We did it!

Late yesterday, the Seattle Times called the race in our favor, and I received a phone call from fellow candidate Sarah Reyneveld to congratulate me on my election to serve as the councilmember for District 4 on the King County Council. While I am cognizant that votes are still being counted for this election, I am honored and humbled that the district's voters have placed their trust in me.

I am excited about the opportunity to serve my community in this new way and am conscious of the profound responsibility that comes with this role. I recognize that our county faces significant challenges but I am confident that, working together, we can address those challenges and make our community even better than it is today.

I also appreciate that my election marks an important milestone for our county as I will be the first Latino to serve on the King County Council (and it appears very likely that I will share that milestone with my friend Teresa Mosqueda, who would be the first Latina on the Council). As we celebrate these milestones, I hope they will inspire us to continue the important work of ensuring that our governing structures better reflect the communities they serve.

This campaign was a team effort in every sense of the phrase and I am deeply grateful to everyone who believed in the values and integrity that were central to the campaign. I have to express special gratitude to my family, and especially my life partner Tyler, my kids Isabella, Luna, and Luca, who all supported me throughout this journey. I am also deeply grateful to our campaign manager Anna Carlson-Ziegler, and the team at Upper Left Strategies for their hard work and guidance in this effort. And to all of you who volunteered your time, contributed resources, connected with neighbors and friends, and supported the campaign in so many ways, a heartfelt thank you.

I want to express my deep admiration and respect for Sarah Reyneveld, an outstanding community leader who ran a strong, positive campaign. I am grateful for her service to our community at the State Attorney General’s office and in many other civic roles, including the King County Women’s Advisory Board. I hope you will join me in commending her for her hard work on her campaign and her continued public service.

Finally, I want to convey my profound gratitude and appreciation to Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles, who has served District 4 with distinction for the past 8 years, after serving the 36th District in the State Legislature for 23 years. During the campaign, I heard time and again how much her constituents have appreciated her dedication and commitment to this district. I know we all thank her for her outstanding decades-long service to our community.

Again, thank you to the residents of District 4 for their faith in me and our campaign. And thanks to all of you who made it possible.