VOTE411 Voter Guide

Listening is a critical component of an elected official’s work. While elected officials may win office based on their values, to govern effectively they need to have all the relevant information. I will sit down with anyone who wants to show up in good faith and solve problems. I will continue being active in the community, including participating in community gatherings and volunteering at community events where I can not only give back to the community, but also hear from folks who might otherwise not be heard. This is in addition to the more standard interactions of reading/writing email, receiving/placing phone calls, and hearing public comment at public meetings.

I believe Kirkland needs to be a leader on environmental issues, including both issues of environmental quality (e.g. climate change, water quality, air quality), and issues of environmental equity (e.g. just distribution of access to high-quality environments). Leadership means leading by example, by setting and meeting ambitious targets for greenhouse gas reduction, reduction in vehicle-miles-traveled, preservation and expansion of tree canopy, electrification, and building energy efficiency. Leadership also means speaking with the collective voice of the city through groups like Association for Washington Cities, and also directly to the state legislature to advocate for progress on environmental issues.

I have been an advocate and volunteer in the City of Kirkland since shortly after I moved here. I have coached kids’ soccer, participated frequently in Green Kirkland Partnership restoration events, and volunteered with Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (ADWAS). I co-founded Liveable Kirkland, a group focused on improving housing affordability, promoting alternative transportation options, and making sure that everyone has a place in our community. As part of Liveable Kirkland I’ve started a volunteer bike valet service, a popular weekly community coffee meetup, and worked with the City toward opening a tool lending library that will benefit the whole city. I have also spent many hours attending public meetings, providing comment and issue expertise to the Kirkland City Council, and I serve as the vice-chair of my neighborhood association. Additionally, I have served as an appointed PCO for the 48th Legislative District Democrats.

First, for individuals, our goal must be to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring. This means strengthening our social safety net through a continuum of care including prevention programs to keep people in their homes, immediate access to shelter for those who lose them, and robust services to help people get back on their feet.

Second, we must recognize that homelessness is fundamentally a housing problem. Factors like poverty, mental illness, or addiction can explain why a specific person might become homeless, but the cost of housing is the single variable that correlates with a region's rate of homelessness.

A long-term solution is impossible without a serious commitment to increasing our housing supply. Building more housing lowers costs for everyone, preventing thousands from falling into homelessness in the first place and making every dollar we spend on assistance programs more effective.

My vision for Kirkland is a city that is leading the way on critical issues in the region - inclusivity, housing, transportation, climate change, and more. I want Kirkland to make bold, forward-looking choices that benefit not only folks who are already here, but our future generations and residents as well. I want us to be the city of the future - safe, compact, walkable, livable, and full of opportunity for seniors, families, young people, and small businesses. In the Kirkland I want to help bring about, folks from all walks of life including teachers, first responders, and service workers, can find places to live and feel like they belong in our community.

Bringing people together is a cornerstone of my service as a City Councilmember. I have a proven record of listening to people across our city. There is a wide range of perspectives on local issues and I work hard to ensure that all community members are heard, valued, and represented.

I respond thoughtfully to those who contact me and I actively reach out to members of the community. From neighborhood association meetings to farmers markets and local community events, I engage with people where they are—because accessibility and presence matter. I meet 1x1 with community leaders, small business owners, and residents across Kirkland to listen, learn, & gather data for shaping policy priorities.

In all of my communications, I work to explain how decisions are made and why, even when the answers are complex or difficult.

I’m proud to be endorsed by individuals & organizations across the political spectrum. That broad support speaks to my commitment to inclusive, practical leadership.

We must continue to protect our environment by preserving more open space, expanding our parks system, enhancing our natural environment, and implementing policies to reduce fossil fuels.

I’m proud to have supported the adoption of Kirkland’s Sustainability Master Plan—a comprehensive, community-driven initiative that sets ambitious goals to address climate change and reduce the City’s carbon footprint significantly by 2030. It outlines strategies to cut energy use, invest in clean energy, eliminate harmful materials, and protect our natural environment.

I will continue to advocate for policies that reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate our transition to renewable energy. One example is my support of legislation that ensures all energy provided by Puget Sound Energy to the City now comes from green sources. I will champion investments in green infrastructure, such as expanding our electric vehicle fleet and promoting sustainable building practices.

I have served the City of Kirkland for over 22 years—as a volunteer, a community advocate, and now as a City Councilmember.

As a volunteer on the board of the Finn Hill Neighborhood Alliance, I helped achieve new transportation safety projects, preserve open space, expand parks, and improve emergency response times.

I coached youth baseball for the Kirkland National Little League and I officiated for the Midlakes Swim League.

I served a combined 14 years on Kirkland’s Transportation and Planning Commissions. I helped develop the city’s first Transportation Master Plan, Complete Streets Ordinance, and ensured zoning and land use regulations were seamlessly integrated into the new annexation neighborhoods.

On City Council, I serve on the City/School District Coordinating Committee and on the Transportation Ad-hoc Work Group. I also represent the city on the State Transportation Improvement Board, Cascade Water Alliance Board, and State Active Transportation Safety Council.

Addressing homelessness requires work at multiple stages, including prevention, emergency shelter, temporary housing, permanent housing, and services.

This is a regional issue—we must continue collaborating with our neighboring cities, King County, and service providers to ensure adequate shelter capacity, treatment access, and supportive housing across the region. Kirkland has been a leader in this space and should continue to advocate for shared responsibility and equitable distribution of services.

I supported funding Kirkland’s homelessness outreach coordinator and community responder teams who have been effective at building trust and connecting individuals to services. Expanding these types of programs can help address root causes before issues escalate.

The goal must be long-term housing stability. I support continued investment in supportive housing, rental assistance programs, and partnerships with nonprofits and housing providers to help people exit homelessness for good.

Kirkland is a special place. We have thriving businesses and services, friendly neighborhoods, beautiful parks, excellent schools, increasing transportation options, and top-notch police and fire departments.

Because Kirkland is such a desireable city, we also face challenges including housing affordability, traffic congestion, and increasing demand on our services.

These are not easy problems to solve. As a professional transportation planner, a former Planning Commissioner, and a results-oriented City Councilmember, I have a unique grasp on how Kirkland can manage growth sensibly. We can expand housing choices while strengthening neighborhoods, improve transportation efficiency, and grow responsibly with the infrastructure and services we need.

I encourage you to visit my website (www.jonpascal.com) to learn about what I have already achieved for Kirkland and to read my detailed priorities and plans for growing responsibly with the needed infrastructure and services.

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