Here’s the rest of Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson’s transition team

One week after Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson announced who’s leading her transition team – including two West Seattleites – she’s announced the rest of the team, and we recognize another West Seattleite (though we’re sure there are others – the list does not describe people beyond their current major organization/business/school/etc. affiliation). Here’s the full announcement:

Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson today announced a 60-member transition team which brings extensive knowledge of housing, business, labor, arts, community safety, civil rights, transportation and other fields. Over the next several weeks, members of the transition team will identify and reach out to dozens of additional community advisors to gather the broadest possible range of input, identify priorities, and help equip Mayor-Elect Wilson to successfully execute her vision as the next mayor of Seattle.

“I’m a coalition-builder — that’s how I ran my campaign, and that’s how I’ll govern,” said Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson. “My transition team brings people together from a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise to help me deliver on the vision that guided my campaign: a vision of a city that is more affordable, more accessible, and more innovative, where economic growth is paired with equity, government functions effectively, and communities feel supported and heard by their city government.”

“I don’t expect everyone on the transition team to agree with me on every issue, and it doesn’t matter who they supported in the election,” Wilson continued. “I have sought out their input and invited them to join my transition team because being a successful mayor means being a mayor for everyone.”

The transition team is organized into seven policy areas focused on:

Housing Affordability & Community Needs
Economic Development & Workers Rights
Transportation & Environment
Arts, Culture & Creative Economy
Civic Narrative & Major Initiatives
Standing Up for Our Values
Public Safety, Parks & Wellbeing

Transition team members in each policy area will solicit input from a broad base of community advisors to identify short, medium, and long-term priorities that advance the Mayor-Elect’s platform in accordance with her vision. The transition team also includes six student and youth advisors.

Transition Team Leadership (previously announced)

Andrés Mantilla, Transition Director; Uncommon Bridges
Karen Estevenin, Transition Co-Chair; Executive Director, Protec17
Tiffani McCoy, Transition Co-Chair; Co-Executive Director, House Our Neighbors
Quynh Pham, Transition Co-Chair; Executive Director, Friends of Little Saigon
Brian Surratt, Transition Co-Chair; President and CEO, Greater Seattle Partners

Housing Affordability & Community Needs

Policy Area Co-Leads:
Colleen Echohawk, CEO, Community Roots Housing
Jon Scholes, President & CEO, Downtown Seattle Association

Policy Area Members:
Cate Bridenstine, Executive Director, Imagine Institute
Alvertis Brooks Jr., Executive Director, Rainier Valley Community Development Fund
Gregory Davis, Managing Strategist, Rainier Beach Action Coalition
Alison Eisinger, Executive Director, Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness
Nakita Venus, Executive Director, Seattle’s LGBTQ+ Center

Economic Development & Workers Rights

Policy Area Co-Leads:
Richard de Sam Lazaro, Senior Director, Government Affairs, Expedia
Corina Yballa, Political Director, MLK Labor

Policy Area Members:
Jeanie Chunn, Founder, Seattle Restaurants United
Arif Gursel, Founder and Executive Director, The Union
Toshiko Hasegawa, Commissioner, Port of Seattle
Joe Mizrahi, UFCW 3000, Seattle School Board
Terrance Stevenson, Director, SeaCiti Initiative, WTIA

Transportation & Environment

Policy Area Co-Leads:
Shemona Moreno, Executive Director, 350 Seattle
Anna Zivarts, Program Director, Disability Mobility Initiative

Policy Area Members:
Lowell Bander, 9Zero Climate Innovation Hub
Lindsay Goes Behind, Chief Impact Officer, Seattle Foundation
Lee Lambert, Executive Director, Cascade Bicycle Club
Paulina Lopez, Executive Director, Duwamish River Community Coalition
Gordon Padelford, Executive Director, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways

Arts, Culture & Creative Economy

Policy Area Co-Leads:
Randy Engstrom, Co-Founder & Principal, Third Way Creative
Ben Hunter, Artistic Director, Northwest Folklife

Policy Area Members:
Michael Greer, President and CEO, ArtsFund
Jesse Hagopian, Educator, Author, and Blues Musician
Edwin Lindo, Co-Founder, Estelita’s Library
Amy Nguyen, Executive Director, Watershed Community Development
Elisheba Wokoma, Co-Executive Director, Wa Na Wari

Civic Narrative & Major Initiatives

Policy Area Co-Leads:
Alex Hudson, Executive Director, Commute Seattle
Joy Shigaki, President & CEO, Friends of the Waterfront

