2005
Elected Candidates
Steve Stuart
Elected to Clark County Commissioner
Steve Stuart, former environmental lobbyist and Executive Director for a Smart Growth Environmental group in Washington, was appointed to his seat on the Clark County Commission in 2005. With the help of Progressive Majority in 2005, Steve won the right to finish the term - maintaining a Democratic Majority on the Commission. He is the most progressive of the three commissioners, with a conservative Democrat and a conservative Republican also serving.
Tom Hodgson
Elected to Kirkland City Council
Tom Hodgson began serving on the City Council in December 2005. Previously he served on the Kirkland Planning Commission including a term as chair and before that on the Kirkland Park Board. Mr. Hodgson has been active on several city committees including the Totem Lake Task Force, Totem Lake Action Team, the Tree Regulations focus group and is a founding member and former two term chair of the North Rose Hill Neighborhood Association. Tom attended Washington State University, is a graduate of Eastside Leadership Institute, and has a degree in graphic arts from Seattle Central Community College where he continues to serve as a member of the Curriculum Advisory Board for the Graphic Design and Illustration program. Tom Hodgson is a 30-year resident of Kirkland and currently is the Creative Director for Marketing Communications for WatchGuard Technologies.
Kathy Huckabay
Elected to Sammamish City Council
The make up of the Sammamish County Council is 4 progressives (including Kathy), 2 moderates, and one right-wing Republican. Kathy Huckabay led the drive to incorporate the City of Sammamish. She owns her own business as a financial planner and CPA. In 2004, Progressive Majority supported her campaign for the State Senate versus conservative Cheryl Pflug in the 5th Legislative District.
Marko Liias
Elected to Mukilteo City Council
While in college at Georgetown, Marko studied U.S. foreign policy and learned about the unique role the United States occupies in world affairs. Marko studied under noted scholars in international affairs, including former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. He graduated from Georgetown in the spring of 2003, earning a Bachelor's degree in International Politics. Marko Liias was elected to the Mukilteo City Council in November 2005. His policy priorities are transportation, local economic development, and the preservation of parks and open space. He also serves on several national and regional boards and commissions including, the Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Policy Committee for the National League of Cities, the Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Board, Snohomish County Tomorrow, and Community Transit. He also sits on the Council's Public Safety and Paine Field Airport Committees.
Mike Grady
Elected to Mercer Island City Council
Mike and his family have been active community members since they moved to Mercer Island in 1998. He is an involved parent of 5 children, coaches for the Boys and Girls Club and MIHS, and is an active volunteer with local churches and charitable organizations. Mike has over 20 years of professional experience in land use, transportation, energy, water, and environmental issues. He is a former Air Force pilot, college teacher, PTA president, and Parks Board member. Mike has an undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Notre Dame and graduate degrees in psychology and geology. Mike was elected to the Council in 2005 and currently serves on the Parks and Recreation Committee, Utility Board, Open Space Conservancy Trust, and the WRIA 8 Executive Committee. An active biker and park user, Mike focuses on how the City can best manage our limited resources while protecting and enhancing our natural environment.
Cindy Ryu
Elected to Shoreline City Council
Cindy Ryu, a Korean-American, is running for Shoreline City Council. Cindy holds a MBA from the University of Washington and is active in a number of local community activities, including the Richmond Beach Community Association, the Shoreline Bond Advisory Committee and as President of the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce. In addition, she serves as a deacon of her church, United Presbyterian. Cindy and her husband Cody own and manage a Shoreline small business. They are the parents of three kids who attend local public schools. Cindy successfully ran for the Shoreline City Council in 2005.
Michelle Sandoval
Elected to Port Townsend City Council
Deputy Mayor Michelle Sandoval came to our attention when one of the two conservatives on the Council called her and her four progressive colleagues godless heathen hippies in a speech to local developers. The conservatives were attempting to recruit a slate of candidates to run against the three progressive seats up for election in 2005. Weathering the attacks, Sandoval has stood firm against the pro-development forces and her work has earned her several opponents. Sandoval, the owner of the local Windermere Real Estate franchise is the only person of color on the Port Townsend City Council. Recently, she was recognized as the Public Official of the Year by the Jefferson County chapter of the League of Women Voters and is clearly a rising star in Washington politics.
