Voting

I'm working to keep myself accountable to my role as an informed citizen, so I am posting how I voted in Seattle's November general election below. I am proud that I spent roughly ten hours researching my choices: time spent watching debates, reading, thinking, and talking to outside experts. The time I spent researching candidates is a testament to the quality of candidates we have to choose from; and yet, despite the caliber of people in this election and the standards to which they were tested (at least in the debates), it is clear that, as a city, we still have a long way to go.

In my opinion, this People's Party debate moderated by former mayoral candidate Nikkita Oliver was, by far, the best part of this election cycle. It was a better representation of how equity and collaboration could be upheld than we have yet seen. I am no longer interested in an individual candidate's statement - I want to know how they will build capacity for others. I want to see us hold future candidates accountable by their ability to collaborate and recognize the value in others. I also want us, the citizens, to continuously ask ourselves throughout the voting process: What is our role in this democracy? How can we support these elected officials to truly represent us? We are part of this equation, too.

County

  • Proposition No. 1, Levy Lid Lift for Veterans, Seniors and Vulnerable Populations: Approved

  • King County, Executive: Dow Constantine

  • King County, Sheriff: Mitzi Johanknecht

State

  • Advisory Vote No. 16: Maintained

  • Advisory Vote No. 17: Maintained

  • Advisory Vote No. 18: Maintained

Court of Appeals, Division 1, District 1

  • Court of Appeals, Division 1, District 1, Judge Position No. 2 nonpartisan office: Michael S. Spearman

  • Court of Appeals, Division 1, District 1, Judge Position No. 5 unexpired 3-year term nonpartisan office: David Mann

Port of Seattle

  • Port of Seattle, Commissioner Position No. 1 nonpartisan office: Ryan Calkins

  • Port of Seattle, Commissioner Position No. 3 nonpartisan office: Stephanie Bowman

  • Port of Seattle, Commissioner Position No. 4 nonpartisan office: Preeti Shridhar

City

  • City of Seattle, Mayor nonpartisan office: Cary Moon

  • City of Seattle, City Attorney nonpartisan office: Pete Holmes

  • City of Seattle, Council Position No. 8 nonpartisan office: Jon Grant

  • City of Seattle, Council Position No. 9 nonpartisan office: M. Lorena González

SeattleLindsey Engh2017, accountability, citizen, collaboration, elections, seattle, votingComment