Candidate Statements

**As of 6:00 PM 1/19, the following candidates have filed to run for leadership positions at the 2021 Reorganization Meeting. To run for a position, send your candidate statement (250 words max) to secretary@43rddemocrats.org**

Chair

STATEMENT FROM SCOTT ALSPACH

Fellow 43rd District Democrats, I’m so proud of the work that we have accomplished in my two years as Chair and am excited to continue growing both our organization and our impact in the coming term. Over the past two years we’ve knocked on doors and made calls for outstanding candidates here in the 43rd and beyond, which culminated in turning out over 88.5% or 43rd voters in the 2020 general election! Additionally, during an extremely challenging year, we have consistently held our elected officials accountable to our shared Democratic values and worked for a fair, open, and equitable Democratic party.

At a time when the Republican party has abandoned basic democratic values, a strong and boldly progressive Democratic party is more necessary than ever. With 375+ dues paying members, 128 newly elected PCOs, and truly outstanding new and returning board members, we have a strong foundation to build on over the next two years.

The upcoming 2021 election cycle will be a turning point for our city, and I look forward to working with you all to endorse and elect candidates committed to a sustainable and just Seattle. 

It has been a pleasure to work with and learn from each of you over my time as chair and I would be honored to have your support at our upcoming reorganization meeting.

Vice Chair

STATEMENT FROM MADDY VONHOFF

Hello 43rd District Democrats! My name is Maddy and I am excited this year to run for Vice Chair! I am an organizer by day, a small business owner, and for the last 6 years, a renter in the 43rd. Over the past 2 years I have served as one of our King County Democrat Central Committee Representatives, a Washington State delegate, and have been a 43rd PCO for the last four years. It has been a wonderful opportunity to help moderate candidate forums, conceptualize events, lead the KCD Policy and Programming Committee and take action with many of you over the last few years.

It is clear to me every day how far we have come and how far we still have to go. As a district with no meaningful Republican opposition, it is the responsibility of the 43rd District Democrats to hold our elected officials to our shared Democratic values, channel the energy of our members into meaningful policy change with tangible results that directly improve the lives of people in our community, and begin to build a bench of new young political leaders in our district to either run for the board, an elected position in the community, or both! And finally, we need to look inward and examine how we as individuals and as an institution have upheld and continue to uphold white supremacy and provide space and a plan for our members and board to grow and transfer power.

I would be honored for your vote as Vice Chair.

Treasurer

STATEMENT FROM BRAD BELL

It has been my pleasure to work as Treasurer for the 43rd for the last two years, I’m very proud of all of our board, and our membership, for the work they’ve been doing, and would love to continue to support them. As Treasurer, I will continue to keep complete records of all of our organization’s financial transactions and provide regular updates on the status of our budget. I would also welcome anyone else with an interest in fiscal matters, get in touch with me and you can join the Finance committee or serve as Deputy Treasurer. Thanks!

Secretary

STATEMENT FROM ELLEN KIMURA EADES

Fellow 43rd District Democrats, I’ve been honored to serve as your Secretary for the past two years during some historic ups and downs. We have been able to support and endorse some wonderful progressives, including Girmay Zahilay and Shaun Scott. I’ve been honored to inform our representatives of resolutions in support of the Green New Deal, the striking Swedish Hospital workers, and the Solidarity Budget. I have supported the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of the terrible deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many more. In Seattle, our District has been calling for change in response to the widescale abuses of the police during this summer’s protests.

I believe that the Democratic party and the 43rd District must be more accessible to all Americans, particularly those who have historically not been well represented: people of color like myself, people who rent and use public transit, people who do not have houses, people who have disabilities visible and invisible, people who are trans, queer, non-binary, gay or lesbian, people who work for hourly wages, people who are working parents. I hope to keep working to make this happen. I trust the good will of the 43rd to support all of us as we move toward a more just society.

State Committee Representative

Note: The 43rd District Democrats send two representatives to the State Democratic Committee. They must be of different genders. Genders have been provided by the candidates in their filings.

STATEMENT FROM AMY MADDEN

Please click here to read the joint statement from Amy Madden and Shaun Scott, including a note from 43rd LD Representative Nicole Macri.

STATEMENT FROM SHAUN SCOTT

Please click here to read the joint statement from Amy Madden and Shaun Scott, including a note from 43rd LD Representative Nicole Macri.

