At a time of political challenge and change, voters in North Seattle would do well to return Democrat Gerry Pollet to Olympia.
Running for his eighth full two-year term, Pollet has been a longtime community leader, engaging with residents to improve public safety on Aurora Avenue North, advocating for education funding — both K-12 and postsecondary — and making sure state housing policies include affordability and climate resiliency.
Representing the 46th Legislative District, which includes Green Lake, Sandpoint and Northeast Seattle, Pollet is one of the strongest champions of open government in the Legislature, lambasting efforts by fellow lawmakers to shield their communications from public view.
After years of advocacy, Pollet won a big victory in 2025 when the Legislature voted to increase funding for special education and simultaneously remove the cap on the number of students with disabilities that the state will cover in each school district.
“I am the strongest and most consistent partner for Seattle Public Schools funding in the Legislature,” he told the editorial board. “My work ensured that the millionaires tax had a commitment to increase funding for public education, not merely maintain it. I fought that battle throughout the session and I won.”
As chair of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee, Pollet scrutinized government programs to ensure they function efficiently and provide taxpayer value. Sometimes, he has bucked fellow legislators whose pet projects don’t pass the straight-face test.
The state’s irresponsible budgeting practices — including dangerously drawing down the state’s rainy-day fund by $880 million — raised concerns from state Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti and prompted two credit rating agencies to sound alarms. If the state loses its high credit rating, taxpayers will foot the bill for higher interest rates.
“I’m one of the few legislators who spends time in Mike Pellicciotti’s office and have discussed at length with him the impact of what we were proposing in different tax packages and spending packages in the budget and what it might mean for our state’s credit rating,” Pollet said.
The other candidates in the campaign are private attorney Will Dreher, and political and business consultant Ron Davis.
Both Dreher and Davis bring ideas and energy to the race. Neither presented a convincing case why he would be a better fit for the district.
Dreher, who moved to Seattle in 2019, was gracious to compliment Pollet’s record on education: “I am proud to be running in a race with Rep. Pollet because of his fight for education funding.”
Pollet has served his constituents admirably and taken on worthy fights that no one else could or would. He strongly deserves reelection to Legislative District No. 46, Position 1.
