Jeanne Kohl-Welles announces re-election campaign for King County Council
King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles is running for re-election to continue serving the people of Martin Luther King County’s District 4. She begins her campaign with broad support and major endorsers, including King County Executive Dow Constantine, Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan.
Read the full list of Jeanne Kohl-Welles’ endorsers here.
“I’ve resided in Council District 4 for nearly 34 years and have served it and the 36th Legislative District combined for over 25 years. I know these communities well, and they know me as being accessible, responsive and effective. I’ve worked closely with the neighborhoods in District 4 on issues dealing with affordable housing and homelessness; climate change adaptation, water quality and other environmental protections; social justice and economic equity; mobility and congestion reduction options, including ST3 link light rail expansion to Ballard; equitable health care access; arts and culture; and public safety, to name a few.
“Serving my constituents and working collaboratively in achieving common-sense solutions on challenging issues have been my calling and my passion. I look forward to continuing to make advances on these and other important issues,” said Jeanne Kohl-Welles on her campaign announcement.
Some of Kohl-Welles’ accomplishments on the County Council include passage of the fossil fuel moratorium in unincorporated King County; assuring investigation, recovery, and new protocols related to the 2017 West Point Treatment Plant’s catastrophic failure; adding 200,000 hours of bus service and investing in additional bus bases in the 2019-20 budget; redirecting hotel/motel revenue from Safeco Field (now T-Mobile Park) to affordable housing; increasing labor and human trafficking prevention and awareness campaigns; expanding shelter availability, modular housing and services to assist individuals exiting homelessness; implementing the Best Starts for Kids and the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levies; and updating of the County’s anti-discrimination, harassment and workplace misconduct policies and training. She has been involved with the Safe Energy Leadership Alliance, which unites local, state, and tribal leaders in raising awareness for the safety risks of oil and coal transportation, since its inception.
Councilmember Kohl-Welles’ past service and accomplishments have garnered the endorsements of many community members and elected officials.
“Nobody outworks Councilmember Kohl-Welles on the County Council. She has secured major transit investments for Seattle, and has been a powerful and effective advocate for improving our health, the environment and housing and human services programs,” said King County Council Chair Rod Dembowski. “Her experience, coupled with her tenacity in advancing progressive values, has improved countless lives and makes King County a more just and compassionate community. I’m proud to support her re-election and am thrilled that she decided to continue her service.”
Throughout her years in public service, Jeanne has worked for a clean environment, recreational opportunities for everyone and universal access to the arts. Without her this region would not be as green and as joyful a place that it is today.
– Seattle civic and environmental policy leader MaryAnne Tagney
And said by Jorge Barón, “I appreciate Councilmember Kohl-Welles’ leadership in advancing policies that protect all residents of King County and especially for her work in standing up to the attacks of the current federal administration against immigrant and refugee communities. She has helped to ensure that our county will continue to identify ways to be a more welcoming place for all.”
“Women’s rights, including the still ridiculous fight over reproductive and sexual rights, demand strong leaders. Councilwoman Jeanne Kohl-Welles is a staunch defender of women’s rights and an indefatigable mentor to a countless number of women. We’re fortunate to have her resolve on the County Council,” said Elaine Taylor Rose, former Chief Executive Officer, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest & Hawaii.
Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles is our very own bad ass feminist icon on the King County Council. We want her to continue.
– King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove
Some of Kohl-Welles’ priorities for her next term include following through with efforts to preserve, protect and restore salmon, Orcas and the overall health of Puget Sound; increasing transit access, including to Shilshole, Sunset Hill, and the Waterfront; creating a Ballard-to-Downtown water taxi route and ensuring approval of the ST3 light rail link to Ballard; advancing regional housing stability and affordability; improving access to affordable and quality health care, including behavioral health and substance abuse treatment; continuing efforts on gun safety and violence prevention; extending the statute of limitations for reporting sexual harassment; implementing educational opportunities for low-income vulnerable youth; reducing juvenile disproportionality and detention; and ensuring equal legal protection for all our residents.
Jeanne Kohl-Welles is serving her first term as King County Councilmember. She previously represented the 36th Legislative District as State Senator and earlier as State Representative. Besides chairing the Council’s Health, Housing and Human Services Committee, she serves on the Budget Leadership Team and was recently elected as Chair of the King County Board of Health. Other committee assignments include the Budget & Fiscal Management, Mobility & Environment, Government Accountability & Oversight, and the Regional Policy Committee, along with representing the Council on the MIDD Advisory Committee, the Woodland Park Zoo Board, the Growth Management Planning Council, the CSEC Task Force, and the LEAD Policy Coordinating Group.