Democracy is at its best when immigrants, refugees and people of color are engaged and represented at all levels by people that come from our communities and act in our interests. We know that when we elect leaders from our community, we elect people who put US first. It’s time to make our home a place with a thriving, inclusive democracy that welcomes immigrants and invests in communities. To do that, we need a government that represents us and reflects our lived experiences.
For too long our elected officials have attempted to speak for us or put our needs, the needs of communities of color and immigrants, last. We need authentic representation, and allyship is not enough. Our childcare system has been left devastated by the pandemic at a time when it’s most needed, and while we saw major investments through the legislature this year, local government must continue to prioritize early education and a healthy COVID-19 recovery for all. We need to take more steps at home to make sure our state welcomes immigrants and invests in community supports, not systems that harm Black and brown bodies.
This year we have the opportunity to elect candidates who deeply understand our experience, because they share it. Candidates who are proven community leaders that are ready to lead with power and a progressive, pro-immigrant vision. We can’t leave any power on the table this year - it’s time to vote, turn out our neighbors and our communities and lift these champions into local offices that will directly impact our lives. It’s our time.
Our Grassroots Leadership (GRLC), a group of immigrant, refugee, and POC leaders from across the state, and OAV Board, virtually interviewed candidates, asked tough questions, and made key decisions on whether to endorse and how to work with these candidates in the future.
"OneAmerica Votes (OAV) represents and works with numerous communities, and when OAV endorses a candidate, it implies that those communities align themselves with the candidate as well. Therefore, it's vital that leaders, that represent the values and needs of our communities, get to interview candidates and make sure that they're "on the same page" when it comes to the issues that affect us." -Youth Council Member Alex
We are excited to announce our 2021 endorsements which are a key way that we can elect people of color and allies committed to co-governance, educate legislators on our issues, and hold them accountable to co-governing with our communities.
WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US TO LIFT THESE POWERFUL CANDIDATES WE HAVE ENDORSED TO ELECTED LEADERSHIP BY SUPPORTING THEIR CAMPAIGNS WITH YOUR VOICES, YOUR DOLLARS, YOUR TIME, AND YOUR VOTE.
*Endorsements will continue to be added to this list as we finalize our endorsement process.
OUR 2021 ENDORSEMENTS
*Click/hover on photos for more information
KEY ENDORSEMENTS
DR. SHUKRI OLOW
KING COUNTY COUNCIL,
DISTRICT 5
DR. SHUKRI OLOWKING COUNTY COUNCIL,
DISTRICT 5
Shukri Olow is mother, a community organizer, and a pivotal member of our OneAmerica Votes community.
For the last 14 years, she has worked directly in service to the residents of South King County working on a variety of issues including housing, education and human services. She mentors youth through several programs, pushing the systems from the outside so that we can all get to collective liberation.
Shukri understands and aligns with the values of immigrant communities as she is herself a refugee from Somalia. She has been a long time leader in the Somali community in South King County and has organized in solidarity with the movement for Black Lives.
If Shukri is elected, she would be the first Black woman to win a County Council seat in WA state. Shukri is committed to fighting for expanded access to early learning and childcare for immigrants and families of color, reimagining public safety that centers the needs of community, and ensuring resources are allocated for pivotal programs that would allow our communities to flourish.
Shukri is committed to governing with OneAmerica Votes leaders. Putting us at the decision-making table alongside her.
HAMDI MOHAMED
PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSON,
POSITION 3
HAMDI MOHAMEDPORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSON,
POSITION 3
Hamdi Mohamed is a dedicated community leader who has organized with OneAmerica for more than 10 years. She has a deep passion for serving on the Seattle Port as the daughter of port workers. None of the current Seattle Port Commissioners live in S. King County. If elected, Hamdi would be representing the people of her community.
Hamdi immigrated to the U.S. from Somalia with her family at 3 years old after the outbreak of civil war. She grew up in South King County and currently currently works as the Policy Advisor for King County Executive Office of Equity and Social Justice, where she led $1.5 million investment in a new market and cooperative housing development in Tukwila, alongside managing a $3 million COVID-19 Community Response Fund that went directly to community based organizations working with frontline workers. She was also previously a Deputy Director for Rep. Jayapal.