King County Central Committee Representative

STATEMENT FROM TARA GALLAGHER

I am running to be one of the 43rd LD's representatives to the King County Democrats.

I have been attending the KCD meetings for many years years, as a committee member, 43rd LD rep, and as 43 vice chair, and would like to once again have to vote and voice of the 43rd as your KCD rep.

KCD has become a productive and important force in the party, with increased sharing of resources such as PCO training. King County is varied politically, and it is important to bring the very progressive views of the 43rd to KCD; it is also valuable to listen to and learn from the experiences of those in more purple areas of the county.

I have served on the KCD resolutions, bylaws, tally, and finance committees, and will this term be chair of the KCD Finance committee.

For the 43rd, I have worked in various capacities, including heading tally committees and caucus planning, and serving on the rules and bylaws committee. I am interested in ways to get meetings to run more smoothly; and am excited at the possibilities for accessibility that have been opened with online meetings.

I joined the 43rd years ago in hopes of helping to push the party to the left, and have seen the conversation of what is possible—likely, even--moving steadily in a more progressive direction. I would like to continue on the 43rd board and at KCD to continue this work.

Note: The 43rd District Democrats sends two representatives to the King County Democrats Central Committee. They must be of different genders. Genders have been provided by the candidates in their filings.

STATEMENT FROM EFRAIN HUDNELL

Dear neighbors and friends. My name is Efraín Hudnell and I am asking for the honor of representing our district to the county party.

If the past four years have taught us anything, it's that representation matters. We Democrats have pushed the envelope in terms of what it means to represent, however, there remains much work to be done. I believe that the next step is to implement systems which hold our representatives accountable to the interest of those whom they represent. So, in addition to representing the communities that I represent by nature of my own identities, I will work to find, create, and incorporate systems of accountability to aid not only myself, but those yet to come in representing those communities we are not personally a member of. If we dare to imagine a tomorrow where representatives remain anchored to the interests of their district—instead of their own personal aspirations—we can make the 43rd LD an example for others to follow. If we dare to think big, we can make Seattle a world class, 21st century city which promotes equity, celebrates diversity, and vests power in its people.

I thank you for your time, and I humbly ask for your vote.

Alternate King County Central Committee Representative

Note: The 43rd District Democrats elect two alternate representatives to the King County Democrats Central Committee.

STATEMENT FROM ANQUIDA ADAMS

I would like to thank everyone for providing me the experience of being your KCDCC Alternate Representative and a 43rd board member from 2019 to current. For the past two years, not only have I’ve served as an Alternate Representative for the 43rd, I saw a chance for me to step up and utilize my abilities in leadership and became KCGCC co-chair of the membership welcoming committee. I worked really hard with my peer as chair to make sure we provided both the planning of nourishment of food and organized flow of setting up and shutting for each meeting. We were also charged with creating a welcoming space for all members from the beginning of the meeting until the end. In between my duties as co-chair, I still performed my task when need as an alternate to vote. I truly enjoyed working and being involved with the KCDCC members and our executive team as an alternate. Last, as a 43rd executive board member, I saw myself as a person who played a role in keeping us grounded and being the voice who was provided a space to bring to the team diversity of thought and an underrepresented lens to our table. I am asking for another chance and your vote to reelect me as your KCDCC Alternate Representative, I will continue to serve and make you proud! Thanks, for your time and your vote!

STATEMENT FROM CHARLOTTE V. AMOUREUX

Hi, friends. I'm honored to be a candidate this year for KCDCC Alternate from the 43rd LD. Except for two months last year, I've called the 43rd my home for my whole adult life. I've lived, worked, played, rented, fought, cried, and celebrated for the past four years right here in the 43rd, and I'm honored to serve as a PCO. I've been honored to represent the King County Young Democrats as an alternate and interim representative to the KCDCC, and I'd be so honored to bring a unique voice to the KCDCC. I've served and run for positions on the Executive Board of both the County and State Young Dems, and currently serve as Chair of the 21 and Under Caucus and Vice Chair of the Disability Caucus at the Statewide YD organization. I'm excited to add another title to my plate and to continue into my fourth gay year of public service.

Fundraising Committee Chair

STATEMENT FROM DAWN DAILEY

Hey Y’all! My Name is Dawn, and I’m honored to be with y’all! Thank you for considering me as your Fundraiser Chair for the 43rd Legislative District.

