[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a Letter to the Editor, written and submitted by a verified resident. It represents the opinion of the author, and does not necessarily reflect the views of South King Media or its staff.]
Thank you, Burien voters.
Thanks for an overwhelming endorsement of Progressive candidates in the Primary election. Let’s take another look at the winners.
City Council
First elected in 2021, Sarah Moore stood out with over 60 percent of the vote. While Sarah might seem like the quiet one on the council, she’s skilled at working behind the scenes to develop collaborative solutions to city issues. As Deputy Mayor, she’s committed to building a future where every resident has a voice, every neighborhood has what it needs, and Burien continues to be a place people are proud to call home. www.sarahforburien.com
Coming from an immigrant family in a city with a substantial immigrant population, Hugo Garcia brings a unique lived experience to the council. Before his election in 2021, Hugo was a Planning Commission member and Chair. He also served on the city’s business committee. He intends to continue focusing on expanding access to housing and improving affordability. Hugo’s focus includes the needs of our working families, workers, and micro and small family businesses. www.hugoforburien.com
Sam Mendez is not a newcomer to Burien’s civic world. In his campaign for city council, Sam is prioritizing affordable and community-centered housing, safer streets for pedestrians and bicyclists, and government transparency and accountability. Sam is committed to building a future where all families in Burien can thrive. With years of legal experience protecting civil rights and strengthening government accountability, he’s running to bring thoughtful, people-first leadership to the city he’s proud to call home. www.electmendez.com
While he didn’t have an opponent for the Primary, you will see Rocco Devito in the General. A Burien Planning Commissioner before running for council office, he will work to create safe streets and abundant housing while bringing the community together, working hard, and achieving results that benefit Burien’s working families. Rocco wants to make sure that we build the housing we need to grow and still be a place where all residents can continue to live and thrive. www.electroccodevito.com
State Representative
33rd district (most of Burien) State Representative Edwin Obras is seeking election to the office to which he was appointed. He championed progressive legislation this year that included limiting rent increases. Edwin will continue to advocate for policies that support workers, improve public safety, and strengthen our community and state. www.edwinobras.org/
Highline School District
Damarys Espinoza is seeking to retain the position of Highline Schools Director, to which she was appointed earlier this year. She brings the right mix of education, experience, and lived perspective. Damarys has also worked in local government, partnering with elected officials on countywide policies, which has given her the skills to navigate complex systems and deliver results. www.electdamarys.com
TRANSPARENCY • ACCOUNTABILITY • EXPERIENCE • PUBLIC CONNECTION
Sincerely,
Stephen Lamphear
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If they all want to lift the camping ban, that tells me that they have no interest in making Burien safer for residents and businesses. They have no concrete plans to move forward. We have come a long way in the last few years and we need to continue in that direction; not go backwards. They do not have my vote.
This is from someone who cannot give their full name.
Oh please, cut the nonsense and look at the cold, hard reality: a surge of progressive candidates advancing like Hugo Garcia, Sarah Moore, Sam Méndez, and their ilk, spells nothing but more chaos, division, and outright failure for Burien. History doesn’t lie, and the track record of progressives here has been an unmitigated disaster, turning our city into a cautionary tale of good intentions while paving the road to chaos.
Remember the homeless crisis that’s been festering for years? DESC being built? Progressives like former council member Cydney Moore promised the moon, housing, jobs, compassion and what did we get? Epic failures, like the temporary encampment at Oasis Home Church in 2024, where dozens were lured in with big talk only to be spit out 90 days later with zero results.
Instead, they turned vulnerable people into politics, blaming everyone else while the tents piled up in parks, downtown, and even City Hall. This isn’t progress; it’s performative theater that leaves streets dirtier, businesses fleeing, and residents footing the bill for endless “compassion” that never materializes.
Take Hugo Garcia’s infamous outburst in 2023, screeching that a simple camping ordinance “reeks of white supremacy.” That’s not leadership; that’s race-baiting poison, alienating neighbors and derailing actual solutions. It sparked calls for censure and exposed the ugly underbelly of progressive politics in Burien: accuse first, divide second, and never mind the facts.
Meanwhile, under their influence, we’ve seen rejected grants for real homelessness services, opposition to practical zoning that could actually build affordable housing, and a soft-on-crime vibe that’s let public spaces devolve into no-go zones. Pedestrian deaths up, safety down, thanks to prioritizing ideology over infrastructure. This primary “win” isn’t a mandate, it’s a warning siren.
Yes I agree with K.M., Burien has come so far the last couple years and it makes me feel quite worried what these potential canidates would do to the city and its residents.
All the work put in.. the business’ in downtown that struggled and fought through to hang on. The community was starting to become cohesive again..
I hope for a better tommorow. God bless
Fantastic comment, Terry! Why would any clear thinking voter care about Stephen’s endorsement? It proves that the tired, out of date progressives are just blowing in the wind which should be their anthem.
You have no clue what it means to be Socialist. So, your rant is just that.
Perfect – educate us all…..
I’ll chime in with what it means as I witnessed it in another country before the Civil War came there and destroyed it. Everyone was unhappy because they were just pawns and worked for no thanks and the good of the system, until it imploded because it was built on false promises of worker rights which never existed.
No to the progressives and Stephen Lamphear’s list of chaos
Thank you (KM,CB,MG,TMLG,& EM) for all your voices here and let us hope we/Burien keep going forward and not backwards with SL’s candidates!
FYI… all my used above initials are for you Stephen since they seem to bother you.
GO!!! Stephanie, Marie, Gabriel, Kevin, Katie, Ken and Sue-Ann
Another commentor who can’t use a real name.
Using a full name instead of partial or initials doesn’t help when your ranting doesn’t answer why you believe in flawed and failed policies. Why are you so fixated on a person’s ID instead of accepting that your choices this election are not what the majority of Burien want because of supporters like you.
We’ll see about that in 2 weeks.
Please identify your outrageous claims of “radical positions, wasteful lawsuits, and general chaos”.
If you can’t gather or determine how people have come to that conclusion your not remembering your actions and behaviors very well.