If Hamdi is elected, she would be one of the the first woman of color to be elected to the Port of Seattle Commission. We're excited for Hamdi's leadership because of her passion for immigrant rights, workers rights and racial equity. She has pledged to work alongside OAV Leaders to fight for justice for immigrants.
TOSHIKO GRACE HASAGAWA
PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION,
POSITION 4
TOSHIKO GRACE HASAGAWAPORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION,
POSITION 4
Toshiko Hasegawa is a fourth-generation Japanese American and lifelong Seattle resident. She is a daughter of the labor movement and was shaped by her parents and community to value working in service to others, and to feel a strong sense of civic duty. In 2018, Toshiko was appointed Executive Director of the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA) - becoming the youngest member of Governor Inslee’s cabinet, and the youngest ED in CAPAA’s history. With CAPAA, she advised the Governor, State Legislature and other agencies on issues impacting marginalized communities in our state.
We have worked directly with Toshiko and her team at CAPAA on legislation and she has committed to continuing to work with our immigrant communities to advance issues that our most important to us.
If Toshiko is elected, she would be the first Asian-American woman to be elected to the Port of Seattle Commission. Toshiko's top issues she will be advocating for is economic justice, improving structures of accountability, language access at the port, and environmental justice.
CLARK COUNTY
DIANA PEREZ
VANCOUVER CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 3
DIANA PEREZVANCOUVER CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 3
Diana Perez is not only a first-generation college graduate, but the first in her family to receive an advanced graduate degree. She founded the area’s local council of League of United Latin American Citizens and was appointed by former Mayor of Vancouver Tim Leavitt to serve on Stronger Vancouver, an effort to align tax codes with the values of the city. She was also honored with Dr. Anita Del Rio Award for Latina Leadership and Women’s Advocacy from the National President of League of United Latin American Citizens. As a member of the Vancouver City Council, she will step up for ALL of the people in Vancouver.
SANDRA ZAVALA-ORTEGA
VANCOUVER SCHOOL BOARD,
POSITION 2
SANDRA ZAVALA-ORTEGAVANCOUVER SCHOOL BOARD,
POSITION 2
Ms. Zavala-Ortega, the current Public Schools Director, is running to retain her seat on the Vancouver Public Schools Board. She is a VPS graduate who started kindergarten knowing no English and went on to college. As a mother of a child with special needs and deep ties to the immigrant community, she is committed to extending opportunities to all as her district continues to diversify.
KING COUNTY
BELLEVUE
JANE ARAS
BELLEVUE SCHOOL BOARD,
POSITION 5
JANE ARASBELLEVUE SCHOOL BOARD,
POSITION 5
When Ms. Aras arrived in the United States at the age of 8, she didn’t know a word of English. Her third-grade teacher inspired a dedication to education, and she went on to earn her master’s degree in special education. Jane’s life crosses a range of experiences that many children across Bellevue schools are having: a new country, a new language, bi-racial families, educational needs that fall outside the norm. Having lived these experiences and having been a teacher for many years, Jane believes that she can bring a unique and much-needed perspective to the Bellevue School Board.
BURIEN
HUGO GARCIA
BURIEN CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 1
HUGO GARCIABURIEN CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 1
Hugo Garcia is the Chair of the Burien Economic Development Partnership (BEDP), Burien Planning Commissioner, and the Economic Development Manager for King County local Services. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico he moved with his family to Burien in 1991, where his family of five could be supported on his father’s income as a restaurant waiter and his mom’s part-time income as a high school lunch lady and his parents still live there today. He knows firsthand how hard it is for working families to afford basic necessities now, and as a member of the Burien City Council, he will prioritize inclusive pandemic recovery, housing for all, and rebuilding economic resilience.