I was a PCO for the LD 22, 340 Precinct for three years, and I was also a WA State Combined Democratic Campaign Team Leader and Organizer for the 2016 Campaign for West Olympia and Tumwater. I worked with other comrades we all have had the good fortune of working such as Noal Alsharbini, Sara Kate Develle, Arne Nelson, Keoki Kauanoe, and more. I was also a fundraiser chair for my community as well for various other nonprofit organizations such as my daughters’ local school districts, Joint Base Lewis McChord’s Family Readiness Support Groups, and various museum boards.

I have learned so much here in Seattle and in the 43rd, both as your PCO, and as a social and racial justice practitioner and organizer! I thrust myself deeply into mutual aid work, in crowd-sourcing and providing deliverable life-sustainable materials for our unhoused residents. I am also an organizer for the Seattle Caregivers United for Black Lives Matter, and the Director of Curation and Collections Management for the Seattle CHOP Art. I am currently in Public and Youth Programs at the Henry Art Gallery and have developed physical and virtual programs for the US Naval Undersea Museum, and the Seattle Architecture Foundation. I am happy to be amongst you all and hope to learn how to best facilitate your needs as your Fundraiser Chair.

Elections Committee Chair

STATEMENT FROM SAM MCVEETY

Fellow 43rd District Democrats, I want to thank you for affording me the privilege of serving as your Vice Chair of Elections for the past two years. In that time, I've organized candidate forums for 20+ city council and state house candidates, distributed canvassing materials to members of the 43rd, and connected our membership to opportunities for political engagement beyond our district.

An ongoing priority of mine is ensuring that the 43rd live up to its ideals of being an anti-racist organization that holds equitable process and outcomes as a primary goal. As your Vice Chair, I will continue to provide engagement opportunities and candidate conversations that align with those principles.

PCO Committee Chair

STATEMENT FROM CODY OLSON

Fellow 43rd District Democrats, it’s been my pleasure serving as your PCO Chair this election cycle, I’m eager to continue the work of engaging voters with you. 

Since 2018 I had served as deputy to Jesse Weinstein’s then-PCO Chair and in July 2020 I took over as PCO Chair heading into the primary and the important November 2020 general election. My goal was to connect with every PCO in the 43rd to ensure I knew how to best support you and channel our energy towards turning out our 43rd LD and turning out the vote for Democrats nationally. I believe we succeeded in both. Out of 114,268 registered voters in our LD 102,018 turned in their ballots; 89.28 %. We also hosted weekly phone banks with the Biden/Harris campaign to turn out voters in the very swing states that ended up critical to our electoral college win in November.

Going forward with Democrats controlling the legislature in Washington state and nationally, I want to work with the PCO body to identify bills we want to lobby our elected officials to pass. Thank you for all the enthusiasm you’ve brought to the table as PCOs, and for your patience as I got a feel for the PCO Chair position this year. I’m eager to continue to lend what I can to channel our energy into electoral and legislative gains for Democrats.

Membership Committee Chair

STATEMENT FROM BRYCE KOLTON

I am Bryce Kolton and I would be honored to be your 43rd Democrats Membership Committee Chair. I love Seattle; from our compassionate, diverse, and dynamic people to our spectacular local environment, I believe wholeheartedly in this city as a leader in a sometimes-uncertain future. Integral to our goals of a green, inclusive, progressive city are the great people that make up Seattle. As Membership Chair, I would focus on growing the number of people within the 43rd who are politically active, finding opportunities for our members to volunteer and make their voices heard in the upcoming city elections, and work on the ground to represent 43rd interests and build civic solidarity with our neighbors.

I was fortunate to be born, raised, and educated in the Seattle area. I’ve volunteered with many organizations and political campaigns, including Seattle Subway, Andres Salomon for Mayor, and Terry Rice for Council. I also serve on SDOT’s Transportation Advisory Board and Policy, Operations, and Advisory Group. Several years ago at the University of Washington,  I was elected chair of the Student Tech Fee and created program reforms that expedited process, increased visibility, lowered the fee for students, and safeguarded tech resources. I feel ready to take the next step in giving back to my city by working in the 43rd and serving as your Membership Committee Chair.

Meetings and Events Committee Chair

STATEMENT FROM MORGAN MCMURRAY

Fellow 43rd Democrats,

I have yet to meet many of you in person, but it has been an honor to serve as your Meetings & Events Committee Chair throughout 2020. In a year that saw unprecedented difficulty, I’m so proud of the work the 43rd District has done to support causes and initiatives fighting for equity and justice.

