Let’s Talk About Local Election 2023 with Joe Lopez (Oct. 20, 2023)

Crossing Division

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Local elections are never overlooked at Crossing Division. And this year we have several critical races for Tacoma. What direction will our City take? You have a chance to decide just that.

Hosts Evelyn and Joe Lopez break down the local races and focus on three campaigns: City Council Districts 3 and 7, and Tacoma Initiative 1, the Tenants’ Rights measure.

City Council District 3 is an open seat (current Councilmember Keith Blocker is term limited out at the end of this year). District 3 residents will choose between Jamika Scott and Chris Van Vechten. This race features questions about local policing, community activism, and what vision for Tacoma should prevail.

City Council District 7 is a city-wide seat currently held by Olgy Diaz, who was appointed by the City Council to fill the term of Conor McCarthy after he resigned in 2022. Running against Olgy Diaz is Kristen Wynne. Diaz has the backing of many local democrats and unions, while Wynne has support from local businesses and real estate interests. This would usually be a battle between social issues and business issues, but both candidates want strong local businesses and safe neighborhoods–perhaps there is some difference in how to get to those goals, but it’s subtle.

The most interesting issue on the ballot is Tacoma Initiative 1, the Tenants’ Rights initiative. This measure has had a drama filled year with a City Council ordinance that tried to occupy the same ground, the City’s legal challenge to the initiative, Court victory by the Tacoma for All initiative sponsor, and now a huge dump of money into an anti-initiative PAC funded by out of state real estate interests in a last-ditch effort to defeat the initiative (after the City Council and Court shenanigans failed).

We break it all down for you. Please VOTE. Local elections are important to our day to day lives and to our future.

Thoughts or comments on this episode? Send us a note:

[email protected] @true_tacoma (threads, instagram)

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