EDITOR’S NOTE: Since our creation in 2007, The B-Town Blog has allowed candidates running for local office one free post for when they announce their candidacy. To submit an announcement, please email scott@southkingmedia.com.
Current Burien Mayor Sofia Aragon this week officially announced her candidacy for King County Council District 8, the seat being vacated by Joe McDermott.
As the Mayor of Burien and a resident of several distinct communities in King County throughout her life, Aragon says she knows the impact of decisions made at the King County Council touches the lives of all residents.
Aragon is the result of the diversity and challenges that the county has to offer and wants residents of King County’s 39 cities and unincorporated areas to thrive.
“This means making sure King County is a safe, healthy, and inclusive place where families both new and old can call home for lifetime and businesses can take root,” she said.
Here’s more from her announcement:
Sofia is able to run for office because of the opportuniTes available to her growing up in different parts of King County. As an immigrant child growing up in south Seattle, she always had good healthcare thanks to her mom’s union. In the search for affordable housing, her parents moved to east unincorporated King County near Issaquah where she finished high school. A safe neighborhood and good schools for their two girls was the goal. As residents of unincorporated King County, Sofia’s family relied on the county for public safety and dependable roads to commute to school or work.
Sofia attended local public schools, attending Seattle Public Schools, graduating from Issaquah High School and the University of Washington – Seattle. Following in the footsteps of her mom, she become a registered nurse. After studying at Seattle U, she launched her career at a First Hill hospital and one of the best jobs she ever had was working in a community health clinic in the Rainier Valley. Both times she chose to serve diverse patients who often spoke different languages, were immigrants or low income.
Nursing taught Sofia how to be an advocate for others. She decided to step up that skill and become a lawyer to shape and develop public policy as an advocate in Olympia. There, she advocated for workplace safety, healthcare for all, and getting toxics out of the environment.
“Strong public policy creates opportunity,” said Aragon. “I chose to serve on the Burien City Council to create conditions of opportunity, where everyone has the chance to succeed with a good career, a variety of affordable housing is available, the city is responsive to growing public safety concerns, and diversity is celebrated. “
As the Mayor of Burien:
• As the first woman of color and Asian-American immigrant in the role of Mayor, Sofia took a stand on Anti-Asian Hate.
• She passed the first Council Rules of Civility so that councilmembers do the business of the city with mutual respect.
• Sofia assured funds so that diversity, equity, and inclusion is included in all city policies.
• She supported police and fire on a co-response model so that a mental health crisis is not treated like a crime.
• She actively explored ways to enhance public safety in the midst of a police officer shortage.
• She assures the city is at the table with the county in increasing affordable housing.
• As former Chair and member of the Burien Airport Committee, she works to reduced the impact of Sea-Tac and Boeing Field/King County International Airport to the environment and surrounding communities.
She voted for federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars to go towards supporTng our small businesses, childcare, and apprenticeships that lead to careers. King County is critical to the quality of life of all residents. Having lived in communities that relied on the King County Sheriff’s Office, Sofia knows that the county has a major role in public safety. Gaps in the county public health system must be closed so that all cities can respond and recover effectively.
“The county directs a significant share of resources to address the opioid epidemic and the mental health crisis. I want to make sure that prevenTon is part of the plan where we keep children safe from drugs and promote healthy, resilient communities,” said Sofia. “The county is key to a strong infrastructure to connect all of us so that our residents get to where they need to go, and live and work where they please.”
“It will be my commitment to you as a King County Councilmember to that all King County residents have an opportunity to prosper.”
To learn more about Sofia’s priorities, please visit www.votesofiaaragon.com.
