VOTE411 Voter Guide

My top priorities: safe streets, affordable housing, and fair investment in every neighborhood. Everett’s violent crime rate is higher than the national average. We need more crisis response and community policing. Rent is up in the last five years too. I’ll fight for smart zoning and tenant protections so people aren’t priced out. Small businesses make up significant portion of Everett's employers. I’ll cut red tape, speed up permits, and keep dollars local to help them grow and hire here at home.

Everett’s budget must cover basics first: safe streets, housing, and strong services. With a $600M+ budget but a $12M+ deficit, we can’t waste a dime. I’ll fight to make sure District 4 gets its fair share, and the money doesn't just go to downtown beautification while our streets and parks go ignored. I’ll support funding that saves long-term, like diversion programs that cut jail costs and smart housing solutions over costly shelters. Every dollar should show up in public dashboards so taxpayers see where it goes.

I want Everett to run smarter and serve people fairly. District 4 neighbors pay their taxes like everyone else but often see less return. The city pours millions into downtown beautification while streets, parks, and sidewalks in our district get overlooked. I’d push for an audit of spending to make sure every neighborhood gets its fair share. I’d also streamline permits for small businesses. Some wait months to open. I'd also add public dashboards so taxpayers know exactly where their money goes.

Everett’s economy shouldn’t just survive. It should grow. Here’s how I’ll make it happen: 1. Cut red tape for small businesses: Streamline permits, licensing, and inspections so local entrepreneurs spend less time in line at City Hall and more time serving customers. We could expand Everett’s “Business Resource Center” model to help new shops and restaurants open faster. 2. Grow living-wage jobs right here: Partner with regional employers to expand apprenticeships and career pathways. For example, strengthen ties with Everett Community College and the Port of Everett to connect students to real work. 3. Back our working waterfront & industrial base: Everett’s port and industrial lands are job engines. I’ll protect good-paying union jobs while encouraging new clean-tech industries to set up shop. 4. Keep housing affordable so workers can stay. A strong economy needs workers who can afford to live here. I’ll fight for smart zoning, fair rent policies, and more diverse housing options.

Everett should be a place where everyone feels welcome, respected, and heard. That’s what diversity, equity, and inclusion really mean. To get there, we can: 1. Make sure city hiring reflects the people who live here, so our government truly represents us all. 2. Provide training that helps staff better serve folks from all walks of life. 3. Work directly with local communities to shape fair, practical policies that lift everyone up. 4. Support local events and small businesses that celebrate our city’s rich mix of cultures and traditions. At the end of the day, a city that includes everyone works better for everyone. That’s just common sense, and it’s good for Everett’s future.

The community displacement caused by the light rail. I was part of the Sound Transit Community Board for the light rail. I understand that it will displace low income members of the community and local businesses on Casino Rd.

Homelessness I will support all initiatives to provide housing and treatment to the most vulnerable members of the community, and initiatives to provide our youth with green spaces, parks and activities to prevent them from developing anxiety and depression that can lead to substance abuse.

City Budget deficit We are public library users in my family. We were affected by the reduction of the library operating hours due to the budget deficit. The budget deficit needs to be addressed right away, but we need city resource optimization before increasing taxes.

Quality of life In our district we do not have a proper playground, and forces our kids to play on the street. We also lack activities in south Everett such as farmers market and other events.

Public safety In general we need to invest in our safety. We need to bring down crime in our communities, and we need safer roads. Quality of life We need to work with our homeless population to house them and offer them treatment. We need to invest in our kids with activities for after school. We need to maintain money in our communities so we can support our local business. We need to invest in parks and in recreation areas

I would like for city resources to be optimized. For example: Currently, Everett ranks worse than the state average for traffic serious and fatal injury, according to the City of Everett database. In 2024 traffic and collisions accounted for 11.2% of calls to the police department. Engineer our roads for safety will allow police officers to focus on other activities. Police officers are very expensive to maintain therefore this resource must be optimized. The golf courses in Everett are expected to provide a profit of $200K in 2025 according to the City of Everett budget. This huge amount of land can be used for something that actually helps the local community. Maybe building a new sustainable community providing low income housing on the upper floors and the street level floors can provide business space to house the displaced business from Casino Rd by the light rail. How about a playground and a community garden for the residents?

