2015 Election: Brianna Thomas joins District 1 City Council race

Six days after our District 1 City Council “First Look” candidates’ forum, a fifth candidate has officially declared herself in the race as of this morning: Brianna Thomas, who, like the other four to formally declare so far, lives in West Seattle.

Thomas’s official announcement describes her as a housing advocate and community organizer “in and around Seattle for the last decade,” quoting her as saying, “West Seattle has been known as a community where people can get to their jobs quickly, find affordable housing and know their neighbors while enjoying the benefits of a big city. I’m running because I’m worried that’s changing.”

She currently works as field director for the Washington Housing Alliance Action Fund and lists past work as campaign manager for the SeaTac $15 minimum wage measure as well as for No on Initiative 1185. She just joined the 34th District Democrats‘ board and is ~~moderating~~ (updated) coordinating a panel on housing at its meeting tonight. Thomas also volunteers at the Senior Center of West Seattle.

IN THE DISTRICT 1 RACE NOW: Brianna Thomas (declared 2/11/15), Phillip Tavel (declared 2/4/15), George Capestany (declared 11/11/14), Amanda Kay Helmick (declared 10/20/14), Chas Redmond (declared 12/20/13). Filing deadline is May 15th; primary election to cut the field to two candidates is August 4th. In addition to voting on D-1, West Seattleites also will vote in the two “at-large” races, Positions 8 and 9.

raisinghand February 11, 2015 (9:29 am)

How long has she lived in West Seattle? Anybody know?

clark5080 February 11, 2015 (9:45 am)

Not to much difference between all these candidates

Marcee Stone-Vekich February 11, 2015 (10:01 am)

With this fast pace of announcements in the District One race, in order to not give an unfair advantage to one candidate over any others, I’ll be moderating tonight’s program instead. My thanks to Brianna for bringing in our distinguished panel and I look forward to her discussion about the Low Income Housing Alliance lobby day in Olympia next week. Good luck to all the candidates, announced and unannounced.

WSB February 11, 2015 (10:05 am)

Thanks for the update, Marcee. I went to the 34th site in the 7 am hour to verify that, as stated in her news release, Brianna was indeed a board member, and that’s where I saw her listed as moderator, so it was something I added to this story, not from her news release (all of our candidate-announcement stories have linked to their news releases rather than just posting them cut-and-pasted). I’ll update and link to your comment. – Tracy

Marcee Stone-Vekich February 11, 2015 (10:07 am)

As soon as our web editor is able, we will update the website.

That guy February 11, 2015 (10:22 am)

How is allowing one candidate the ability to supply the panel not an unfair advantage?

Joe Szilagyi February 11, 2015 (10:23 am)

Just saw an interesting idea posted online, in the form of a question for all candidates:
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“We need a litmus test for all candidates in this question, in all districts and at-large:
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Will you defend, enforce, preserve, and neither reduce, delay, nor revoke the $15 minimum wage law on the books?”
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That’s a good one.

ChefJoe February 11, 2015 (10:42 am)

Joe, so that’s like a $15Now version of the Norquist pledge ? I’m not sure that’s helpful.

Joe Szilagyi February 11, 2015 (10:44 am)

It’s helpful to everyone making minimum wage and trying to survive.

WSB February 11, 2015 (10:55 am)

And we have the second candidacy announcement of the day: https://westseattleblog.com/?p=300755

Mickymse February 11, 2015 (12:11 pm)

You don’t think that it is at all convenient that someone would post that question online at the same time that a candidate with experience campaigning for a $15 minimum wage declares?

AAC February 11, 2015 (2:35 pm)

Not much about Brianna on her website. As a 15 year resident and small business owner with a child in public schools, I would much rather see someone running who is reflective of my values and needs. Not sure how Brianna’s background of working against small businesses plays to the small businesses that we love in West Seattle. Last I checked, many business owners were deeply concerned about the impact of a fully ramped up $15 an hour. I hope the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce gets engaged and advocates for candidates who will help West Seattle stay vibrant and diverse for the families and individuals who live and work here.

Diane February 11, 2015 (2:59 pm)

Brianna was not “working against small businesses”; she advocated for living wages for all our workers

ws gal February 11, 2015 (3:21 pm)

mickymyse – Obviously I am slow, and didn’t catch it but now that you mention it…..DOH’ I do admit it feels a bit timed. Figure most everyone will have their favorites in the race and post what makes those faves a good thing- think that’s okay.

Lindsey February 11, 2015 (4:03 pm)

@Mickymse Joe Szilagyi is an established commenter using his real name, so probably not a campaign worker in disguise.

pjmanley February 11, 2015 (5:20 pm)

@ChefJoe: Agreed. Litmus tests just close the mind and eschew reason. It encourages us to judge a book by it’s cover. Sounds like pandering to me.

John Moses Browning February 12, 2015 (2:53 pm)

And another NO vote right out of the gates.

“Progressives” are going to destroy this city.

The Truth February 12, 2015 (11:18 pm)

Diane,

15 an hour is not small business friendly at all. I am all for large companies of 50 plus employees payingthat but small mom and pop places will struggle. Local small restaurants will really struggle and the majority of their employees are tipped WELL above 15 per hour. Seattles 15 wage was rolled out with a little cushion for smaller business but the campaign she worked on in seatac was way more extreme and would have been crippling with NO COMPROMISE for rollout. I will listen to what she has to say but extreme measures like that don’t scream reaching across the isle and willing to work with others.

Sorry, comment time is over.