My name is Sofia Aragon. I’m a nurse, experienced legislative advocate, and Mayor of Burien. I’m running for King County Council because our region’s leaders need to do better. King County should be a safe, healthy, and inclusive place. Unfortunately, some of our elected leaders have put political grandstanding before results. As your Councilmember, I will focus on proven, common-sense solutions on crime, public health, and homelessness.

While my opponent spearheaded the Defund the Police efforts, I supported common-sense public safety measures by exploring solutions to increase law enforcement to adequate levels. I also funded a co-response model to hire social workers to partner with police so that mental health crises are not treated as crimes. Seattle has yet to adopt such a model.

As the Executive Director of Washington’s Center for Nursing, I am uniquely qualified to find real solutions to the public health crisis of drug addiction and mental health crisis. While my opponent also lists public health as one of her key priorities, she did not support stricter drug possession laws passed by the state legislature intended to get people the treatment they need. Washington now leads the nation with the fastest-rising overdose deaths, with King County serving as the epicenter of our state’s substance abuse crisis. We can do better.

As Mayor, I advocated for more emergency shelters to bring the unhoused inside and redirect them to stable housing or receive treatment. While my opponent served as the Seattle City Council Budget Chair, the city has spent more than $476 million on homelessness, averaging just over $158 million in the last three years. Despite the City’s efforts, a record 310 homeless people died in 2022, a 59% increase from the previous high in 2018. We must do better.

King County has a lot to be optimistic about, but we need leadership that’s willing to take a stand for what works. As King County District 8’s next Councilmember, I pledge to always put results above politics. If elected, Aragon will become the first Asian Pacific Islander King County Councilmember in nearly 40 years.

Since my campaign began, I have received endorsements from a broad range of different organizations, including a sole endorsement from the Seattle Times, Governor Gary Locke, legislators, labor, business, first responders, and more.