EDITOR’S NOTE: This candidate Q&A has been updated to correct previously inaccurate information provided by candidate Rashell Lisowski. The revision reflects updated figures and clarifications regarding funding allocations.

Four candidates are seeking election to Position No. 3 on the Burien City Council in 2025, offering voters a range of backgrounds and perspectives in one of the city’s most closely watched local races.

Ballots began arriving July 18 for the upcoming Aug. 5 primary election, where all four candidates for Burien City Council Position No. 3 will appear on the ballot. The top two vote-getters will advance to the Nov. 8 general election.

Rashell Lisowski, a small business owner and Organizing Director at Washington Community Action Network, is running for Burien City Council Position No. 3. With dual bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and International Relations from Syracuse University, Lisowski says her campaign is focused on restoring integrity, keeping property taxes fair, expanding affordable housing, and increasing transparency in local government. A longtime community organizer and spouse of an immigrant, she says she’s heard from residents concerned about rising costs and being left out of key decisions. “When we uplift working families, we uplift our entire city,” Lisowski said.

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Also running for Position No. 3:

• Sam Méndez
• Marie Barbon

To help inform voters ahead of the primary, The B-Town Blog invited each candidate to respond to a standardized set of 11 questions covering topics such as public safety, housing, homelessness, economic development, climate policy, and their vision for Burien’s future,

NOTE: Photos and links are from the King County Elections website. We do not correct punctuation, grammar, or fact check candidate statements.

Rashell Lisowski

1. Why are you running for Burien City Council? What are your top three reasons and issues you want to address?

I believe Burien deserves leadership that reflects the people who actually live here. Right now, too many decisions are shaped by a handful of consultants and insiders talking to the same small group of people. I want to open up that process, bring in voices that have been shut out, and make sure our city works for everyone. 

I’m running because of both my lived and professional experience. Currently, we do not have any renters on the council, and with 38% of Burien residents renting, I think this is a critical perspective to have on the council. Additionally, I grew up in poverty without all of the resources that I needed as a child. My mom struggled with addiction and was incarcerated many times, without ever being offered help or treatment. Even with the odds stacked against her, she persevered. That childhood experience taught me a lot about survival, resilience, and what happens when systems ignore people instead of supporting them. I’ve spent my adult life organizing with renters, homeowners being priced out by increasing property taxes, young families, and workers across Washington. I’ve helped people navigate courts, win housing protections, find jobs, start small businesses, and build the kind of collective power that leads to real change. I’m running to build a Burien where people belong, have stability, and can shape the future of their neighborhoods. Our City Council needs to be grounded in the reality of our constituents, and right now it is not. Lastly, I’m running because only about 25% of registered voters in Burien vote, and that’s unacceptable. Unlike every other candidate, I am not leaving out infrequent voters, as I believe we need more than a 4-year strategy, more than one person’s election, and to invest in those who feel left out of the process or like it is pointless.

My top three priorities are:

1. Housing stability. Renters are getting priced out of Burien, and longtime homeowners are facing property tax increases so extreme they are at risk of losing their homes. We need to update zoning and permitting so it is easier to build more housing in more neighborhoods. We also need real tenant protections and programs that help homeowners stay rooted in place.

2. Public health and community safety. The city keeps contracting with private companies to sweep people from one block to another. That is not safety. I want to invest in long-term solutions like housing, mental health care, addiction treatment, and community-led programs that help people get back on their feet. I also believe in keeping our public safety contracts with King County, as they cost residents less for the same amount of work, and Burien is protected from expensive lawsuits/ legal problems by contracting with them. 

3. Community power and belonging. Only about one in four people vote in our local elections. That is not because people do not care. It is because most have never been invited in, and they are left off of candidate targeting lists. I have trained hundreds of people to speak at city council meetings, organize their buildings, and win changes in their communities. As a 30-year-old running for office, I want to open the doors wider and make sure more of us are shaping the future of Burien.

2. Minimum Wage and Small Business: Burien recently passed a minimum wage initiative, while voters approved another. What are your thoughts on this and which version do you think should be enforced? Also, what are your thoughts on the lawsuit/countersuit over the initiative that was passed in February?