JIMMY MATTA
BURIEN CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 3
JIMMY MATTABURIEN CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 3
Jimmy Matta was raised by migrant farmworkers from Guatemala and began working in the fields at the age of ten. Matta served as a labor leader for 20 years and in 2016 he founded Ahora Construction, a full-service union-signatory contracting firm. Matta has served as President of Carpenters Local Union 41 and President of the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters Regional Executive Board. He is currently a regional executive board member and Vice-Chair of The Latino Civic Alliance. Matta has served four years on Burien city council as mayor, where he has championed initiatives and issues that are important for the citizens of Burien.
KRYSTAL MARX
BURIEN CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 7
KRYSTAL MARXBURIEN CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 7
A member of the Burien City Council since 2017, Krystal Marx has also served as Deputy Mayor since 2019. She also serves as the Executive Director of Seattle Pride and a trainer for Bystander Intervention and self-defense classes, focusing on the LGBTQIA+ community. She is caregiver for her husband, an Army combat veteran, and is also a bisexual woman, mother of four (nonbinary 13-year-old, 12- and nine-year-old sons, and five-year-old daughter).
DES MOINES
YOSHIKO GRACE MATSUI
DES MOINES CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 7
YOSHIKO GRACE MATSUIDES MOINES CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 7
Yoshiko Grace Matsui, a Des Moines resident for 15 years, brings 8 years of experience in the City of Seattle’s human resources department, recruiting and supporting entry and promotional testing for the police and fire departments. As a Water District #54 Commissioner since 2015, she recently partnered with the City of Des Moines to replace a water main and repave a stretch of 8th Ave. If elected, her immediate priority will be increasing civil engagement to add voices in shaping her city’s future and will focus on identifying funding for urgent investments in infrastructure including roads and sidewalks.
FEDERAL WAY
TRUDY DAVIS
FEDERAL WAY SCHOOL BOARD,
POSITION 5
TRUDY DAVISFEDERAL WAY SCHOOL BOARD,
POSITION 5
Ms. Davis has served on the Federal Way Public School Board since October 2018 and is the mother of two boys who currently attend Federal Way High School. Currently, Ms. Davis is a member of the Parent Leadership Team with the Road Map Project and Community Café. Ms. Davis attended Howard University before holding a career in the military where she served in the US Army as a Personnel Management Specialist. Her position on the school board will advance policies and goals to improve the education, communication, advocacy, inclusion, and equity for every child.
KENT
CLIFF CAWTHON
KENT CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 4
CLIFF CAWTHONKENT CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 4
Clifford “Cliff” Cawthon is an educator, activist, freelance journalist, and proud Kent homeowner. Mr. Cawthon has been an activist for housing justice, tenants’ rights, worker’s rights and racial justice since he moved to Washington in 2014. He was a part of the nation’s first Renters Commission in Seattle, and during the pandemic he served as a community representative with the King County Office of Equity and Social Justice’ Coronavirus Advisory Taskforce. As part of the Kent City Council, Mr. Cawthon will fight for housing justice, reimagined public safety, equitable development, and transportation for all.
SARA FRANKLIN
KENT SCHOOL BOARD,
POSITION 5
SARA FRANKLINKENT SCHOOL BOARD,
POSITION 5
Ms. Franklin currently serves on the Kent Cultural Communities board, the board of the Greater Kent Historical Society, volunteers with Kent Hope, participates in the City’s Diversity Task Force, and volunteers on the Board of Directors for the Nonprofit Assistance Center.
BRENDA FINCHER
KENT CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 6
BRENDA FINCHERKENT CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 6
Ms. Fincher is a mother, community leader, and a longstanding member of the Kent City Council. She serves as a board member with Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center the Archdiocese of Seattle’s Black Catholic Advisory Circle, volunteers with Kent International Festival Committee, and sings in the Holy Spirit Parish Choir. Previously, she has served on the Kent Parks Citizen Committee and Kent Police Department Strategic Planning Committee and currently serves on the King Conservation District Advisory Committee and is a coordinator for the Kent International Festival.