Fred Chang
Elected to Port Orchard City Council
In 1999 the City Council appointed Fred Chang to the Port Orchard Planning Commission, where he spent two years as vice-chair. He currently chairs the Bremerton Ferry Advisory Committee and captains his Block Watch group. In addition to his lengthy volunteer public service, Fred has eight years of marketing/public relations experience and six years of experience in software development. When he won his race by beating two conservatives, Fred became the first person of color on the Port Orchard City Council.
Bud Sizemore
Elected to Covington City Council
As a professional firefighter for the City of Kent, Bud has helped provide fire suppression, emergency medical treatment and CPR, disaster, and fire safety education to the citizens of Kent and Covington for more than 10 years. Being an active member of Kent Firefighters Local 1747 has provided him with several opportunities to develop leadership and to serve his membership and the community at large. As an Executive Board member for Kent Firefighters Local 1747, his responsibilities included communication with the membership, and as a labor representative to a very effective Joint Labor/Management Committee. He served four years as the fire department's Toys for Joy program coordinator, where he distributed food and over 6000 toys each year to underprivileged children and families of Covington and Kent. He developed and was then elected as the initial director of the Kent Firefighters Foundation. Bud's primary focus as a Councilmember is on public safety, child services (including the City's relationship with the School District), and intelligent, managed growth of both residential and commercial areas, to facilitate livability and fiscal responsibility.
Dave Somers
Elected to Snohomish County Council
Dave Somers worked for 18 years as a Tulalip Tribes as a salmon ecologist - working to protect and restore salmon runs in the Puget Sound. In 1997, he beat a conservative, anti-environmental Democrat and won a seat on the Snohomish County Council. Dave served on the Council for four years, where he was known for his work for the environment. In 2001, Dave was upset by conservative Republican Jeff Sax, who was an embarrassment to the people of his district. He built a house on his own property with no permits, has accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from big developers, suggested the county cut off funding of United Way and manages to be both for and against the proposed Brightwater waste treatment plant. Sax even traveled to Washington DC to oppose the passage of the Wild Sky Wilderness area! When Dave Somers won his election, it shifted the balance of power on the County Council from the Republicans to the Democrats.
Carl Weimer
Elected to Whatcom County Council
Carl Weimer has been active in the Whatcom County community for 20 years. He is the executive director of the Pipeline Safety Trust, and the founder of the RE Store - the largest retail business in downtown Bellingham. As the executive director of the Pipeline Safety Trust, Carl led the charge that brought about a series of new national, state, and local pipeline safety laws after the 1999 Olympic Pipeline Explosion in Bellingham. He has served on the Whatcom County Solid Waste Advisory Committee for nine years, and served for three years on the Whatcom County Developmental Disabilities Advisory Committee.
Dan Grausz
Elected to Mercer Island City Council
Dan was first elected to the City Council in November, 1999 after having previously served on the Mercer Island Planning Commission, the Tree & Natural Resources Task Force, the School District's Strategic Planning Committee, the Queen Anne Community Council and as President of Citizens to Save Interbay.
Elizabeth Watson
Elected to Mayor of Kent
Watson has a lengthy resume that includes membership in the Land Use and Planning Board and President of Communities in. Professionally she is a program manager for Puget Sound Educational Service District, where she manages programs to keep homeless children in school. In addition, Watson was the previous vice-chair of the 47th District Democrats.
Peggy Levesque
Elected to Mayor of South Prairie
Peggy Levesque is a member of the Service Employees International Union Local 775 and home care worker who was a member of the South Prairie City Council when she decided to run. She has worked on and off organizing for SEIU - registering voters and helping to unionize workers. She has lived in South Prairie, the second smallest city in Pierce County, for over 30 years and raised her family in the town. Peggy decided to run for Mayor instead of running an easy race for reelection to the council due to the fact that the current mayor decided not to run and if she didn't file one of the leading conservatives in town would go unopposed. Peggy's risk paid off when she won her election.
Eric Faison
Elected to Federal Way School Board
Eric Faison completed his first full four-year term on the Federal Way City Council. On the council, he Eric has served as Chair of the Council's Land Use/Transportation Committee (LUTC), and as current Chair of the Council's Finance/Economic Development/Regional Affairs Committee (FEDRAC). Before becoming a member of the City Council, Eric was a commissioner on the Federal Way Planning Commission. He graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Business Administration/Finance. He worked in financial management, has practiced law, and is also a former Army officer, having served eight years in the United States Army Reserve as a member of the Army's Adjutant General Corp.
