Sara is a pragmatic problem solver and the only Seat 8 Council candidate who has working experience in city government. Sara served as a policy staff member to former city councilmember Richard Conlin.
Sara is a thoughtful, highly intelligent and frankly spoken business operator and former city government employee. She is credible and capable and very likely to engage productively with tech companies and employees in creating a better city for everyone.
Sara is a successful entrepreneur, well known as the owner and operator of Fremont Brewery, which she formed with her husband during the depth of the 2008 recession. She a progressive-leaning policymaker — in fact a former WTO activist and Professor of Women’s Studies with a PhD in Anthropology — and yet in Seattle she is cast by some current councilmembers as an “establishment” candidate, which would be laughable in almost any other city in America.
Sara unapologetically describes herself as a voice for small business that is much needed to balance the anti-business rhetoric prevalent on the current City Council. Sara noted that business success means more jobs for residents and is to be celebrated, not vilified.
Sara is eager to find common ground with other council members on building a better city. A self-described policy wonk, she has credible experience successfully brokering deals among entrenched combatants during her time as a staffer for Richard Conlin. She refreshingly makes a clear distinction between running for office and governing.
Sara notes that given a nearly $1B recent increase in city revenue, Seattle needs to better allocate its funds and deliver successful outcomes. She notes that Seattle’s move to create a municipal income tax is the wrong approach to problem solving and a poor use of city funds. She is also dubious that this recent action by the Council will move the State Legislature on the topic of tax reform.
Sara has endorsements from Seattle Chamber Civic Alliance for a Sound Economy (CASE), Seattle Restaurant Alliance, and Seattle-King County Realtors and many other business sectors. She also has the endorsement of the Seattle Times, Washington Conservation Voters, and Women’s Political Caucus.