RENTON
RUTH PEREZ
RENTON CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 6
RUTH PEREZRENTON CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 6
Ms. Perez is running for re-election on the Renton City Council. Having served on the Council since 2014, she served as Renton Council President in 2020. She has also represented Renton on many regional boards and committees, including the National League of Cities Transportation & Infrastructure Services Committee, Association of Washington Cities Federal Committee, Eastside Transportation Partnership, South County Area Transportation Board, and the Mayor’s Inclusion Task Force.
SEATAC
JAKE SIMPSON
SEATAC CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 2
JAKE SIMPSONSEATAC CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 2
Jake Simpson has spent most of his life in South King County, and he is a product of Kentwood High School and Green River Community College. A cook and chef by trade, he has dedicated his professional career to helping workers and their families, including better healthcare and wages for airline catering workers and protecting hundreds of jobs at the SeaTac airport. Jake is running for SeaTac City Council to be an effective advocate for all communities and citizens in the city and to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep and improve our quality of life together.
MOHAMED EGAL
SEATAC CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 4
MOHAMED EGALSEATAC CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 4
Mr. Egal, a social worker, decided to raise his family in SeaTac. Through his job, he has listened to thousands of clients talk about the challenges they face in their lives and has worked hard to connect those clients with the resources that can help them move forward. During the pandemic, he recruited college students from PLU and UW as well as Northwest Harvest to ensure local seniors had hot meals and fresh produce. His priorities will include affordable housing, economic recovery, and public safety.
IRIS GUZMAN
SEATAC CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 6
IRIS GUZMANSEATAC CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 6
Iris Guzmán, a long-time SeaTac resident, she was born to parents who immigrated from Mexico and was raised in East LA. She holds an MSW from the University of Washington and is currently a School Social Worker with the Highline Public Schools and proudly serves the SeaTac secondary schools, Chinook Middle School and Tyee High School. As a community member and social worker, Iris sees firsthand the needs of the BIPOC, immigrant, refugee, undocumented/mixed-status and working families in SeaTac. Iris believes that by helping those most in need, we as a community all benefit.
SEATTLE
LORENA GONZALEZ
SEATTLE MAYOR
LORENA GONZALEZSEATTLE MAYOR
Ms. Gonzalez earned her first paycheck at the age of eight as a migrant farmworker in the fields of Central Washington. After college, she went to work as a civil rights attorney, fighting for the rights of workers, victims of wage theft and employment discrimination, and victims of police misconduct and sexual abuse. She was Seattle’s first Latinx to serve on City Council, and as our first Latinx mayor, she will dream big and work hard – making city government work for everyone.
TERESA MOSQUEDA
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 8
TERESA MOSQUEDASEATTLE CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 8
Ms. Mosqueda has served on the Seattle City Council since 2017. She championed Seattle’s groundbreaking Domestic Workers Bill of Rights that served as a model for national efforts to improve wages and protections for vulnerable workers in 2018 and passed legislation to secure health care and protections for hotel workers in 2019. She previously worked for the Children’s Alliance on the Children’s Apple Health Plan and at AFL-CIO to fight for progressive policies for all workers. On Seattle City Council, Teresa Mosqueda strives for justice to empower immigrant and refugee communities through political engagement. These last four years she has fought for progressive legislation that builds healthy, thriving communities.
NIKKITA OLIVER
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 9
NIKKITA OLIVERSEATTLE CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 9
Nikkita Oliver (they/them) is a community organizer, cultural worker, artist, attorney, and candidate for Seattle City Council Position 9. The current executive director of Creative Justice, they were a founding member of the grassroots Seattle Peoples Party and serve as part of several coalitions and organizations in the Seattle/King County region including Decriminalize Seattle, Free Them All WA, and No New Youth Jail. As a member of the Seattle City Council, they will fight for a world that centers collective health and liberation from oppressive systems.