Policy Area Members:
Lilliane Ballesteros, Executive Director, Latino Community Fund
Dr. Ana Mari Cauce, President Emeritus, University of Washington
Andrea Caupain Sanderson, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, Ile Kimoyo
Leo Flor, Chief Legacy Officer, Seattle FIFA World Cup 26
Mari Horita, SVP, Seattle Kraken

Standing Up for Our Values

Policy Area Co-Leads:
Roxana Norouzi, Executive Director, OneAmerica
Jaelynn Scott, Executive Director, Lavender Rights Project

Policy Area Members:
Caedman Cahill, Civil Rights Attorney
Deaunte Damper, Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention, King County
Mubarak Elamin, American Muslim Advancement Council
Faduma Fido, Collaborative Governance Lab Leader, People’s Economy Lab
Abdi Jama, Community Legal Advocate

Public Safety, Parks, & Wellbeing

Policy Area Co-Leads:
Lisa Daugaard, Co-Executive Director, Purpose.Dignity.Action
Dominique Davis, CEO, Community Passageways

Policy Area Members:
Asia Adam, Executive Director, OurHope
Erin Goodman, Executive Director, SODO Business Improvement Area
Rev. Dr. Robert Jeffrey, Sr., New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
Gregory Joseph, Communications Director, Alliance for Gun Responsibility
Lonnisha Landry, CEO, Just/Us Love Ones

Student & Youth Advisors

Leo Falit-Baiamonte, President, Seattle Student Union
Russell McQuarrie-Means, Student, South Seattle College
Bailey Medilo, Staff Organizer, Washington Bus
Simon Kreft, Student, Seattle Central College
Rayne Thompson, Student, University of Washington
Sonal Virk, ASUW Vice President, University of Washington

When we reported the mayor-elect’s announcement of transition-team leaders last week, we noted that Mantilla and Surratt are West Seattleites. Names of local note on this list include student adviser Russell McQuarrie-Means, who was behind the “Save Curby” signage targeting City Councilmember Rob Saka‘s plan to remove a raised divider from Delridge (a plan since scrapped), transportation/environment policy team member Paulina López of the South Park-based Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition, and arts/culture/creative economy team member Randy Engstrom, a former director of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Wilson will take office January 2; we’re told the ceremony location isn’t yet set.

(Photo: WSB’s Torin Record-Sand, from Wilson’s election-night gathering on Beacon Hill)

SLJ November 26, 2025 (4:05 pm)

There is representation from a variety of organizations, which is great. But there aren’t many people who are familiar with government. Government runs differently than nonprofits or companies. I hope enough of the team has an understanding of how the city currently works.

K November 26, 2025 (8:55 pm)

The last guy had 12 years as a city councilmember before he was elected and he did a terrible job. Harrell left the city with an exploding budget deficit, he pushed all of the homeless off 3rd Avenue and into the neighborhoods, and didn’t bring back any business downtown by pushing the homeless out. If that’s what experience does to our city, I’m relieved to have someone who’s not an existing part of the machine taking the reins.
- The King November 27, 2025 (6:17 am)
  
  I didn’t vote for the guy but i do remember Harrell inheriting a $140 million dollar deficit from the previous mayor, which grew under him from 2022-2024 due to the previous presidential administrations record inflation and high interest rates. Harrell did attempt several program cuts and some minor position layoffs but the cuts have to go deeper just like the private sector is doing. By looking at the length of transition team listed here it appears the new self titled socialist mayor is all about the party train and will be taxing everything that moves. I hope I’m wrong
- Rob November 27, 2025 (9:38 am)
  
  It hasn’t just him it was the entire city council that created the cities budget problem. Driving out Amazon and spending millions apon millions on a felled homeless problem.
  - k November 27, 2025 (12:14 pm)
    
    And the leaders of that council will also be replaced for their folly, and also provide more examples of how experience =/= good governance. I think they knew they were short-timers and used their experience to get the things they personally wanted, with no regard to the long-term consequences for the city. Good riddance.

