbanist alongside a diverse array of transportation and housing organizations, including Ampersand Bicycle Club, Beacon Hill Safe Streets, and Cascade Bicycle Club, stands as a testament to the growing mobilization around urban issues in Seattle.
image source from：theurbanist
