From the Port of Tacoma to the crop growing farms of Puyallup Valley, this is the diverse County Council 5th District that Bryan Yambe represents. As the previous Deputy Mayor of Fife, he has brought residents, farmers and industry together. Meet Yambe and express your concerns at a fundraising party coming up on Wednesday June 18th!
By Kirk Kirkland
Last November’s election of a new county executive and two councilmembers represented a sea change in county government. It brought a new level of cooperation not seen in decades.
Two Democrats needed for a county council majority were elected and Ryan Mello won the County Executive’s seat. This majority has taken on some major reforms in the planning department and now has an opportunity to re-make our community plans with significant changes. Our urban areas are going to become more livable with increased affordability of housing and infrastructure.
But such reforms hang in the balance as the County Council member from Fife, Bryan Yambe, must be elected to his seat to keep the Democratic majority. Yambe was appointed in January after Marty Campbell resigned to become Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer. The Coalition met with Yambe in March and decided to provide him with an early endorsement.
Your help is needed as this campaign needs to reach out across all county districts for financial support to challenge two candidates. In the remaining two months, Yambe needs to fund an August primary election, then in November he will likely face a Republican candidate. The race will not be about knocking on doors. It’s about how much money the candidates can raise per week. County Council campaign costs vary from $60,000 to $100,000. Most years this can take two years of fundraising efforts. According to the Public Disclosure Commission website, Yambe has raised about $45,000 so far, while his closest competitor has raised $9,000, half of which is from two individuals.
The differences between the candidates on the issues are close. Most candidates want affordable housing, economic development, and more local jobs and better public safety, but the difference between these three candidates is leadership and who has the ability to win two elections.
Bryan Yambe has been deputy mayor of Fife and has been re-elected to city council several times. In this election, donors will decide the winner. Which candidate can afford to produce three or four mailers and effectively reach voters in the district?
Although the difference between the candidates is not polarized, the issues are about the same. The choice here is which political party will solve the problems. Does Yambe know the leaders and can he bring people together to agree on solutions in a deficit budget?
The Republican candidate, Terry Wise is well known for his civic work writing the Mid-County Community Plan and preserving the Rural Separator. He is a real estate broker but doesn’t have the legislative experience of Yambe.
Kimber Starr’s government experience is on the Pierce County Planning Commission. She’s familiar with zoning and comprehensive planning. Her education is in public administration and policy and governance. She is also a small business owner. However, she has never won an election campaign nor does she have legislative experience. She lacks experience in prioritizing the county budget, and does not understand the tax code that funds the infrastructure necessary to transform our low income neighborhoods into livable cities.
Bryan Yambe by contrast has eleven years experience on the Fife County Council where he has served on the Puget Sound Regional Council and on the Pierce County Health Department Board. He has gained experience with budgets and policy.
Many issues listed on his website he shares with his opponents. Here are the questions we posed when we asked the County Council to appoint Yambe to the County Council:
Who will keep the Democrats in the majority? Who has the election experience to win? Once elected, who knows the people in Congress who can stop Trump’s attacks on west coast states?
Does Yambe have a relationship with our state legislators and the Speaker of the House of Representatives in Olympia? Who is on a first name basis with our current Pierce County Councilmembers?
Can he bring these councilmembers together to solve the county’s social problems, as well as find funding for basic operating costs of the government?
Bryan Yambe was the only candidate who called for local action to mitigate Climate Change. He has been an elected leader for eleven years. He knows how to be part of a majority and get things done.
Join us at my house on June 18 at 5.30 PM to meet Bryan Yambe!
Send RSVP to Kirkkirkland5@gmail.com to receive directions and an invitation to the fundraiser.
Make your donation here: https://secure.anedot.com/friendsofbryanyambe/donate