Three 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. 1 will appear on the ballot. The top two vote-getters will advance to the Nov. 8 general election.

Sam Mendez, a father, community advocate, and progressive candidate, is running for Burien City Council Position No. 3 in the 2025 election. A resident raising his young family in Burien, Mendez says he is focused on expanding affordable housing, improving street safety, and ensuring local government is responsive to working families. He played a key role in helping pass the city’s voter-approved minimum wage initiative and has criticized the current council’s decision to fight it in court. Mendez is endorsed by the King County Democrats, 33rd District Democrats, State Sen. Tina Orwall, and other regional leaders.

Also running for Position No. 3:

• Rashell Lisowski
• 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.

Sam Mendez

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

I’m running for Burien City Council because I care deeply about this community and believe we deserve a government that works for all of us. My priorities are clear: affordable housing, safe streets for people walking and biking, and transparent, accountable leadership.

Burien’s diversity—racial, cultural, and economic—is one of its greatest strengths. I want to make sure that people from all walks of life can afford to live, work, and thrive here.

I envision a city council that makes it easy for people to participate. That means holding meetings after 5pm, welcoming all public commenters equally, and making decisions openly and with clear explanations, not closed-door sessions. I’m running to help lead a government that listens and acts with integrity.

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’m proud to have worked closely with the Transit Riders Union (TRU) to help advance the public initiative that raised Burien’s minimum wage. In 2023, I met with TRU and then-Deputy Mayor Kevin Schilling in the hopes of seeing the council pass a strong wage ordinance. Instead, they rushed through a weaker version—vague, confusing, and estimated to cover only half of Burien’s workers.

Voters responded clearly: they passed the stronger initiative by a 57–43% margin. But instead of honoring that result, the city chose to sue TRU. That’s unnecessary, divisive, and a waste of public money. If elected and the lawsuit is still active, I’ll move to end it immediately.

The voter-approved initiative is also far clearer. Large employers must pay $21.10, medium employers $19.10, with a six-year phase-in for smaller businesses. It’s a reasonable plan that aligns Burien with neighboring cities and avoids confusion, especially over franchise classification. It’s the right move for workers, businesses, and our economy.

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?

I fully support the evidence-based Housing First model. Sobriety or other preconditions should never stand in the way of stable housing. The solution to homelessness is housing, paired with supportive services and policies that increase supply and access.

Burien’s updated 2024 Comprehensive Plan is an opportunity to build more affordable housing, and I supported zoning changes aligned with state mandates. Our proximity to Seattle puts us at risk for gentrification and displacement, so we must build mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods that support economic diversity, housing stability, and public health.

I also support allowing religious institutions to host encampments without burdensome restrictions. As a practicing Christian and member of Lake Burien Presbyterian, I believe it’s part of our faith to help those in need. The recent ordinance—defeated in a 3-2-2 vote—would have imposed harmful time limits and restrictions on these efforts. I support Deputy Mayor Sarah Moore’s call for greater flexibility on this issue.

Burien’s current camping ban is both inhumane and ineffective. The city spent thousands on signage that offers no guidance to unhoused residents, just exclusion. And rejecting a $1 million grant and 35 Pallet shelters from King County was a missed opportunity we can’t afford, especially with a looming budget shortfall. If elected, I’ll prioritize partnership with King County and our neighbors, not litigation and blame. We must act urgently with compassion and results, and treat those affected with dignity.

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

Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home and community, and that includes safety from crime, violence, and injustice. We can support victims, reduce harm, and treat all people with dignity and respect. That’s the kind of public safety I believe in.

I support co-responder programs and trauma-informed approaches, and I want police focused on violent crime, not issues better addressed through mental health and community care. That’s why I’m open to a CARES-style model to provide non-police crisis response.

I support Burien’s community policing efforts and believe we need to do more to build trust, especially in communities that have historically experienced over-policing. Our contract with the King County Sheriff’s Office limits some options, but we can still improve transparency by collecting and sharing better public safety data, including on addiction and mental health response.

I also believe in prevention. That means supporting youth programs, after-school engagement, and access to trusted role models. Addressing housing, hunger, and homelessness upstream helps prevent harm before it happens.

I support the public safety levy in principle, particularly to protect co-responder services, but I have real concerns about affordability. A $474 annual increase for the median homeowner is significant. If we’re going to ask residents for more, we need to make sure the measure is clear, targeted, and delivers on what people are promised.

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 oppose the planned expansion of Sea-Tac Airport. Burien residents, especially those in North Burien already face serious health impacts from air and noise pollution. Expanding flight traffic will only make that worse.

Long-term, the state must identify and develop a second major airport for the Puget Sound region. We can’t keep concentrating the environmental burden on the same communities. In the meantime, I’ll work with the Port of Seattle, the legislature, and our federal partners to push for real mitigation: better windows and air filtration in homes and schools, more green space and tree canopy, and other efforts to improve quality of life.

No resident should have to sacrifice their health and peace of mind just because of where they live. This is an equity issue, and we need to treat it like one.

