As a newly appointed representative to the state House — and also its youngest member — one might expect Osman Salahuddin to have opted for an inconspicuous first session in Olympia.
Not so. The freshman Democratic lawmaker from Redmond sponsored and worked to pass four bills of consequence. And in a year where Democratic lawmakers hastily pushed through billions of dollars in new taxes, Salahuddin opposed certain hikes that would make it harder to live and work in Washington state. He felt their negative impacts came at too high a cost for his own district.
To have the courage to put constituents above caucus is something ruling Democrats can and should learn from. The Times editorial board concluded that Salahuddin has earned a chance to represent Washington’s tech-heavy 48th Legislative District, spanning the cities of Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland and Medina.
To be clear, Salahuddin is unquestionably progressive. He sees Washington’s tax code as in need of a major overhaul but he questions the “piecemeal” and rushed approach lawmakers took this year cobbling together a budget. He voted with his caucus on most of the controversial legislation that capped rents, gave striking workers access to unemployment benefits and raised some taxes to balance a shortfall that was created by overspending in previous legislative sessions.
But he kept an ear to his district. He thought of his parents who emigrated to the U.S. from Pakistan. He’s witnessed a skyrocketing cost of living and its impact on his mother, a preschool paraeducator and father, a print-shop owner.
“We are going to be pricing out our smallest businesses,” Salahuddin said of the Legislature’s approval of the B&O tax increase he voted to reject.
He also fought against a payroll tax on businesses and worries that next year, a wealth tax in its current form could be counterproductive and ultimately lead to a decline in business in the state.
He’s seeking ways to make direly needed housing easier to build in Washington and would willingly partner with those on either side of the aisle. He sponsored a bill, with Republican support, that would encourage more affordable housing on properties owned by faith-based organizations, but it did not pass.
He also worked to pass a law giving employees the ability to use sick time to go to immigration court. The bill is especially helpful for his district, one with a large immigrant population — and in a time when the Trump administration has significantly increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Salahuddin’s chance to serve in the Legislature began when former Sen. Patty Kuderer was elected state insurance commissioner last fall. The King County Council chose former Rep. Vandana Slatter, D-Bellevue, to fill that seat; then chose Salahuddin, a Redmond City Council member, to fill the House seat.
Salahuddin combines conviction with a willingness to hear others out. He’s vowed to keep an open-door policy as a lawmaker and told the board he’d sign the Washington Coalition of Open Government’s pledge never to invoke legislative privilege, a novel legal doctrine that aims to hide legislators’ communications from public view.
The 29-year-old faces two other candidates in the primary. Republican Dennis Ellis did not participate in an interview with the editorial board. Democrat Ranga Bondada did not respond to a call or email.
Salahuddin has earned election. He should continue to show a more independent voice — one that can inspire other Democrats too willing to toe the party line.