I support the version of the minimum wage that was passed by the voters. That’s the law that should be enforced. It came from the community and passed through a democratic process. I helped collect signatures myself, along with grocery workers, servers, and other essential workers who have kept this city running but still can’t afford to live here. I’ve been a server. I’ve worked in a grocery store. I’ve lived paycheck to paycheck while trying to make ends meet. I know what it means to work a full shift and still not be able to pay rent. I do not believe in tip penalties or any system that divides workers into tiers and tells some they don’t deserve the same base wage as others. A fair wage should be the floor, not a moving target based on job title or whether your tips depend on who walks through the door, or if you have healthcare.

The city council’s response to the initiative was deeply disappointing. Instead of supporting the community-led effort, they pushed their own weaker version and then filed a PDC complaint against me for publicly supporting the wage that voters later passed. It was a total waste of Burien taxpayer dollars to put forth an ordinance that was so flawed. That kind of retaliation is exactly what keeps people from getting involved in local politics in the first place. We need leadership that respects the will of the people, not leaders who use process as a weapon. As for the lawsuit and countersuit, they are just distractions. Voters have already made their decision. Burien is not the first city to raise wages, and it definitely won’t be the last. What workers need now is implementation, not more stalling while attorneys fight over technicalities. As a small business owner myself, I know that we can support small businesses and raise wages at the same time. This doesn’t have to be either-or. What we need is leadership that listens to both, brings people to the table, and takes action that reflects our values.

3. Affordable Housing and Homelessness: What specific strategies do you support for increasing affordable housing and addressing homelessness in Burien? What is your stance on the recently proposed ordinance regarding homeless encampments at churches/religious organizations?

Burien needs to stop responding to homelessness with fear and start responding with action. We cannot sweep people around and call it a solution. We need real housing, real services, and the political courage to build both. When it comes to affordable housing, I support zoning changes that allow for more homes of all kinds in all neighborhoods. Simultaneously, we need to protect and preserve the environment and mitigate harmful impacts to residents’ daily lives. That means legalizing duplexes, triplexes, and mixed-use buildings near transit, parks, and schools, as well as maintaining appropriate tree coverage ordinances and other protections for the environment, while supporting people to understand how things could shift in their neighborhood. If we do not build more housing, those of us who live here now will ultimately be priced out. We also need to fix our permitting system so projects that meet community standards don’t get stalled for years. I want the city to partner with nonprofit and social housing developers, remove unnecessary design review barriers, and use public land for housing when possible. And we need strong tenant protections so people are not pushed out of Burien as housing prices rise. 

On homelessness, I believe in starting with stability: making sure people have a safe place to stay so they can begin to address the other challenges in their lives, whether that’s mental health, addiction, or finding steady work. It’s a practical strategy that’s been shown to work in other cities. What we’re doing now, moving people from one block to another without offering real support, isn’t solving the problem and costs the city more in the long run. We need long-term solutions that actually get people off the streets and into services that work. As for the proposed ordinance targeting churches and religious organizations that host encampments, I oppose it. These faith-based groups are doing the work the city refuses to do. Trying to stop them from helping people is not only wrong, it’s dangerous. Instead of punishing churches for opening their doors, the city should be supporting and partnering with them. That includes providing trash services, portable restrooms, and outreach teams to connect people with long-term resources. Working together to address crises like this benefits both our unhoused neighbors and housed neighbors in Burien. 

4. Public Safety and Policing: How would you approach public safety concerns in Burien, including police funding, alternative response programs, and community trust?

Public safety should mean that people feel safe walking in their neighborhoods, opening a business, sending their kids to the park, or asking for help when they need it. That requires a more complete approach than just calling the police after something goes wrong. We need early intervention, real services, and trusted systems that respond to the full range of issues our community is facing. I support expanding alternative response programs that connect people to mental health care, housing support, and crisis services. These teams are often better equipped to respond to certain emergencies, and they help make sure officers can focus on situations that truly require law enforcement. This is not about removing safety; it is about improving the kind of help people receive and preventing harm before it starts. I also believe in transparency and oversight. Public trust comes from consistency and communication. That includes clear reporting, open dialogue with the community, and space for feedback when things don’t go as predicted. We also need to make sure the police have the tools and resources they need to respond effectively when they are called. That includes clear expectations, adequate staffing, and training grounded in de-escalation, communication, and community relationships. I do not support cutting the department. I support making it stronger and more effective by ensuring it is part of a broader strategy that addresses the root causes of harm. The goal is a system that people can rely on and feel respected by, no matter who they are. Funding decisions should reflect what keeps people safe. That means supporting youth mentorship, safe streets, addiction recovery services, and local organizations that build stronger neighborhoods. 