When I joined the board last March — a lifetime ago — we were all getting used to virtual meetings, and your flexibility, patience, and assistance as we established our new processes has been deeply appreciated. I’m looking forward to further improving our virtual setup and accessibility with your help this year, and to the eventual return of in-person gatherings.

Alongside my role as Meetings & Events Committee Chair last year, I served as a Washington State Convention Delegate for Bernie Sanders, as Block Captain for Pramila Jayapal’s congressional campaign, and was elected as a PCO for the current term. Like many of you, I was also called to the streets in protest last summer to fight against unchecked police violence in our own city and across the nation.

Recent events in our nation’s capitol have shown us that our efforts in this area must not stop. Bigotry is alive and well in the US, bolstered by rampant misinformation campaigns. It is our duty as Democrats to continue challenging systemic oppression by speaking up and out against that misinformation, checking our personal privileges, amplifying the voices of marginalized groups, holding our elected officials accountable, and encouraging progressive policy. The next two years will be critical ones for these efforts, and I hope to continue contributing to them as your Meetings & Events Committee Chair.

Communications Committee Chair

STATEMENT FROM KELSEY HAMLIN

We are all in a pivotal moment where word choice and our ability to energize those around us is crucial. I know the difference strong messaging makes. I know the gravity of this moment--during a pandemic when we’re weeks after a white supremascist coup and days before Democratic majorities in the Senate, House, and White House alongside our own state legislature. While we should revel in such change, we must also continue asking for more. We need clean air, especially during and after COVID-19. We need to prevent people from slipping into homelessness. We need to protect Black and brown lives. We need transformative change at the urgency our overlapping crises demand.

When it comes down to it, I am a multitude of things like everyone else. I was a journalist. I feel I still am at heart. I am a communicator. I’m an advocate for housing, the climate, transportation, and BLM. I’m a millennial, a renter, a woman, an abolitionist. I’m a first-generation college student with college debt. I’m a policy nerd. I am a listener. I am a researcher.

My communications--over social media, email, and more--will show on behalf of the 43rd Washington State Democrats that we can in fact create a world transformed by collective community care, prevention rather than punishment, housing for all, transportation for all, and sustainable living where every person, animal, and plant thrives. That we, in fact, demand it. As communications chair, we will be action-oriented.

Technology Committee Chair

STATEMENT FROM ANNABELLE BACKMAN

Hello, 43rd! When I ran for Technology Committee Chair in 2016, I talked about the role technology can play in improving access and opening our doors to more members of our community. This past year has truly driven this point home. As Tech Chair, I began making the case for remote meetings back in March, and developed standing rules to allow remote participation that will continue to serve us after this pandemic is behind us. I also created a secure, auditable, and reliable voting system from scratch that allowed us to hold our first remote general meetings and endorsements meetings, and soon our first remote Reorganization meeting.

I hope that you will afford me the opportunity to continue as the “woman behind the curtain” for our remote meetings and facilitate a transition to hybrid meetings as we gradually return to normalcy. Looking beyond the pandemic, I see opportunities to use technology to remove some of the complexity of parliamentary procedure to help attendees understand proceedings, fully participate in them, and make their voices heard.

I would be honored to be re-elected as Technology Committee Chair, and look forward to continuing to help make the 43rd District Democrats a truly inclusive and accessible organization.

POLICY COMMITTEE CHAIR

STATEMENT FROM CAMILLE GIX

I am running for Policy Chair because I believe that as one of the most progressive districts in Washington, it is our responsibility to push the state and country forward, with strong, progressive legislation. I was born and raised in the 43rd district and have been involved with the democratic party here since I was 5-years-old, accompanying my dad, a former PCO, to meetings. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to advocate and campaign for a variety of policies and candidates within Washington State and the federal government. While in high school, I worked as a field intern for the Washington United for Marriage campaign, and more recently, I have worked on the creation of educational materials and outreach regarding community care, defund the police, and mutual aid. In my professional life I also have extensive experience in organizing communities in educational initiatives.

As chair I would make it a priority to collaborate with community organizations and our elected officials to pass legislation that is expressly important to the 43rd. I hope to lead a committee in setting legislative priorities that follow our passed resolutions and platform, such as efforts to divest from the SPD budget and reinvest in public health and community care programs, implementing a wealth tax in Washington, and election reform on a federal level, among many other pressing issues. I hope to build a large and strong committee that will work together to accomplish these goals.