On Monday, Brianna Thomas, Candidate for Seattle City Council, Citywide Position 9, became the first Position 9 candidate to qualify for the Democracy Voucher Program.
Thomas, who led the Honest Elections Initiative which established the publicly financed municipal campaigns (‘Democracy Vouchers’) program, believes that Democracy Vouchers help provide residents of Seattle with a stronger voice in government.
“I led the Honest Elections effort in 2015 so that we could see greater representation among municipal candidates. While we hoped to be knocking on doors, I’m glad that I’m able to spend more time talking to voters about the issues that matter to them,” said Thomas. “Today I’m proud to qualify for the Democracy Voucher Program, with the support of so many Seattle residents. Our campaign is propelled by their support, and we look forward to engaging with voters across the city in the coming months.”
Thomas, a longtime community advocate and current chief of staff to Seattle City Council President Lorena González, announced her campaign for Seattle City Council in late February and has dedicated her life to public service, as an organizer, legislative staffer in the Washington State House and Senate, campaign manager, and currently as the senior advisor to the Council President. For the last five years, she prioritized mentorship and investing in others by volunteering to train women how to run for office with the National Women’s Political Caucus.
“Over the past five years as Council staff, I have worked side by side with other offices, labor, community, and business leaders across our city to enact policies that have put Seattle at the national forefront of police accountability innovations and workers’ rights policies,” said Thomas. “I am proud of my record of collaborative leadership, and will be ready on Day 1 to lead on policies that will continue to move our city forward.”
Thomas’s accomplishments include leading high-profile progressive campaigns to victory. Most notably, she managed “Yes for SeaTac”, establishing the first in the nation $15 per hour minimum wage via the ballot – setting the stage for cities across the country to follow suit.
“Seattle is facing a collective crisis at the intersection of race, health, and wealth inequality – all magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Thomas. “I am running for Seattle City Council to ensure that we emerge from this pandemic stronger and more resilient than before – by lifting all of our neighbors up, and making sure no one is left behind.”
Thomas’s platform includes Criminal Justice Reform and Accountability, Equitable Economic Recovery, Supporting Small Businesses, and building an Environmentally Sustainable Seattle. “We know that Seattle is already home to people looking for economic opportunities, cultural experiences, community, and a more sustainable future,” says Thomas. “I am ready to help build a city that we can be proud of, and that will thrive today, tomorrow and twenty years from now.”