5. Airport Impacts: Burien continues to experience environmental and quality-of-life impacts from Sea-Tac Airport. Noise pollution, air quality, and land-use conflicts remain major concerns, particularly for residents in North Burien. What is your stand on this issue?

I’ve talked with a lot of people in North Burien who live under the flight path and are dealing with real challenges.. whether it’s noise that makes it hard to sleep or concerns about air quality and long-term health. These are serious impacts, and the city needs to take them seriously. Especially as children are heavily impacted by poor air quality. I think Burien should play a more active role in making sure residents have a voice in decisions that affect them. That means continuing to advocate for things like home soundproofing, air filtration, and stronger protections for neighborhoods near the airport. It also means working with the Port and regional partners to push for solutions that center public health and quality of life. I believe growth at the airport should not come at the expense of the people who live around it. Any new development or expansion needs to involve real community input and careful planning. We need to keep pushing for better outcomes while also working together to find practical ways to reduce the harm people are already experiencing. At the same time, it is unrealistic to think that airport expansion will stop, making it even more important that we bring more stakeholders in to advise the process.

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6. Downtown Revitalization and Economic Development: What is your vision for revitalizing Burien’s downtown core and attracting new businesses, jobs, and community spaces?

When people talk about revitalizing downtown, they often mean one or two blocks on 152nd. But if you walk a block over to 153rd, or a few blocks in any direction, the difference is clear. Some parts of our downtown get all the attention and resources while others are left behind. That needs to change. I want a downtown where every block feels like it matters, is walkable, and feels safe. That means investing in sidewalks, lighting, public spaces, and small businesses throughout the area, not just where it looks good on paper. It also means listening to the business owners and residents who are already there. They know what is missing and what would help their block feel safer, cleaner, walkable, and more connected. We also need to make it easier for people to open and keep small businesses here. The permit process is slow and confusing, and commercial rents continue to rise. I want to see the city do more to support local entrepreneurs, especially people who are just starting out or who have been excluded in the past. That includes immigrant-owned businesses, young entrepreneurs, and people who are trying to build something with limited resources. Projects that promote shared storefronts and incentivise businesses co-renting a location are a few potential solutions to try. Downtown should also have more community spaces. That could mean indoor gathering spots, pop-up markets, shared storefronts, or public areas where people can sit, connect, and feel like they belong. Revitalization should reflect the people who live and work here, and residents should be contacted in greater depth about their ideas to revitalize downtown.

7. Public Transit and Traffic: How can the city improve public transit options, address traffic congestion, ensure safe streets for all users, including pedestrians and cyclists?

Getting around Burien shouldn’t feel like a challenge. People should be able to walk, bike, or take the bus without worrying about getting hit or stranded. I want the city to fix broken sidewalks, add crosswalks that actually work, and make sure streets are lit where people walk. We need real bike lanes, not just painted lines that disappear halfway down the block. I also think the city needs to push harder for better bus service, especially in neighborhoods that don’t get the same level of access. Transit stops should feel safe and be close to where people live. And when it comes to traffic, the answer isn’t just more lanes; it’s better design, slowing cars where people live, and giving people real options for how they get around. 

8. Environment and Climate Resilience: What steps (if any) should Burien take to address climate change, protect green spaces, and improve urban tree canopy in light of funding challenges?

Burien should be doing more to prepare for climate change, and that includes working with the nonprofits and community groups already doing the work. We do not need to build everything from scratch; we need to support what is already happening and make it easier for residents to get involved. I want to see a climate ambassadors program that trains and supports local residents to lead sustainability efforts in their own neighborhoods. This will build community and relationships, getting more people integrated into local politics as well. I also support offering real incentives for green energy, like solar, heat pumps, and energy-efficient upgrades. But I do not support requiring home energy scores. It creates another barrier for people (especially seniors or folks on fixed incomes) who are trying to sell their homes. It adds cost and delays, and can make it harder for new families to move into our community. Climate work should not punish people trying to sell their homes; it should open doors, improve health, and help keep Burien livable and more affordable.

