Candidate Profile: Dave Upthegrove, King County Council, Pos. 5

KING COUNTY, WA — General election ballots will land in mailboxes across King County by Oct. 18, as the 2021 election season enters its final stretch heading into Nov. 2. Dozens of key races are in play this year, including contests for King County Executive, four positions on the Metropolitan King County Council and several local city council races.

As voters prepare to fill out their choices, Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles leading up to Election Day.

Dave Upthegrove is running for reelection to represent the county's fifth council district, serving South King County, including portions of Renton, Kent, Tukwila, SeaTac, Burien and Des Moines.

Candidate

Dave Upthegrove

Age (as of Election Day)

50

Position Sought

King County Metropolitan Council District 5

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Married to husband Chad Harper

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Husband is a teacher for Highline Public Schools

Education

BA in Environmental Conservation from University of Colorado at Boulder. Graduate Certificate in Energy Policy from the University of Idaho.

Occupation

King County Councilmember 2014-present

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

State Representative, 2001-2013

Campaign website

https://www.daveupthegrove.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I have been an effective progressive champion for South King County and believe we need proven leadership to build on the progress we have made together as a community.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our district is housing the homeless. Housing is a human right. We have a responsibility to help the chronically homeless get off the streets and into housing with services and support.

I was proud to lead the effort in our community to pass a big bold new housing proposal. And, the housing already exists. We don’t have to build it. Many hotels and nursing homes have closed and are for sale at very low prices. That’s why we are immediately investing more than $350 million dollars to purchase available hotels and group living facilities in cities that are willing.

With this investment, we will move almost 2000 chronically homeless individuals off the street and into stable long-term housing. The residents will receive onsite support including mental health and addiction services.

Looking forward, I will use my experience and relationships to build support for these investments in South King County. In one of the wealthiest regions of the world it is unconscionable to have people sleeping in the street.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am running a positive campaign focusing on my values, record and vision.

When Mitzi Johanknecht leaves office, what should the county look for in appointing a new sheriff?

With the appointment of a new Sheriff we have the opportunity to advance the cause justice for Black, Indigenous and People of Color.

We created a diverse Task Force of community members, stakeholders and law enforcement representatives to help us identify what we should look for in a new Sheriff. They developed an excellent document outlining their consensus recommendations, and I will be respecting and using their criteria: Law enforcement & community background, Inspiring leader to motivate change, Commitment to equity, Integrity, Track record of successful partnerships with diverse communities, Executive experience, Competent & credible, Commitment to follow-through, Demonstrated leadership, Relevant experience, Proven track record, History of collaboration and partnerships, Record of success with elected officials, other jurisdictions, and unions, And knowledge of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ issues.

What are some of your priorities for a post-pandemic recovery?

My vision moving forward is simple: Health. Jobs. And justice.

Because of COVID, we must start with health. This means continuing to focus on protecting the health and safety of seniors and other vulnerable community members while we safely reopen our economy. By following the science and supporting our public health professionals, King County has the LOWEST COVID rate of any major urban county in the continental United States. But we also see racial and economic disparities made worse. That’s why I’ve been working WITH our community and fighting so hard and successfully to target county resources to low income and diverse populations here in South King County. County public health departments are the front line of defense. These are serious times that call for proven effective leaders.

In addition to health, as we reopen our economy we need to focus on jobs. This means expanding the county partnership I started with local school districts to support students going into the building trades. It means implementing the new green jobs program for BIPOC youth that I got funded in the flood district budget. Finally, COVID has made clear that CHILDCARE is a jobs issue. I am working to implement child care subsidies for struggling families, and wage support for child care workers.

In addition to health and jobs, we need to continue to advance the cause of justice. This means rooting out institutional racism in policing and throughout our criminal justice system. Working with the community I have delivered successful criminal justice reforms such as banning the use of private prisons by King County, decriminalizing fare enforcement, expanding diversion programs into south king county, and increasing the funding and staff for our civilian office of law enforcement oversight. We must do more and working together we will build on this foundation. For example, we don’t need an armed militarized officer responding to every situation, so I want to develop a new approach that partners with mental health professionals, and includes better training in de-escalation and cultural competence. With the support of the community, King County can continue to lead the way

What would you do in office to strengthen preparedness and response efforts for extreme heat and wildfire smoke events?

First, we need to recognize that these events are being made worse by climate change, and we need to continue to take bold steps to reduce the carbon pollution causing climate change.