VIVIAN SONG MARITZ
SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD,
POSITION 4
VIVIAN SONG MARITZSEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD,
POSITION 4
Ms. Maritz, a first generation immigrant and the mother of four current and future Seattle Public Schools students, has more than 15 years of private sector experience in finance and management and over 25 years of community engagement. She has served as a PTSA president at John Stanford International School and is currently a member of the school district’s Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Council as well as serving as a board director for Washington State Leadership Board. She proudly identifies as Asian American and disabled (hearing loss).
MICHELLE SARJU
SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD,
POSITION 5
MICHELLE SARJUSEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD,
POSITION 5
Ms. Sarju is a longtime Central District resident, Seattle school parent, and manager at King County Public Health. Focused on eliminating the education opportunity gap, she sees many ways that Seattle schools can do better to ensure every child has access to a high quality public school education.
TUKWILA
ARMEN PAPYAN
TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 1
ARMEN PAPYANTUKWILA CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 1
The son of Armenian immigrants, Papyan’s dedication to protecting his community was instilled as a child, when he saw his father get taken away by INS agents. He holds deep ties to the Tukwila community, serving on the boards of the Tukwila Children’s Foundation, Friends of the Tukwila Library, and Action Tukwila. His priorities on the Tukwila City Council will be public safety, homelessness, housing and the city's long-term financial health.
MOHAMED ABDI
TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 5
MOHAMED ABDITUKWILA CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 5
Mohamed is a young community leader that has been working for the betterment of his community since he was 7. He is graduating from the University of Washington with a double major and will be jumping in headfirst to lead the city of Tukwila into a new era of equity, inclusion, and liberation. He envisions an accessible Tukwila for everyone regardless of race or socio-economic background. Mohamed will develop and implement policies and investments that create positive impacts for children and families throughout Tukwila.
DE'SEAN QUINN
TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 7
DE'SEAN QUINNTUKWILA CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 7
Some of De’Sean Quinn’s earliest memories are volunteering alongside his father at the local Boys and Girls Club, for other nonprofits, and on environmental restoration projects. After graduating from high school, he earned a degree in Political Science from the University of Washington. He worked as the community relations manager for King County Executive Ron Sims for two years and was later appointed to be Council Relations Director where he served as chief liaison to the King County Council and then as Regional Relations Manager under Executive Dow Constantine, interfacing with all 39 King County cities. Today he works as a Capital Program Manager with King County Metro.
KITTITAS COUNTY
BÁRBARA ROBLES
ELLENSBURG CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 3
BÁRBARA ROBLESELLENSBURG CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 3
Dr. Bárbara Robles was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She has spent the better part of a decade working in different capacities for communities and people in need; poor, homeless, survivors of abuse and sexual assault, immigrant, and other underrepresented communities. Dr. Robles is an advocate and an educator with extensive knowledge in law, public health, and education. She hopes to continue her public service work through Ellensburg City Council to bring about new ideas and perspectives.
YAKIMA COUNTY
DANNY HERRERA
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 2
DANNY HERRERAYAKIMA CITY COUNCIL,
POSITION 2
Mr. Herrera, an educator within the Yakima School District, is the co-founder of the College Success Foundation Yakima Alumni Board and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Dispute Resolution Center of Yakima and Kittitas County. Mr. Herrera is a lifelong resident of District 2 and a graduate from the University of Washington having received his Masters of Teaching in Elementary Education. He is eager to serve the residents of southeast Yakima and the entire Yakima community with integrity and strong leadership.
GRACIELA VILLANUEVA
YAKIMA SCHOOL BOARD,
POSITION 1
GRACIELA VILLANUEVAYAKIMA SCHOOL BOARD,
POSITION 1
Ms. Villanueva serves on the Yakima School District Board of Directors in addition to her job at Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic as the Recruiting Director, a position she has held for 10 years. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Heritage University and a Masters of Business Administration from Washington State University. A long-time community volunteer and public servant, her goal is for all students to be positive contributors to our community and to be academically prepared for their next step in life.
WALLA WALLA COUNTY
KATHY MULKERIN
WALLA WALLA SCHOOL BOARD,
POSITION 1
KATHY MULKERINWALLA WALLA SCHOOL BOARD,
POSITION 1