West Seattle Sun November 26, 2025 (6:04 pm)

I’m familiar with a fraction of the names on this list. Some who definitely endorsed outgoing Mayor Bruce Harrell. Still early days so nothing to tip the scales towards a utopia while running a major budget deficit. I’m curious can anyone name her husband and his background? Why has this been scrubbed from the internet? Public servants need to be fully transparent when managing multi million dollar budgets. Its just a matter of time…

WSB November 26, 2025 (6:45 pm)

Her husband’s name is Scott Myers and that has’t been “scrubbed from the internet.” Google “katie wilson” “scott myers” and hundreds of references come up. He was with her at her election-night event (and their daughter). A photo by our photographer:
Jort November 26, 2025 (8:37 pm)

Did Katie Wilson run on and promise a “utopia” as you assert in your comment? Or are you holding her to a standard that you’ve invented based on an online comments-section caricature of the mayor-elect? Also, why are you worried about Katie Wilson’s husband? Please. Help me understand why you think it’s important to talk about Katie Wilson’s husband. Please. Tell me. Help me understand.
- Actualperson November 27, 2025 (5:16 am)
  
  Jort. Great to hear your fulminations! The issue with ANY candidates’ spouse is how much influence they have considering they were unelected and in this, as most cases we have no idea of their views and how much their agenda matches what the candidate ran on.
- Peter S. November 27, 2025 (11:45 am)
  
  @Jort: Full disclosure – I didn’t vote for Katie, but I wish her the best going forward and for Seattle’s future. Let me try to help you understand why the subject of Katie’s husband comes up, at least by some people. Katie ran on a “gras roots” platform. She willingly conceded she received financial support from her parents. Her explanation was running for mayor is a full-time job and child care in Seattle is expensive. That’s a fair point. However, by all reports, her husband is currently unemployed and has been for quite some time. Why does she need professional child care for their only child if her husband is unemployed? That’s something only the “privileged” class can afford and makes it harder for us working class folks to believe she is able to understand and relate to our concerns and interests.
  - Scarlett November 27, 2025 (6:22 pm)
    
    Peter S. I agree in the sense this needs to be “aired” in the public because transgenerational wealth drives a lot of social patterns and trends, and with trillions – yes, trillions – that will go from parents to children in the coming years, we are in danger of a creating a permanent “landed gentry” in this country with their retinue of financial advisors. But I’ll put off any judgment of Katie Wilson until I see what she does in office, as I’m sure New Yorkers are in a wait and see with Mamdani who hails from a wealthy family.
  - WS Res November 28, 2025 (4:17 pm)
    
    Peter: Maybe her husband is disabled. Maybe her husband is launching a startup. Maybe her husband is a caregiver for one of his parents or adult siblings. Maybe her husband is self-employed.
    - Peter S. November 28, 2025 (5:53 pm)
      
      @WS Res: Please do some (readily available) fact-checking before speculating. There’s been no mention that he’s disabled or any kind of caregiver, otherwise that certainly would’ve come out as a reason. He’s an aspiring baker and has been for a while, so I guess you could call that a startup. He’s admittedly unemployed. No shame there, lots of us have been at one time or another, but that doesn’t qualify as self-employed. While we’re throwing maybes, perhaps he wants to be an astronaut.
- K November 27, 2025 (4:24 pm)
  
  It’s yet another example of sexism, Jort. Harrell never had to answer questions about his spouse, no one assumed there was any outside influence on the mayor’s office from a spouse. But with a woman in charge she MUST be consulting her husband before making decisions, so we have to know everything about him to find out what the REAL power is thinking. God forbid we believe a woman can run a city without asking her husband’s permission first.
  - Peter S. November 28, 2025 (10:36 am)
    
    Not necessarily, K. I don’t remember any questions about Jennifer Durkan’s partner Dana, and presumably those same concerns would extend to any spouse/partner. Why do you think that might be?
    - k November 28, 2025 (12:04 pm)
      
      In that equation there is no man, so no assumption that he would be the decision maker. Calling her husband “unemployed” while he was the stay-at-home parent is also coded sexism. When women stay home, they are homemakers. When men do, instead of properly identifying that role as work, you call it unemployment.
      
      And for the 1000th time, she got help with child care from her parents after she started her campaign, because her spouse was helping her with the campaign. Any actual working class folks have been there with asking for help from friends and relatives with child care. It’s not a gotcha about Wilson, it’s telling on the people who keep calling it “privilege”.
    - KM November 28, 2025 (2:41 pm)
      
      Because they were wealthy?

Suzanne November 26, 2025 (6:24 pm)

I did not vote for her but am very glad she won.

Was shocked when Bruce Harrell called into question the final vote count, claiming anomalies in his concession speech. He clearly wanted to add a drop of poison to a delicate process. He was not entitled to the position, contrary to his apparent expectation.

The people Mayor-elect Wilson has named who are connected to West Seattle sound excellent. I’m especially excited to see Paulina Lopez’s name on the list. She can move mountains.