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

I don’t believe Burien’s downtown core needs revitalization; it’s already a vibrant, walkable neighborhood where people can live, shop, and dine. My goal is to build on that success by supporting mixed-use zoning throughout the city, so every neighborhood has the opportunity to thrive.

When more people can afford to live in Burien, more customers support our local businesses. I’d love to see a hotel in our city, and I believe we should make better use of city-owned land for public enjoyment, housing, and sustainable revenue.

Burien’s small businesses, especially our diverse restaurants and shops, give this city its unique character. I’ll work closely with the Business and Economic Development Partnership and Discover Burien to attract new businesses, create jobs, and grow a local economy that works for everyone—including the workers who power it.

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?

Safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists is a top priority of mine. We need to make walking and biking more viable and less dangerous in Burien. That means prioritizing default walk signals where possible, investing in traffic calming measures like speed bumps or lower speed limits, and expanding bike lanes where the budget allows. Speeding is a serious safety issue, and we must take steps to address it, especially in areas with high pedestrian activity.

The more we make it safe and convenient for people to get around without a car, the more we ease congestion and improve quality of life. That’s why I also support denser, mixed-use neighborhoods, so people can walk to the store or a local restaurant instead of driving.

When it comes to public transit, I’m committed to working with King County Metro to ensure every available program and service is being used in Burien. Strong partnerships with other governments are key to building a truly connected, accessible city.

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?

The City of Burien must treat climate change like the urgent threat it is. Our Climate Action Plan (CAP), adopted in 2021, hasn’t been reviewed in years and it’s time to change that. The CAP shows that nearly half of Burien’s emissions come from transportation, so we need to take meaningful steps to reduce car dependence and build a more sustainable city.

Even on a tight budget, we can make real progress. That includes integrating EV infrastructure into city planning, upzoning to support energy-efficient buildings, and creating walkable neighborhoods where people don’t need a car to get around. Expanding our tree canopy is another smart investment because it cools our neighborhoods during heat waves, improves air quality, and enhances livability.

Affordable housing, transit, and public safety are all connected to climate resilience. A council that prioritizes these issues holistically can make a real difference. We don’t need to wait for a perfect budget year—we need to lead with urgency and creativity.

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?

One of Burien’s greatest strengths is its racial, ethnic, and economic diversity. I fully support the city’s status as a Sanctuary City and our policies that prevent local agencies from collecting immigration status or cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. These policies keep families safe and communities whole.

I’m horrified by what the Trump administration is doing to immigrant communities—including many in Burien—regardless of documentation status. It’s inhumane, dystopian, and un-American. This issue is deeply personal to me: my wife came to the U.S. as a child refugee, and both my mother and grandfather were immigrants. One of my proudest moments as an attorney was representing an asylum seeker through the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. He won his case and still lives in Washington today, but too many others are being detained in terrifying and unjust ways.

I support exploring every legal avenue to protect our residents. Recently Councilmember Hugo Garcia suggested an ordinance that would require federal agents to identify themselves. If that can pass legal muster, I fully support it. Cities like Burien must be brave enough to stand up for human rights and due process, especially when it’s hard.

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

Government transparency and accountability are core priorities of my campaign. Burien deserves a city government that listens to the people, responds to their concerns, and makes decisions out in the open, not behind closed doors.

A recent example: when voters passed a stronger minimum wage by a clear margin, the council chose to sue over the initiative. That decision happened in executive session, with no public input. That’s unacceptable.

We should be encouraging—not restricting—public comment. City Council meetings should be held in the evenings when working people can attend. We should eliminate categories that give different weight to commenters based on whether they’re residents, business owners, or otherwise. If you want to speak, you should be welcomed.

And we must recognize that public comment alone isn’t enough. Many working families don’t have the time or flexibility to speak at a meeting, but their voices still matter. I’m committed to finding new ways to engage those residents directly, through proactive outreach and accessible communication. A truly open government meets people where they are.

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?

My top priority is keeping essential city services funded: parks and public programs, road maintenance, co-responder services, and trauma-informed law enforcement. Burien is facing a serious budget shortfall next year, and we can’t afford to waste money or miss out on resources.

For example, the city rejected a $1 million grant and 35 Pallet shelters from King County. We could’ve used those funds to address homelessness. Instead, we spent thousands putting up signs about the city’s camping ban—signs that do nothing to help people or solve the problem. That’s not responsible budgeting.

I’m committed to preserving proven services and reviewing contracts to ensure we’re getting value for every dollar. In general, I’ll prioritize maintaining what works over launching expensive new initiatives we can’t afford—no matter how appealing they are.

I’d love to see a city with robust EV infrastructure, more sidewalks, and a greener future, but we need to be honest about what’s financially possible. Regardless of the budget outlook, we can build a smarter, more responsive government, one that plans for the future while meeting people’s needs today. That’s why I’m running.

NEXT UP: Position No. 3 Candidate Marie Barbon.

Curious about who’s on the 2025 ballot in Burien? Check out our comprehensive Voters Guide for candidate Q&As and profiles.