I’m concerned about this Administration’s claim that the purpose behind their request is about stopping election fraud. This is personal voter information such as your driver’s license and your social security information, and that of all King County voters.
As your King County Councilmember representing District 5, I do not support sharing your data with the federal government, especially in the absence of any relevant, legitimate purpose. The federal government has no role in running elections, which are run by the states.
Regardless of your political affiliation, your privacy matters as does your right to vote without intimidation or interference.
My office has reached out to King County Elections and the Washington Governor’s Office about ensuring the privacy and security of King County residents’ personal information.
King County elections and Washington State’s vote-by-mail system is your power for self-determination, your power for choice in your leadership and your power for governance. No president of any party should nationalize the nation’s voter rolls.
Vote-By-Mail is widely considered one of, if not the most, secure means of conducting elections for several reasons.
- Vote by mail utilizes physical paper ballots which can be audited and recounted, which creates a record that can be verified.
- Signature matching is used by most states that use VBM where the signature on the ballot envelope is compared to one on file.
- Unique barcodes, like those used by King County Elections, and other ballot tracking systems create an added layer of security.
- VBM does not rely on systems connected to the internet and are therefore much more difficult to hack.
- VBM is also used widely in many states and is attributed to very low rates of fraud. King County began the process of going fully vote-by-mail in 2009 and completed the process in 2011. In the 2024 primary election, King County participated in the first statewide hand recount in 20 years. In that recount, after counting 1.9 million ballots by hand, the margin between second and third place candidates changed by only two votes.
We must all stand up in support of the integrity of local elections which are pillars of American Democracy. I have faith in our state leaders and King County Elections to do the right thing, but they need to hear from us.
We all see in the news how federal immigration enforcement officials such as ICE are treating people under the President’s orders – including hard-working, law-abiding legal immigrants and American citizens - and how it is creating fear in communities across the country.
The goal of the D5 e-news* is to share information about King County business, upcoming community events, access to services, opportunities, and ways for us to build an even better King County.
*To translate this week’s e-news into another language, scroll down and click on the language of your choice. Whether you would like to read this e-news more easily or whether you are studying a new language, we are bringing you language technology to help us stay connected.
On Sunday, I spoke at the blessing ceremony for the Indian American Community Services Community Center planned for Kent.
This ecumenical ceremony welcomed people of all faiths to join together to celebrate our shared community. The new center will be open to everyone in the community.
Click on above image to hear CM Quinn speak about the King County Strategic Climate Action Plan.
This was a major update setting clear goals for reducing greenhouse gases in King County to protect our climate. The Strategic Climate Action Plan is also designed to affect all aspects of King County services to ensure we are making progress to create a positive – not negative – impact on our climate.
This included incorporating input from South King County communities impacted by aviation emissions and pollution and who desire increased tree canopy.
TrEE also passed legislation to assist Metro Transit in completion of the RapidRide “I” line which will serve South King County from Renton to Auburn. This was difficult legislation because it provided condemnation authority to Metro to use - if needed - in negotiations with 10 property owners. Metro Transit is negotiating with property owners in designing the route for space to create bus stops and to install bus shelters. This requires sections of property to ensure buses can safely stop and load passengers.
You can watch the September 8 TrEE meeting here.
On Tuesday, I met with Metro Transit General Manger Michelle Allison on Metro Transit issues including transit safety and fares.
I also met with my colleagues in our weekly full Council meeting. We paid tribute to the service of public employees in the legislative branch – those who have committed their time, talent and full attention to our local democracy.
We also presented a proclamation of Diaper Need Awareness Week to Westside Baby and KidVantage for their work to provide diapers to low-income families. Westside Baby reported that they provide 5 million diapers annually to help families struggling to pay for rent and food. Diapers can cost $80 per month per child. This is a basic affordability issue that affects so many families.
