TNT Endorsements: An easy cheat sheet for Pierce County’s 2023 general election | Opinion
Below is a list of The News Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsements for the 2023 general election — including in Tacoma and across Pierce County’s other two largest cities, Puyallup and Lakewood.
The News Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsements were reached by consensus after conducting group interviews with candidates in each of the following races over the course of several months.
Independent research also informed our choices, as did the life experiences of board members and our years of experience following local and state issues. We encourage readers to consult other trusted sources of information, like the Pierce County Voters’ pamphlet and community candidate forums, to inform their voting decisions.
Endorsements are offered exclusively to subscribers. The News Tribune Editorial Board publishes endorsements as a service to readers, and subscriptions make that work possible.
The News Tribune Editorial Board does not issue endorsements in uncontested races.
All endorsements for the 2023 election were previously published, in full, online and in print.
Pierce County Council
District 2
Jamie Smith earned The News Tribune Editorial Board’s strong endorsement this year — as she has several times in the past.
Given her knack for tackling difficult issues with a pragmatic, open mind, we’re confident she would bring a skill set and bipartisan energy to the council that would serve her district (and Pierce County) well.
Smith, who teaches social studies at Rogers High School, will tell you she’s from a family with a strong public service streak. Her dad was a teacher. Her mom was a nurse. Her brother and several of her cousins are cops. Her dedication to making a difference is one of the reasons she became an educator and coach, she told The News Tribune Editorial Board earlier this year.
Asked about how she’d work to address Pierce County’s affordable housing crisis, Smith offered more than soundbites, listing big-picture items and pragmatic steps the county could take now to quickly increase the supply of multi-family housing and single-family housing.
Smith also displayed a keen understanding of the importance of public safety, and the challenges facing local law enforcement, particularly at a time when property crime is on the rise and morale within the ranks is low.
Coming from a family full of police officers, Smith said being a cop has never been more challenging.
She also maintained that safe, healthy communities depend on the service and protection local law enforcement provides, a sentiment we suspect voters across the political spectrum will agree with.
The other candidate in the race, Republican Paul Herrera, who has a history in law enforcement and served on the Pierce County Council since being appointed to the position in August 2022, failed to attend The News Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsement meeting — which had been rescheduled at his request to a date all parties agreed upon.
Several subsequent attempts to reach Herrera were unsuccessful.
We do not endorse candidates who decline to meet with us.
Port of Tacoma
Port of Tacoma Pos. 3
In the race for Port of Tacoma Pos. 3, Deanna Keller, who was first elected in 2019 and currently serves as the commission’s president, faces a challenge from Jeanette Twitty, who launched an unsuccessful bid for the Port of Tacoma commission two years ago.
While we admire Twitty’s desire to serve her community, the local business owner has a limited background that makes us wary of her readiness to take on such an important role.
Keller, 66, earns our strong endorsement.
Port of Tacoma Pos. 5
Kristin Ang was elected to the Port of Tacoma Commission in 2019. After an unsuccessful bid for the commission two years prior, Ang’s focus on environmental concerns — and specifically the highly contentious Puget Sound Energy liquefied natural gas project – won over young and old voters alike.
In the process, the Filipino American brought much-needed diversity to a commission that has historically lacked it.
Ang, 44, was the first person of color elected to the commission in its 101-year history.
Voters would be wise to give Ang another term. She has brought important perspective and crucial insight to the Port of Tacoma Commission, and there’s little doubt that the body has benefited from her presence.
Lakewood City Council
Lakewood City Council Pos. 4
Ryan Pearson earns our strong endorsement, standing out for his thoughtfulness, temperament and leadership qualities.
Pearson, 33, said addressing public safety, homelessness and drug addiction are top priorities. There’s little doubt the years ahead will be challenging in these regards.
During The News Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsement interview, Pearson’s call for a “collaborative approach” displayed the best grasp of the issues Lakewood faces.
Pearson believes public drug use and public camping should be forbidden and actively discouraged through the enforcement of local laws and ordinances, but he also understands that incarceration and the criminal justice systems aren’t the answer to addressing root causes.
Pearson told The News Tribune Editorial Board that he’s “not a firebrand or politically divisive candidate,” describing himself as a fiscally conservative moderate.
In this race, in particular, qualities like that go a long way.
The other candidate on the ballot, Paul Wagemann, 77, has repeatedly been censured during his time on the Clover Park School Board and his recent history includes facing allegations of racism, bullying, harassment and intimidation.
Wagemann is unfit for office.
Pearson deserves the support of Lakewood voters.
Lakewood City Council Pos. 6
In this race, there’s no doubt Trestin Lauricella benefits from the advantage of incumbency, even if his tenure as a City Council appointee only dates back to March. It helped him earn our strong endorsement.
Lauricella, 41, is a lifelong Lakewood resident who currently works at Boeing. He has long ties to the community and the surrounding area, and he’s already displayed an eagerness and ability to contribute.
