Thank You, Issaquah: Reflections on Our Campaign

Dear Issaquah Community,

I wanted to express heartfelt gratitude to everyone who voted for me, believed in my campaign, and believed in its purpose and values. While I did not win, I hope I demonstrated that politics should be much less performative and much more substantive—meaningfully engaging with the difficult issues that impact our community, even when that means taking stances on complex trade-offs and highlighting the gap between who we say we want to be as a community and what we are truly willing to invest and sacrifice to get there.

With just six yard signs (that my supportive and loving wife insisted on buying with our own money), one website on a free platform, one Facebook page, and one Instagram page, our campaign reached thousands of community members and earned 1,973 votes. I have always argued that there is already far too much money in politics—that's why I was neither seeking nor accepting financial donations to my campaign. When I walk around our city and see the hundreds of political signs that were purchased, I cannot help but wonder: did they even matter? Do they add value to the debate on the issues? Do they bridge divides, help substantively inform voters on issues, or trickle back to communities in need? How might that money have been better donated to local charities or organizations that promote mental, physical, and environmental wellbeing in our community?

The Issues We Addressed

Throughout this campaign, I never shied away from engaging with the issues that matter most to our community: affordable housing, better, safer, more inclusive transit and transportation options, and environmental stewardship. I also advocated for proportional ranked-choice voting to ensure every voice is heard and to reduce the influence of money in our local elections; called for transparency and limits on campaign spending at the local government level, demonstrating that meaningful campaigns can be run without excessive financial resources; I took a clear stance on ending gun violence through policy change; I championed Active, Sustainable, Social, Equitable Transportation policies, including safe pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure like the long-overdue West Lake Sammamish Road improvements that South Cove has been advocating for far too long; I supported expanding solar adoption, neighborhood battery storage, and smart-grid infrastructure to cut emissions, keep energy dollars in our community, create local jobs, and build long-term resilience; I emphasized the need for authentic third spaces where we can gather in person, fostering belonging and addressing our mental health crisis through genuine community building rather than isolation; I issued position statements on the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources' Budget Reconciliation Bill and other federal policies that directly affect our neighbors, from food insecurity to immigration enforcement.

I was deeply grateful for being endorsed by the King County Democrats and FairVote Washington, awarded a Gun Sense Candidate distinction, and singled out by the Progressive Voters Guide in the race for Position 5.

Looking Forward

I have already extended my sincere congratulations to Russell Joe for retaining his position on our City Council. I wish our entire council every success as our city navigates both longstanding and emerging challenges.

With the continued government shutdown—now the longest in our history—and the callous delays and cruel halving of SNAP benefits, many members of our community are struggling and will need support more than ever. Our only true ambition should be to serve our community, especially those most in need. While Washington DC might seem far away from Issaquah, federal policies are being felt sharply and devastatingly by our neighbors directly—by families facing food insecurity and by those targeted by ICE while simply trying to drop their children off at school. Too many American families are one crisis away from losing their next meal, their home, their foothold.

Please do what you can to foster empathy and compassion, and to address these challenges facing our community. Please know that you can count on me, and that I remain deeply committed to our shared values and goals. We have the agency to care for one another, to give each other opportunity, grace, and the support we all deserve.

Thank you, Issaquah!