• Good afternoon, neighbors
• This week
• Citizens Elections Oversight Committee needs you
• U.S. Senator Patty Murray wants to hear from you
• Tax help, forms, and information

Good afternoon, neighbors

I hope you all received your ballots in the mail! 

This is a great week to exercise our voting muscles in the name of democracy.  April 22 is a special election regarding a countywide levy to fund the automated fingerprint system. In addition, there are several local ballot measures regarding schools and fire districts located outside of District 5. You can vote any time between now and April 22!

CM Quinn reviews his ballot. Today is always a great day to vote!

As a councilmember, I support placing this levy for the automated fingerprint system (AFIS) on the ballot for your consideration. Historically, voters have had the opportunity to vote on the AFIS levy every 5-6 years since 1986.

Please know that my office is strictly prohibited from advising on how you should vote. Voting for or against is entirely your decision to make on your own, or in consultation with your family and neighbors as you choose. 

If you would like background information about the AFIS proposal, here is a link to the AFIS website and the on-line voters’ pamphlet. 

If you would like background on the council’s decision to place this on the ballot, please click here to read the staff report or here to watch the meeting.

Want to make sure your ballot is counted? 

Click here for a list of ballot drop-off box locations. 

Click here to use the county’s personalized ballot tracker system to Track YOUR ballot

New to voting?  Today is always a GREAT DAY to register! 😊

Voter registration information is here.

Would you like to see election results? King County Elections provides results following the election at this link.

If you would like to serve on the Citizen’s Elections Oversight Committee, please scroll down to find more information in this week’s D5 e-news.

The goal of the D5 e-news is to share information about council business, upcoming community events, access to services, opportunities, and ways for us to build an even better King County.

If you have something to share, please do not hesitate to contact me at desean.quinn@kingcounty.gov or 206 477-1005.

This week

Left to right: Muckleshoot Tribal Council member Donny Stevenson, former Chair Virginia Cross, CM De’Sean Quinn and Muckleshoot Chair Jaison Elkins.

On Monday, I met with members of the Muckleshoot Tribal Council at the Muckleshoot Board Room in Auburn. Chair Jaison Elkins welcomed and invited me to introduce myself as the new representative of District 5. I had a great conversation with Chair Elkins, former Chair Virginia Cross and Councilmember Donny Stevenson (all pictured above) as well as Councilmembers Louie Ungaro, Anita Mitchell and Leeroy Courville Jr..  I shared my responsibilities to the 251,000 residents in D5 including Des Moines, Kent, Normandy Park, Renton, SeaTac, and Tukwila. I appreciated the invitation and the opportunity to get to know leadership of the Muckleshoot Tribal Nation.

I also met with the Sound Transit South King subarea to get an update on South King County.

CM Quinn speaking about careers in local services at Seattle Pacific University. SPU senior Xavier Smith organized the panel discussion.

Finally, I spoke on a 12-member panel at Seattle Pacific University on “Inspiring Students to Work in Local Government."  Students posed questions such as “What do you find most rewarding and challenging about public service?”and ”What inspired you to pursue a career in public service?" It was a joy to connect with SPU students.

SPU students welcomed elected leaders included Seattle City Councilmembers Bob Kettle and Alexis Mercedes Rinck as well as King County Councilmember De’Sean Quinn.

On Tuesday, I met with Metro General Manager Michelle Allison to discuss issues including transit safety, federal relations and upcoming transit issues affecting District 5.

I also met with council staff analysts (central staff) to prepare for the Transportation, Economy, and Environment Committee next Tuesday, April 15. I chair the TrEE committee, and it will be receiving an update on transit safety.

We received a constituent call from Kent with concerns about a building managed by the King County Housing Authority. Please know that the King County Housing Authority is part of the Federal U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It is not managed by King County government. The King County Housing Authority can be reached here.

There was no council meeting today because council is on a one-week recess which means that while our offices are open for business, there are no committee or council meetings this week.

On Wednesday, I met with fellow South County Councilmember Reagan Dunn and the Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks re: a levee improvement proposal on the Green River. CM Dunn is also the Chair of the King County Flood District and I serve on the Flood District Executive Committee. The King County Flood District oversees flood protection in areas like the Green River Valley.

My team also participated in a Transit Interbranch staff meeting and also a meeting with the government relations team re: King County’s Federal Agenda. The Regional Policy Committee met a second time to review an amendment to the Parks Levy proposal. We anticipate that the Parks Levy proposal will be voted on at full council on Tuesday, April 15.

Wednesday evening, I spoke at a gathering of small local businesses and Bechtel Industries.

CM Quinn speaks at an event with Bechtel Industries.

On Thursday, we also received a state legislative update which included information on the budgets being considered in the legislature.

On Friday, I attended a gathering of COMTO – an organization of transportation professionals.

