From left to right: Ciy Councilmember Richard Conlin (Position 2) and challenger Kshama Sawant; City Councilmember Mike O’Brien (Position 8) and challenger Albert Shen. Photo credits: Johnny Valdez y Uno.
Gathering a packed gym of captive Asian Pacific Islander constituents at Asian Counseling and Referral Service on Oct. 11 were Seattle City Council Position 2 candidates Richard Conlin (incumbent) and Kshama Sawant (challenger); Seattle City Council Position 8 candidates Mike O’Brien (incumbent) and Albert Shen (challenger); and Seattle City Mayoral candidates Mike McGinn (incumbent) and Sen. Ed Murray (challenger).
All candidates running for office were asked what their top three priorities were, what they would do to address crime in Seattle overall and specifically in the Beacon Hill and Chinatown-International District (CID) neighborhoods, how they would create better economic conditions for small and minority-owned businesses and whether they supported a $15 minimum wage in Seattle. Mayoral candidates were specifically asked about solutions to unemployment among API and refugee communities, what their goals were to achieve healthy community and economic development in the CID, how to best facilitate understanding and access to Obamacare for all and how to decrease the K-12 dropout rate and best prepare young people for jobs.
More than 200 people attended the forum.
*The forum was co-sponsored by Asian Pacific Islander Americans for Civic Empowerment, Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, King County, Asian Pacific Islander Directors Coalition, Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Association, Filipino American Political Action Group of Washington, International Examiner, Japanese American Citizens League Seattle Chapter, Northwest Asian Weekly/Seattle Chinese Post, Organization of Chinese American of Greater Seattle, Phuong Dong Times, Vietnamese American Community of Seattle and Sno-King Counties and Washington State India Trade Relations Action Committee.