Left to right: CM Balducci, CM Baron, Helen Banks Routon, Director of Development & Community Relations, KidVantage, CM Perry, CM Quinn, Executive Braddock, Morgan McGinn, Director of Development, Westside Baby, CM Dunn, CM Zahilay, CM Mosqueda.
We also discussed a proposal for a one-year solid waste rate increase to support King County’s transfer stations that handle our garbage and yard waste. The council chose to delay action for one week to gather more information about the impact of rate increases on local haulers. I support keeping our system well-maintained but am also concerned about affordability.
We also re-appointed Bilan Aden, who resides in council district five, to the King County Communities of Opportunity-Best Starts for Kids levy advisory board.
On Wednesday, I attended the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee where we discussed the siting and launch of a Crisis Care Center in Seattle. This crisis care center would provide medical care for people facing a mental health or drug addiction crisis. It is one of 5 crisis centers to be created in King County following a vote of the people.
Click above for CM Quinn’s comments on the Crisis Center.
After hearing community members express concerns about neighborhood impacts, I asked staff to outline the requests made by Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell to ensure that the crisis care center operates as a good neighbor. The Budget Committee ultimately voted to amend the purchase and sale agreement to include implementation of Mayor Harrell’s good neighbor requests.
I reminded my colleagues, “progress comes at the speed of trust”. We need to earn trust of the neighborhood.
On Thursday, I attended the Heath, Housing, and Human Services committee where we discussed a ban on algorithmic rent setting as well as ways to streamline food business permitting to encourage local entrepreneurship while protecting public health.
I also met with Seattle City Councilmember Rob Saka who chairs Seattle’s Transportation Committee on regional transit issues including transit safety.
King County Councilmember Quinn and Seattle City Councilmember Rob Saka.
On Friday, my staff prepared for the week ahead at our district office in Kent. I met with Judge McCullough at the Kent Regional Justice Center and also with Metro Transit.
Next week, my colleagues, staff and I will be preparing for the review of the 2026-2027 King County Budget.
King County provides critical local and regional services to more than 2 million people, with a 2-year budget of $15.8 billion, 16,700 employees, and more than 60 different services.
Would you like more information on the King County budget? How your tax dollars support services ranging from Metro transit to Public Health, to our Sheriff, Prosecutor and Public Defense?
Watch this video for general information about the budget process.
Click above for information on public review of the King County budget
We will include more information on the 2026-27 budget when it is officially transmitted on September 23.
If you have opinions on how the King County budget should be allocated, you are welcome to send me an email, give us a call, or come to a public meeting. Desean.quinn@kingcounty.gov, 206 477-1005
Here are some important upcoming dates.
Tuesday, September 23, 1:30 pm
King County Executive Shannon Braddock will present her proposed 2026-2027 budget to the Council in a speech to the King County Council. You can watch her speech on Channel 22 or on-line on King County Television.
Tuesdays, October 7 and 14, 9 am-noon
I will be chairing the Transit, Natural Resources, Local Services and Roads budget panel. This panel will review funding for Metro Transit, the Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Local Services and Roads.
Wednesdays, October 8 and 15, 9 am
The Law & Justice Panel chaired by CM Jorge Baron will review funding proposed for services including the sheriff, prosecutor, courts and public defense.
Thursdays, October 9 and 16, 9 am-noon
The Health, Housing and Human Services Panel chaired by CM Teresa Mosqueda review funding proposed for these services.
You are welcome to both learn about the budget and send comments through a specially designed 2026-2027 King County Budget Portal. The link will be provided soon!
You are also welcome to write emails, letters or request appointments with your representatives to share your thoughts about the items on these agendas. You can find a list of councilmembers here.
I hope this information is helpful to you. I am committed to keeping you informed about what King County government is doing on behalf of District 5, including the cities of Des Moines, Normandy Park, Kent, Renton, SeaTac, and Tukwila. I want to make sure we stay connected as a community.
King County Councilmember, District 5
Des Moines, Kent, Normandy Park, Renton, SeaTac, Tukwila
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