While Lauricella mentioned housing affordability, creating family-wage jobs and addressing issues related to crime and homelessness as top priorities, as a local, he also noted the important relationship Lakewood has with Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
If elected to a full term this fall, it’s one Lauricella says he’ll work to build on — particularly as it relates to a constant frustration in Lakewood: traffic on Interstate 5 near the base.
Puyallup City Council
Puyallup City Council District 2 Pos. 1
Joe Colombo ran for Puyallup City Council two years ago. He received The News Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsement at the time but was defeated by current council member Dennis King.
Colombo, 51, once again gets The News Tribune Editorial Board’s nod.
Professionally, his background is in information technology. But it’s his attention to detail and his desire to lift all of Puyallup’s residents that set him apart.
In recent years, Colombo founded two active community groups: Indivisible Puyallup and Families of Puyallup Public Schools. He’s also been engaged in local efforts to improve Puyallup’s response to homelessness and thoughtfully contend with important issues of equity and inclusion in a historically white city.
Colombo says he wants to bring ethics, transparency and accountability to the Puyallup City Council, describing himself as “a grassroots candidate that has what it takes to get things done.”
Colombo’s opponent, a familiar face in Puyallup politics — long-time council member and current designated mayor, Dean Johnson —provides a clear counter to the progressive ideals Colombo hopes to bring to local government.
Johnson often underscores purported bipartisan credentials, but in truth, his hardline talking points resonate mostly with conservatives.
In the Pierce County Voters’ Pamphlet available during the primary, Johnson was characterized as a candidate who will “never vote to defund our police” and as someone capable of protecting Puyallup “from radical politics and agendas.”
The claims may score points with a particular brand of voter, but it’s mostly fevered rhetoric that’s detached from the realities a place like Puyallup faces.
The News Tribune Editorial Board believes new leadership would provide a boost for Puyallup.
Puyallup City Council (At-large)
The race for Puyallup’s open at-large position is a difficult one to navigate. Both candidates lack traditional experience in government, and each has obvious strengths and weaknesses.
Based on her background, lived experience and the much-needed diversity she would bring to Puyallup City Hall, The News Tribune Editorial Board endorses Shellie Willis with enthusiasm.
Willis displays a command of many of the pressing issues Puyallup faces, often bringing new ideas to the table and relying on her military-honed inclination to work collaboratively and inclusively. During The News Tribune Editorial Board endorsement meeting, she spoke with conviction about the need to increase housing density and promote the development of affordable housing for young families and individuals, while at the same time protecting the city’s cherished character and open spaces.
Willis, who is Black, would also bring diversity to a City Council in critical need of it.
The other candidate running for the Puyallup City Council’s contested at-large race is Renne Gilliam, who describes herself as a “daughter of Puyallup.”
Online, Gilliam, 42, touts endorsements from a wide array of current elected officials, including County Executive Bruce Dammeier, state Sen. Chris Gildon, and current City Council members Julie Door, Jim Kastama, Dennis King and John Palmer — not to mention former Puyallup mayor Kathy Turner. It’s a level of support that speaks well of Gilliam as a candidate and a capable leader.
But in the view of The News Tribune Editorial Board, Puyallup politics would do well to disrupt the status quo for a change.
Tacoma City Council
Tacoma City Council At-large Pos. 8
Kristina Walker deserves your vote — and to retain her at-large seat on the Tacoma City Council.
Walker, 43, was thrown into the fire from the get-go, as the city contended with COVID-19 during her first months in office. She proved to be a quick study who contributed almost immediately, and has gone on to distinguish herself as one of the hardest-working and most-prepared members of the council. She currently holds the position of Deputy Mayor.
Importantly, Walker’s background is in transportation advocacy, and more specifically, creating the policies and infrastructure necessary to make sure Tacoma is accessible to everyone, whether they’re behind the wheel of a car, riding public transportation, or traveling by foot or bike.
At a time when the city is consumed by crises of violence, crime and desperation, things like sidewalks, bike lanes and safe routes to school can feel extracurricular. But the truth is that investing in our neighborhoods and taking a proactive approach to accessibility helps level the playing field and address root causes while creating the kinds of opportunities that lift people up.
Walker is an expert in this arena, and the perspective she brings to the council is extremely valuable.
Tacoma City Council At-large Pos. 7
In Tacoma’s other at-large race, the recently appointed Olgy Diaz earns The News Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsement over local business owner Kristen Wynn.
Diaz, a 37-year-old South Tacoma resident who ran unsuccessfully for the council in 2013, was selected by her City Council colleagues out of a pool of 43 applicants for the seat she now holds — replacing Conor McCarthy, who resigned in 2022. At the time, council member Keith Blocker cited Diaz’s understanding of homelessness, affordable housing issues and the importance of equity.