HS November 27, 2025 (8:09 am)

We must have listened to different concession speeches. I did not hear Bruce Harrell “called into question the final vote count, claiming anomalies in his concession speech”.
- Nolan November 27, 2025 (7:33 pm)
  
  https://www.thestranger.com/news/2025/11/14/80325870/there-was-nothing-unusual-about-seattles-election-or-the-resultsHope this helps!
- Nolan November 27, 2025 (7:37 pm)
  
  Welp, the WSB site doesn’t show an option to edit on my mobile browser. I’d love to be able to fix unexpected formatting errors.

B November 27, 2025 (12:17 am)

Good luck! And may the Force be with you…Always.

anonyme November 27, 2025 (10:32 am)

What connects transportation and environment, other than that the former destroys the latter?

JP November 27, 2025 (12:06 pm)

Yes, presumably that was the enlightened reasoning for pairing the two together. The right hand cannot fill potholes without the left hand pontificating on CO2 emissions.
k November 27, 2025 (12:11 pm)

It’s the same reason Arborists are under SDOT. It’s not that they’re related, but they exist so closely together it makes so much to plan them together instead of separating them and constantly having them destroy one another (trees can do a number on sidewalks and streets, too). Thematically, they are both areas that provide services for people without directly interacting with them (as opposed to worker rights, for example). Also both exist entirely outdoors. The most impact on the environment is from transportation (well, besides industry), so the best chances at improving tree canopy and other environmental considerations is with policy surrounding transportation and adjacent right-of-ways.
- anonyme November 28, 2025 (4:01 pm)
  
  Except that it doesn’t work that way, at all. I have routinely seen SDOT city arborists plant certain tree species in tiny planting strips in violation of their own street tree guidelines. This is evident along 35th, where street trees were also planted in the tiny strip between the sidewalk and property line – guaranteeing more work for the city-contracted landscapers who plant inappropriate trees in inappropriate places that will have to be replaced as they intrude on private property, invade power lines, and destroy sidewalks. These are not accidents. This is graft, and I don’t mean the tree kind. SDOT’s control of trees improves neither tree canopy nor the environment, it merely perpetuates the myth that Seattle cares about these things.

JP November 27, 2025 (5:59 pm)

What in the world is “Civic narrative”?? Public relations?

Peter S. November 28, 2025 (6:35 pm)

@K: You are the one who introduced gender bias into this discussion. I know several stay-at-home dads and never made any assumptions about who was the actual “decision maker” in their family. Why are you so certain that’s the explanation?

Of course “actual working class folks have been there with asking for help from friends and relatives with child care.” That’s usually because they are working outside the home, or it’s reciprocal (and financially uncompensated), or an emergency, etc. Please provide a credible source that the reason she received financial support from her parents was he was helping with her campaign, because that never emerged in anything I heard or read.

And for the 1000th time +1, call it a luxury instead of privilege if you prefer, but most people aren’t in a position to pay for professional child care when there’s a stay-at-home parent. That’s not coded sexism. That’s a financial reality.

k November 28, 2025 (7:53 pm)

Katie Wilson said so herself, on her own social media. It’s really not hard information to find out, if you care to look past your biases and find out the boring old truth. And for the 1002nd time, Wilson’s parents did not help her out with child care until after she was running for office. Because once again, for the peanut gallery, that’s when her spouse’s time pivoted to supporting her campaign. I’m sorry Katie Wilson’s life is too normal and working class for you to understand, but that’s literally how most of us live. It’s not privilege–sorry, “luxury”. Luxury is when you don’t need to beg your parents for help making ends meet.
Mike November 29, 2025 (12:38 pm)

Peter S:No amount of logic or common sense will convince those who believe in mayor Wilson’s vision to question her qualifications or her husband’s character. What you see as common sense, they see as sexism, class bias, etc, etc. (And in all fairness, Harrell ran a lackluster campaign, and had engaged in some city hall shenanigans himself). I absolutely share your concerns, but am choosing to remain hopeful that Ms. Wilson can have a positive impact on our City. If not the pendulum will swing back the other way and we’ll have a liberal democrat next mayor vs. our current socialist mayor.

Charlie December 2, 2025 (12:42 pm)

Only one business representative (Expedia) and not a single small business owner.Look forward to seeing more small biz closures and the city suffocating businesses in the name of equity and affordability.

natinstl December 4, 2025 (1:49 pm)

All I know is WS looks like crap lately. I go to PT by the Eagles shelter and everyone is on the side of the building doing drugs while kids play across the street. Tents all over, businesses and homes being broken into daily. Garbage at every bus stop. I have no faith she’ll clean this city up.

Sorry, comment time is over.