9. DEI & Sanctuary City Status: What is your stand on Burien’s policies that protect the needs of its diverse population? Also, the city voted to become a “Sanctuary City” in 2017. What are your thoughts on this?

Burien is made up of diverse residents, and I fully support efforts to make city services more inclusive and accessible. That includes expanding language access, making sure public meetings are welcoming to everyone, and making space for more people to be part of decisions that impact them. Diversity, equity, and inclusion should not be a side note. It should be part of how we operate as a city every day. My husband is an immigrant, so I understand how deep the fear runs for a lot of families, no matter what their legal status is. People should not have to think twice about calling for help, sending their kids to school, or showing up for community events. I support Burien’s sanctuary city status. It is a reflection of the kind of city we are: one that chooses care, safety, and dignity over fear and division. I know there are threats coming from the Trump administration, but we cannot back away from our values every time someone in power tries to bully us. Other cities have fought back and won, and I believe Burien should continue to stand strong alongside them. Not to mention, the Administration will punish WA State as a whole, and changing our status will not mitigate the impact on our State.

10. Transparency and Community Engagement: What new approaches would you take to increase transparency and improve communication between City Hall and the public?

A lot of people in Burien do not feel heard by City Hall. Some have never been invited in, and others have tried to participate but felt dismissed or talked over. We need to rebuild trust, and that starts with changing how we communicate and who we prioritize when we do it. As someone who has trained hundreds of community members to speak at council meetings, lead campaigns, and advocate for policy change, I know how powerful it is when people are given real tools to engage. I want to bring that same energy to the council. That means holding regular listening sessions in neighborhoods, not just inside City Hall. It means making sure information is shared in plain language and in multiple languages. And it means investing in outreach beyond the same small circle of people who always get invited to weigh in. I also want to make city processes easier to understand. Right now, if you do not already know the system, it is hard to figure out how to participate. We need better public explanations of how decisions are made, how to give input, and what happens after feedback is shared. As well as more time for input from residents. Transparency is not just about publishing documents. It is about creating a culture where people feel informed and part of the process. That is the kind of culture I would work to build on the council.

11. Budget Priorities and Tough Choices: Given ongoing budget constraints, what would be your top funding priorities, and what tradeoffs would you consider balancing essential services with new initiatives?

We need to spend money on what actually helps people. That means housing stability, public health, youth programs, safe streets, and the basic services people rely on every day. But we also need to stop throwing money at things that do not work. The contract with More We Love is a massive expense (over a million dollars a year*) and all it does is place people in costly hotels with little follow-up. It does not solve homelessness, and it does not make our community safer. Instead, we should be lifting up the nonprofits and local groups already doing the deeper, long-term work. These are organizations helping people find housing, access treatment, reconnect with family, and stay stable.. not just for a night, but for good. They do it on tight budgets with real community trust. The city should be co-applying for grants with them, sharing space for meetings and events, and leaning into collaboration instead of trying to do everything on its own. We miss out on resources, savings, and better outcomes when we fail to partner. We also need to stop leaning on residents to balance the budget. That means shifting the tax burden to high-emission buildings and corporations making record profits while families in Burien are barely getting by. We should not be making it harder for working people to live here while letting wealthy developers or polluters off the hook. I want a budget process that is open, honest, and focused on what works, not just what has always been done. That means investing in real community solutions and cutting the things that look good on paper but leave people stuck.

*EDITOR’S NOTE: After submitting her Q&A responses, Lisowski clarified that her initial statement about the cost of Burien’s contract with The More We Love was incorrect. She originally cited $1 million annually, a figure applicable to a similar program in Seattle. Lisowski now states that Burien’s contract has totaled over $500,000 since 2023, with additional funding allocated in 2025, though that most recent amount has not been publicly disclosed.

NEXT UP: Position No. 3 Candidate Sam Mendez.

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