King County government plays an important role to help people stay healthy during these events. In partnership with the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, the Seattle-King County Public Health Department provides wildfire smoke preparedness and hot weather preparedness information in 25 languages. I think the Public Health Department could use the trusted community member model to do a better job of connecting vulnerable populations with the existing resources, as well as ensuring everyone is made aware of the response resources (cooling locations) provided not just by King County but by city partners, the King County Library System, and non-profits.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

While the Trump administration failed us, King County has literally led the nation. Our work to engage marginalized communities through the development of trusted community partners, translate materials in 34 languages, and target public health resources to those most impacted by COVID-19: low-income communities, immigrant/refugee communities, and communities of color, has been a national model.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

The murder of George Floyd at the hands of the police has elevated an important national movement.

From Kent to Renton, SeaTac to Normandy Park, neighbors have poured into the streets to support this movement.

This movement is about justice.

Justice for black people, justice for indigenous people, and justice for people of color.

My firm belief this: when justice is a reality for all black indigenous and people of color, we will have taken a gigantic leap forward, toward justice for all.

Delivering justice means rooting out the institutional racism embedded not only in law enforcement, but throughout the criminal justice system.

It means that people are safe and actually feel safe in their communities and homes.

Delivering justice means listening to the voices of those most impacted by injustice.

That’s why staying connected to community has always been so important to me, and why I have been focused on listening.

So, let me share with you what I’m hearing from our black indigenous and people of color neighbors in South King County. Their recommendations are:

Demilitarize the police;

Further restrict the use of deadly or excessive force by police;

Strengthen civilian oversight of the King County Sheriff’s Office, including independent investigation authority and subpoena power;

Improve the inquest process for families of police shooting victims;

Increase investments in youth to end the school-to-prison pipeline;

And yes, find savings in our traditional police budgets to invest instead in community-based approaches proven effective at delivering justice and ensuring everyone is safe.

If justice is to be delivered, these recommendations must be enacted.

At the King County Council, we are now to putting these recommendations into a bold agenda for change.

I don’t want any of my neighbors in South King County to live in fear or feel that their voices are not valued. I will continue to stand up for our shared values.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I am currently in my second term on the King County Council, and am proud of my accomplishments and the support I have received. I believe I have demonstrated that I am an effective progressive champion for South King County-- willing to take on big challenges.

For example, you might recall a few years back; the King County Council was presented with a proposal to spend $185 million on upgrades to Safeco field; such as building a new brewpub and upgrading the diamond club where the expensive seats are.

I knew this $185 million could instead be spent on housing. In fact, I believed it should be spent on housing.

I stood up; I spoke out. What did I discover?

I discovered I was alone. No one on the council shared my thinking. I discovered I was causing trouble. My position made a lot of people unhappy with me.

But I decided to act. I made the case publicly, I made the case to my colleagues and convinced three of them to join me. Unfortunately, three more votes were not enough to carry the day, but it was enough to move $50 million over into housing, housing that working people could afford.

Because of that, we were able to fund the Abbey Ridge Housing Development in SeaTac which provides affordable homes for 144 families here in our community.

So, when I believe it’s right for the community, I take the advice of the late great John Lewis, “never ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble”.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My parents always gave the simple advice to be myself. This applies to life as a whole, but I also rely upon it in politics, trying to be authentic and staying true to my values.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I came out of the closet the year I first ran for office. My mentor at the time told me she loved me, but that I obviously couldn’t run for office because the thought of an out gay candidate in South King County was unheard of at that time.

But I built a diverse community coalition and made history as the first out LGBT legislator outside the City of Seattle in the history of our state.

Coming of age politically at a time when I faced and experienced LEGAL discrimination shaped who I am as an elected official. What drove me then, still drives me today: a passion for justice. This is a belief that all people, regardless of our differences, have value, have something to contribute, and deserve equal rights and fair treatment. These are my core values, and why I have always centered my work and prioritized issues of justice—LGBT equality, racial equality, gender equality. Supporting tribal treaty rights and labor rights.

My life experience also includes being the son of a father with disabilities and the brother of someone who has overcome addiction and criminal justice involvement. My commitment to justice is personal.

In the legislature, I was one of the leaders of a progressive caucus—challenging our own party leadership to do better on labor and environmental issues.

Eight years ago, the people of our community elected me to be their voice and vote on the King County Council. I am in just my second term—

I am an effective progressive champion for South King County and I am running because we need proven leadership to build on the progress we have made together.