When Diaz was sworn in, she became the first Latina member of the council in its history. Diaz, who has a background in government relations, is also the only current LGBTQ person serving on the council.
Wynne, 58, launched the Historic 1625 event space in the former home of Osbourne-McCann Cadillac on South Tacoma Way with her husband in 2011. Relying on her background as an attorney, specifically in land use and environmental law, Wynne has become an active and engaged member of Tacoma’s small business community.
For voters, choosing between the two candidates will provide a litmus test.
For those who believe that the current City Council’s long-term, holistic approach to homelessness and economic displacement deserves a chance to succeed, Diaz is the obvious choice.
Tacoma City Council District 3
Local attorney Chris Van Vechten earned the The News Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsement.
It was a difficult decision — and the choice was not unanimous among the TNT Ed Board’s six members — but as a body, it’s one we stand behind.
As we wrote in July as part of slate of primary endorsements, Van Vechten, 39, attended the University of Puget Sound and now, along with his wife and daughter, calls Hilltop home. In addition to his local legal practice, which specializes in criminal defense, his involvement in local politics traces back to his time working as a staffer for longtime Tacoma state Rep. Dennis Flannigan.
Van Vechten’s ideas and non-dogmatic progressive approach set him apart, at least in our view — particularly when it comes to addressing plaguing, critical issues like homelessness and low-level crime.
At a time when many liberals struggle to articulate an approach that acknowledges both the need to address underlying systemic causes and swiftly respond to the negative impacts on the ground, Van Vechten’s take is refreshing, marrying his experience working within a flawed criminal justice system and the legitimate concerns he hears from voters on the campaign trail.
The other candidate running in District 3, is local artist and community organizer Jamika Scott.
Even as we endorse Scott’s opponent, we remain excited about what the former Peace Community Center tutor and co-founder of the Tacoma Action Collective could bring to City Hall if elected.
During the primary, Scott received roughly 42% of the 4,000-plus primary votes cast in the race to Van Vechten’s 31%.
Metro Parks Board
Metro Parks Board of Commissioners Pos. 5
Matt Mauer and Tony Anderson are vying for Pos. 5 on the Metro Parks Board of Commissioners.
Mauer, who spent roughly a decade serving in the U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve and has more recently worked as the Government Affairs Manager for the Port of Tacoma, earns our strong endorsement.
At a time when Metro Parks is facing more challenges than ever, whether it means better serving populations that have historically been ignored or contending with the same crime and violence that’s increased across the city, Mauer is clearly the best candidate for the job.
Mauer, 36, is raising a 2-year-old son with his husband, and told The News Tribune Editorial Board that the closest park to his home is the recently renamed Senator Rosa Franklin Park in Central Tacoma.
Mauer is passionate about increasing accessibility for every local park user through smart, inclusive design.
If elected, Mauer would be the only Metro Parks Tacoma board member with a young child.
Tacoma School Board
TPS School Board Pos. 5
This year’s general election will feature one contested Tacoma School Board race, for Position 5, pitting incumbent Elizabeth Bonbright against a relatively unknown challenger, Bri’anna Wolk.
For The News Tribune Editorial Board, the choice is straightforward.
Bonbright, who currently serves as school board president, deserves your vote.
Having already served on the school board since 2019, Bonbright quickly distinguished herself as a capable, trusted leader.
First appointed in 2019, Bonbright, 66, arrived just in time to help the Tacoma School District navigate the unprecedented waters of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tacoma voters bestowed their trust in her in 2021 when they chose to retain her over a much stronger opponent than she faces this time around, and there’s simply no reason they shouldn’t do the same this year.
Wolk’s candidacy, on the other hand, raises a host of red flags — while also making the stakes of this year’s lone contested school board race crystal clear.
Here’s what we know for certain:
Speaking to The News Tribune, Wolk criticized “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI) efforts undertaken by Tacoma Public Schools and suggested that they come at the exclusion of straight white men.
Taking a page out of the current Far Right playbook, Wolk argued that parents must wrestle back control from a school board with a “strong ideological bent” that’s out of control.
In 2017, Wolk pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of fourth-degree assault, harassment and malicious mischief related to a domestic violence incident from the year prior, court records show.
Bonbright deserves your vote.
News Tribune election endorsements reflect the views of our Editorial Board and are written by opinion editor Matt Driscoll. Other board members are: Stephanie Pedersen, News Tribune president and editor; Jim Walton, community representative; Amanda Figueroa, community representative; Kent Hojem, community representative; and Pamela Transue, a community representative who serves during election season. In certain cases, Editorial Board members with conflicts of interest may abstain from participating in specific endorsement decisions. The Editorial Board operates independently from the newsroom and does not influence the work of news reporting and editing staffs. We do not endorse any candidates who do not interview with us. We do not endorse in uncontested races. For questions, email matt.driscoll@thenewstribune.com.
This story was originally published November 1, 2023 at 5:00 AM.