We own a small business, www.tamiacakes.com. When starting up our business, we had a very difficult time obtaining our small business permit and building permits to implement our home business. When the permit process is difficult, it discourages people from applying for permits, encourages business owners to move to another city. This situation discourages small businesses and affects the local economy. I will fix that!

I am a big advocate of sustainability. A 1 hour round trip commute to work takes 250 hours a year, assuming 50 working weeks. This is not sustainable and adding traffic to the equation results in road rage. If elected, I will support all initiatives such as environmental grants for large employers to encourage their employees to live in Everett. This not only improves road congestion, vehicle driver health, but it also retains the money in the city so our residents spend their money in our local business and that generates revenue.

To address DEI the city will have to make our roads safe to all users and improve its bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure so people who can not drive or do not want to drive have a safe alternative to travel around. The city should implement community gardens in our neighborhoods and schools because community gardens have shown to reduce people's stress, anxiety, improve people diets and offer an opportunity for different members of the community to share with other members of the community and that causes people to integrate. Gardening should be an option for everyone, not just for the folks who own yards. More playgrounds, pools and community gardens also allow our children to spend time outdoors. Studies have shown that being outside reduces anxiety and depression in children. Anxiety and depression could lead to substance abuse which could lead to homelessness. All children should have the option to be outside and learn outside, not just those who can afford an outdoor school.

My top priorities are public safety, housing affordability, and government transparency.

Everett residents deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods. I will work to ensure our police and first responders have the tools, staffing, and support they need to keep our streets secure. At the same time, I support community-focused efforts to address root causes of crime, including mental health and addiction services.

Housing costs in Everett are rising faster than wages. I support practical reforms to our zoning and permitting process to reduce red tape and allow for more housing development—especially for working families and first-time homebuyers. We need policies that make it easier to build and live in Everett, not harder.

Finally, I believe government should be open, responsive, and accountable. I will maintain an open-door policy, advocate for clearer communication from city departments, and work to ensure residents have a real voice in the decisions that affect them.

I will be guided by three principles: impact, efficiency, and accountability.

First, I’ll prioritise spending that delivers clear benefits—like safer streets, reliable infrastructure, and local economic growth. Every dollar should solve a problem or improve quality of life.

Second, I’ll push for efficient use of taxpayer money by cutting waste, streamlining operations, and holding departments to high performance standards.

Third, I’ll promote transparency and public involvement in budget decisions. People deserve to know where their money goes—and why.

As a private-sector manager, I’ve had to make tough choices with limited resources. I’ll bring that same discipline and focus to the Council, making sure Everett’s budget works for its residents.

I’d like to see the city operate with more responsiveness, and accountability. Too often, residents feel unheard or left out of key decisions. I want to change that by improving public engagement, simplifying communication from city departments, and making it easier for people to get involved and get answers.

I also believe the city should focus more on results, not just processes. That means streamlining regulations, especially around housing and permitting, so we can cut red tape and get things done faster for working families, homeowners, and businesses.

I’ll support policies that make Everett more business-friendly and attractive for investment. That means reducing unnecessary regulations, speeding up permitting, and supporting industries that drive local jobs—from aerospace and maritime to small businesses and startups.

I’ll work to keep our streets safe, our infrastructure strong, and our taxes competitive—because a strong economy starts with a strong foundation.

Finally, I’ll be a consistent voice for job creation, workforce training, and partnerships with the private sector to grow opportunities for residents and build a future we can all thrive in.

Every resident should be treated with dignity, fairness, and equal access to opportunity—regardless of background. The city must ensure services are accessible and hiring is fair, so all voices are truly heard.

If elected, I would be the first Hispanic ever chosen for Everett City Council. That alone shows we need more involvement from our diverse communities so that our leadership actually reflects the people it serves. I’m committed to helping make that happen.

I will support open, merit‑based hiring and outreach efforts in diverse neighborhoods to ensure we have representation that matches our community. I’ll also encourage city events and initiatives that bring different cultures together—building unity, respect, and shared opportunity.