Sincerely,

De’Sean Quinn                                                                                                     
King County Councilmember, District 5
Des Moines, Kent, Normandy Park, Renton, SeaTac, Tukwila

Citizens Elections Oversight Committee needs you

Interested in elections and serving your community?

The Citizen’s Election Oversight Committee (CEOC) is a 16-member committee of volunteers who have interest or expertise in elections. They produce an annual report to the King County Council on their observations, findings, and recommendations on election-related matters. Currently, the CEOC has the following open positions:

The following positions have a 3-year term ending in July 2028:

• Representative from a nonpartisan organization active in King County that evaluates candidates and ballot measures, such as the Municipal League.
• Representative from a nonpartisan organization active in King County that provides elections information to the public, such as the League of Women Voters.
• Representative from the Spanish-speaking community.
• Representative of registered King County voters.
• One representative from the Vietnamese-speaking community is needed for the remainder of a three-year term, to expire December 2026. The Council may appoint the successful candidate to complete the current term as well as serve for an additional term of three years.
• One representative from a nonpartisan organization in King County that promotes equality and the advancement of Black or African Americans, such as the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle is needed for the remainder of a 3-year term ending in September 2025. The Council may appoint the successful candidate to complete the current term as well as serve for an additional term of three years.

The applications are requested to be submitted by May 2, 2025. For more information on how to apply, please visit www.kingcounty.gov/ceoc.

Prevention of drug overdose, expansion of treatment options

King County’s work to expand access to drug treatment and prevent overdoses continues. Above is a report on progress made over the last year. You can find more detailed information here.

This week, King County announced a permanent site for the sobering center in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood, which will provide a safe place for people to recover from the acute effects of intoxication and connect with treatment services, housing assistance, and other support.

The new center, located at 1950 1st Ave S, will be operated by Pioneer Human Services and serve up to 40 people at a time.

King County plans to open the center by the end of this year. The current temporary facility, located in the Yesler Building, served more than 1,000 people in 2024.

Sobering centers have been an integral part of our communities for nearly 30 years — one of many resources in the recovery-oriented system of care that the King County Behavioral Health & Recovery Division supports and oversees.

Resource fair for children with developmental disabilities

This is a FREE community event that welcomes people with intellectual and developmental disabilities or delays, their families, caregivers, service providers, teachers, employers, and other interested community members. Click here for more details.

Enjoy a variety of workshops and over 50 information tables to connect you with the people and tools to support your goals. 

When: Thursday, May 29, 2025, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Where: Microsoft Mixer Commons Building, 15255 NE 40th St, Redmond, WA 98052

Registration: Registration is required for all attendees, regardless of age. Register today at Eventbrite!.  

Assistance: For group registration or registration assistance, email Jenna Wolfstone at jenna.wolfstone@kingcounty.gov.

U.S. Senator Patty Murray wants to hear from you

Has your family or small business been affected by cuts in federal funding? 

United States Senator Patty Murray is asking Washington State residents to share their stories of the impact of federal funding cuts with her office.   Senator Murray serves as the Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations committee.

Please share your story by emailing Megan Utemei, King County Outreach Director for Senator Murray megan_utemei@murray.senate.gov or calling 206-553-0673.

Family Fun! Honor Erasmus the Dragon: Protector of Renton

Get ready to celebrate Renton's rooftop dragon at the 6th Annual Dragon's Landing Street Fair and Dragon Egg Treasure Hunt.

• Dragon's Landing Street Fair – Join us on April 13, 2025, for a day of wonder and fantasy as we honor the anniversary of Renton's iconic rooftop dragon. Experience a vibrant street fair filled with live performances, artisan vendors, and immersive activities for all ages.
• Dragon Egg Treasure Hunt – The adventure begins April 5, with hidden dragon eggs scattered throughout the city. Track your discoveries and unlock exciting surprises leading up to the in-person celebration. Stay tuned for details on how to participate and where to find clues.
• Entertainment and Activities – Enjoy captivating performances, interactive storytelling, and hands-on crafts that bring the magic of Renton's beloved dragon to life.

For more family fun, find information on SeaTac’s Egg Hunt in Angle Lake Park, Normandy Park’s Egg Hunt at The Cove, and the Eggstravaganza in Des Moines and Hop into Wonderland at Kent Station.

Tax help, forms, and information

Stressed about doing your taxes? Have a question? Need a form? Let King County libraries help advise you on tax preparation.

Your Nearest King County Library Is Here to Help

• Pick up or print tax forms at any library.
• Get free help filing your taxes in-person at the library.

King County Council District 5 – a great place to vote!

Thank you for reading our tenth edition of our e-news. Please feel free to contact us and share information you have about your city or neighborhood at desean.quinn@kingcounty.gov  or 206 477-1005.

De'Sean Quinn (he/him/his)
King County Councilmember, District 5
(206) 477-1005 Send me an email
www.kingcounty.gov/quinn