Vashon Island’s incumbent Democratic legislators, Emily Alvarado and Joe Fitzgibbon, are set to face Republican challengers Kimberly Cloud and Jolie Lansdowne in the upcoming November election for their seats representing the state’s 34th Legislative District.

Alvarado and Fitzgibbon secured overwhelming victories in the August primary, earning more than 80% of the vote. Despite the district’s strong Democratic leanings, it’ll be up to voters across Vashon, West Seattle, White Center and West Burien to decide whether to return them to office in November or to embrace their challengers.

Position 1: Emily Alvarado and Kimberly Cloud

Incumbent Rep. Emily Alvarado, a Democrat, recently completed her first two year term for the 34th district and describes the experience as a “real learning curve.”

Alvarado has worked as an attorney and held various leadership roles, including policy director for the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle and director of Seattle’s Office of Housing. One of her key achievements for Vashon was sponsoring a budget request to increase water taxi service, improving transportation options for island residents.

Alvarado is a strong advocate for the continued transition to electric ferries, a priority she believes aligns with Vashon’s environmental values.

“I heard clearly that ferries are a priority and lack of reliability and predictability of the ferries is unacceptable and it interferes with daily life,” she said.

Alvarado is also focused on housing. She sponsored HB 2114 last session, which would have limited rent and fee increases by landlords. The legislation did not make it through the Senate but remains a priority for her if reelected.

(Alavardo called the legislation a rent “stabilization” bill and said it was not rent control because landlords could raise rents after tenants leave. Critics of the legislation said the bill amounted to rent control.)

Alvarado has also identified the lack of affordable childcare on Vashon as a pressing issue: “There are very few childcare and early learning centers,” she said.

As a mother of two children in public schools, Alvarado said she is committed to investing in public education, despite an anticipated tight budget in the upcoming session.

Alvarado opposes ballot Initiative 2117, which seeks to repeal the Climate Commitment Act (CCA). She says the CCA is essential for reducing emissions and funding projects such as ferry electrification and habitat restoration — priorities that align with Vashon’s environmentally-conscious community.

I-2117 is among a raft of citizen initiatives sponsored by “Let’s Go Washington,” a conservative political action committee (PAC) in Washington State. If approved, it would eliminate 25% of the funding currently allocated for the electrification of the fleet.

Republican candidate Kimberly Cloud, originally from Washington D.C., served in the U.S. Army for three years. She earned an associate degree from Baltimore Community College and a bachelor’s from Coppin State University.

Cloud has worked as a media consultant and on-air personality for The Kimberly Cloud Show and is a member of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

She is as an executive contributor to Brainz Magazine and is the co-founder and CEO of Blue Cloud Cleaning and Genuinely Michelle Wigs, where she provides cleaning services and supports cancer patients and others experiencing hair loss by supplying high-quality wigs.

When it comes to running for the 34th district seat, “I’m passionate because I love the city of Burien,” she said.

Cloud said her focus is job creation, ensuring homeless veterans receive proper benefits and preventing workers from being fired. She said she also wants to boost teacher salaries, and she proposed a three-tiered system for housing assistance to help those with “mild” mental health issues, those who need help with rent and bill payments, and those with significant disabilities or mental health challenges who require ongoing support to live independently.

Cloud was unaware of initiative 2117 and unfamiliar with the Climate Commitment Act. But she said she is concerned about the health implications of climate change and industrial toxins in the air.

“I have not been out there to talk to the people, because I have had the Kimberly Cloud Show,” she said. “But I know people are hurting.”

Position 2: Joe Fitzgibbon and Jolie Lansdowne

Joe Fitzgibbon has represented the district since 2010 and became House Majority Leader in 2022. He previously chaired the House Environment & Energy Committee, where he helped pass climate legislation and currently serves on several key committees, with a focus on addressing climate change, affordable housing and long-term budget solutions.

Fitzgibbon is originally from Burien and now lives in West Seattle.

“I think our district has really been at the tip of the spear of making progressive change happen for Washington,” he said.

He says his top priority for the 2025 legislative session is balancing the state budget while investing in key areas including schools, healthcare, housing and reducing homelessness.

Fitzgibbon calls for increasing state revenue to support funding for schools, and he cites environmental protection in general as a priority. Transportation will also be key, and for Vashon, that means boats, he said.

“Islanders are still experiencing unreliable ferry service,” Fitzgibbon said.

Excited about WSF’s plans to electrify its ferry fleet, Fitzgibbon believes the new hybrid-electric boats will significantly improve air quality.

Not all legislators agree with the move.

Republicans argue that transitioning to electric boats will prolong delays in replacing the fleet, while Democrats and Washington State Ferries (WSF) contend that trying to build diesel ferries now would only create more delays.

The root of the issue dates back nearly 25 years, with significant funding cuts stymying new vessel construction.

Current efforts aim to electrify the fleet by 2050, but challenges such as budget constraints and construction delays have raised concerns about the adequacy of the existing fleet in the interim.

Fitzgibbon maintains that this transition will not result in additional delays, and that it is in Vashon’s best interest.

“I feel a lot of connection with Vashon and with islanders, because the island is so motivated and focused on protecting our environment for future generations,” he said.

Fitzgibbon, who managed the passage of the CCA through the House of Representatives, strongly opposes and plans to vote no on Initiative 2117.

“The issue that motivated me to want to run for office in the first place was protecting our environment,” he said. “We have much more to do to make sure that we have clean air and water for future generations.”

Lansdowne declined an interview with The Beachcomber and referred the newspaper to her website.

A Burien native, she describes herself as a wife, mom, small business owner and public servant. Lansdowne serves a two-year term as chair of the district’s GOP and holds the role of Precinct Committee Officer (PCO), where she is responsible for organizing party leadership after elections and hosting neighborhood caucuses to select presidential nominees.

Lansdowne was a delegate for former President Donald Trump as a member of the state GOP at the Republican convention this July in Milwaukee.

According to her website, Lansdowne voted Democrat for 20 years but switched parties to stand “against large government and even larger tax burdens that come with weak policies.”

Her stated legislative priorities include public safety, small businesses, education and housing. Lansdowne has expressed support for all voter initiatives associated with Let’s Go Washington, including I-2117.

Three weeks to ballots

Ballots this year will be mailed out October 18, which begins the 18 day voting period. Election day is November 5.

All ballots must be postmarked or dropped off by 8 p.m. on election day to be counted. Online and mail voter registrations must be submitted at least 8 days prior to Election Day, though you can register in person anytime during business hours before 8 p.m. on Election Day. The closest elections offices to Vashon are located in Renton, Tacoma and Port Orchard. There is one ballot drop box on island, outside of Vashon Library.

Election results are certified by the end of November.