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Greetings Friends and Neighbors,
I am writing to formally introduce myself as your new King County District 4 Councilmember! Our district is home to a wide array of vibrant and unique neighborhoods, including Belltown, South Lake Union, Uptown, Queen Anne, Magnolia, Fremont, Ballard, Crown Hill, Broadview, Greenwood, Green Lake, Phinney Ridge, the north Aurora corridor, and most of Wallingford.
King County is your regional government. We provide services such as behavioral health and human services, public health, Metro bus services, the superior and district court systems, elections, and much more.
As your Councilmember, I will work towards a King County where all people can thrive. Together, we will develop priorities that are resident-informed and work to ensure that people most directly impacted are involved in shaping policy decisions. I firmly believe that our community’s success depends on the collective well-being of every one of our neighbors.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent you on many of the important matters that affect the day-to-day lives of people in District 4 and across King County. I invite you to reach out to share your vision for King County with me and my team at jorge.baron@kingcounty.gov or at 206-477-1004.
You are receiving this as you have previously received newsletters from former District 4 King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles. I welcome your staying connected to our work via this newsletter, but if you wish to unsubscribe, please send an email to lorena.gutierrezperez@kingcounty.gov.
Let’s get to work!
 Jorge, and Lan, Clara, Jessie, and Lorena (your District 4 team)
 Earlier this month Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu graciously swore me in as King County District 4’s new Councilmember. I was joined by my wonderful family and shared the occasion with District 8’s newest Councilmember, Teresa Mosqueda. Pictured from left to right: myself, my son Luca, my daughter Luna, and Justice Yu. (Not pictured is my wonderful wife Tyler, who was standing behind Justice Yu!)
I invite you to watch my swearing in.
 The District 4 team pictured from left to right: Lorena, Jessie, Jorge, Lan, and Clara.
I am delighted to introduce the members of the District 4 team who will be supporting me to represent you effectively:
Lan Nguyen – Chief of Staff
lan.nguyen@kingcounty.gov
Lan Nguyen (she/her) comes to the District 4 office with experience in non-profit, local, and state governments in the fields of public policy, legislative advocacy, and public health. On behalf of Councilmember Barón, Lan works to advance key goals and priorities, oversees the district office, and serves as contact for media and communications. Her policy portfolio includes the county budget, arts and culture, and initiatives related to Harborview Medical Center. Lan holds a B.A. in Political Science and Anthropology from the University of Washington, and a Master of Public Health from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Jessie Friedmann – Community Liaison and Policy Advisor jessica.friedmann@kingcounty.gov
Born and raised in District 4, Jessie Friedmann (she/her) serves as Councilmember Barón’s policy advisor/community liaison working on policy related to housing, behavioral health, homelessness, public health, human service levies, and land use. Jessie joins Councilmember Barón’s team after serving as the Director of Public Policy & External Affairs at YouthCare, where she led local, state, and federal organizational and coalition efforts. Previously, she served as a senior policy analyst for the UW Office of Planning & Budgeting. She has a Master of Social Work from the UW and is the thrilled but exhausted owner of two shelter dogs.
Clara Manahan – Community Liaison and Policy Advisor clara.manahan@kingcounty.gov
Clara Manahan (she/her) joined Councilmember Barón’s office after 5 years working with former District 4 Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles. Born and raised in District 4, Clara brings her constituent experience in the district to her role on the District 4 team. She covers policy issues relating to the criminal legal system, economic development, the environment, parks and natural resources, and transit. In her spare time, she enjoys being near water (ideally at Myrtle Edwards Park or the Locks), crocheting, and cooking. She has a B.A. in Law, Societies & Justice and Communications from the University of Washington.
Lorena Gutierrez Perez – Legislative Aide and Executive Assistant lorena.gutierrezperez@kingcounty.gov
Lorena (she/her) is joining Councilmember Barón’s office after working with former District 4 Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles since 2019. Having previously served the district, Lorena has extensive experience with constituent relations and managing an elected official’s office. She handles scheduling and communications. Also, Lorena is a first-generation college graduate, obtaining a B.A. in Sociology and minor in Law, Societies and Justice from the University of Washington. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, creating art, and thrifting.
I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve as the chair of the council’s Law and Justice committee, which considers and makes recommendations on policies relating to law, community safety, and criminal justice programs. I also will serve as vice chair of the Committee of the Whole, which considers issues of interest to the entire county council.
In addition, I will serve as a member of the following council committees:
Finally, I will also serve as one of the county council’s representatives on the following regional committees and boards:
On Wednesday, I chaired this year’s first meeting of the Law and Justice Committee. Given my professional background, I am looking forward to leading the County Council’s work in this policy area.
The committee started with a briefing on regional approaches to gun violence prevention. These strategies are focused on reducing the mental, physical, economic, and social harm and injury that occurs as a result of gun violence and include hospital-based and community-linked violence intervention programs, trainings for community violence interrupters, and secure storage efforts through firearm lock box giveaways. I thank Eleuthera Lisch, Director of the King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention within Public Health – Seattle and King County; Shawn Ledford, Chief – Criminal Investigation Division for the King County Sheriff’s Office; and Violetta Stringer, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Gun Violence Prevention within the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for joining the committee to share this important information.
The committee also discussed our workplan for the year ahead, including issues impacting the courts, law enforcement, law enforcement oversight, and alternatives to detention. Then, we discussed and voted to acknowledge receipt of a report on hourly assigned counsel rates. Ensuring quality representation for individuals accused of a crime is an important function of the county, and attracting and retaining talented attorneys has already been a topic of discussion and interest this year. View a recording of the meeting.
Please do not hesitate to connect with our office whether it is through our social media channels, our office phone line, or via email. I welcome your input as we shape public policy, but we are also ready to help address issues you are having with county services. I also encourage you to share this information with your neighbors who may not be connected with our office.
Socials: Connect with me and stay up to date on our work on your behalf!
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