Voters in the Metropolitan King County Council’s 2nd District have three candidates to choose from in next month’s council primary.
Democratic state Sen. Rebecca Saldaña has served in the state Legislature for 10 years, including as vice chair of the Labor & Commerce Committee. Miriam Mboya has been a King County employee for 10 years, most recently in public health. And Toshiko Hasegawa has been a Port of Seattle commissioner for five years, at times serving as either its president or vice president.
Though all three possess knowledge of government budgeting and public policy in general, Hasegawa stands out as the best choice to serve District 2 residents.
Since being elected countywide to the port commission, she has led efforts to ensure equity and inclusion in the Port’s internal operations and contracting.
She served on the transition teams for Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, King County Executive Zahilay Girmay and for Gov. Bob Ferguson. That exposure and experience would benefit the County Council.
On the future of the embattled King County Regional Homelessness Authority, Hasegawa said she supports a coordinated regional approach toward homelessness, but would want to see changes within the agency.
“Dissolution without a plan fails the 4,500 people who would be facing imminent homelessness,” Hasegawa said. “I want to see clear financial reporting policies. I want to see technical support so that the folks who are doing service providing … have the tools they need to be able to be in compliance. We have to signal to other cities that this can be done.”
To address the issue of youth violence in King County, Hasegawa suggested, among other things, the county implement the Functional Family Probation and Parole program, to provide family support and at-home probation visitation to juvenile offenders and their families.
“Gun violence is the leading cause of death among youth in District 2,” she said. “The greatest indicator somebody is going to end up in the legal system as an adult is that they have experienced homelessness or the legal system as a child. These things are not separate.”
“When it comes to gun violence, I believe prevention is important. We need to listen to communities in order to interrupt incidents,” said Hasegawa, who has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in criminal justice.
Hasegawa was also critical of Sound Transit, from its makeup and operation to its latest decisions on expansion.
“Sound Transit is culprit No. 1 in not delivering on promises. It shows up in not delivering the Ballard station’’ as one of its immediate next locations.
“This is another place where leadership matters, where accountability matters. We have a CEO (Dow Constantine) who was appointed to the role by the same board that he appointed. I would have been a voice as a council member calling out a conflict of interest that requires serious review, systemically.”
Before serving on the port commission, Hasegawa was executive director of the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, and communications and outreach manager for the King County Office of Law Enforcement Oversight. Her vast experience would be an asset to the Metropolitan King County Council.
