Municipal/Other Questionnaire 2022
Candidate Info
Candidate Name: Erik Goheen
Position Sought: KCD supervisor seat 1
Are you an incumbent for this position? Non-incumbent
Home Legislative District: 1
Are you a Democrat? I identify best with the Democratic Party.
Campaign Info
Campaign Manager or Point of Contact: Erik Goheen
Website: www.goheen2kcd.com
Facebook: none
Twitter: none
Part I – Candidate Background
1. Please briefly describe your qualifications, education, employment, community and civic activity, union affiliation, prior political activity, and other relevant experience.
Bachelor of Science in Political Science, WWU
7 years Business Owner/Operator at Sammamish Farms ecological farm
9 years political organizing: 5 policy, 4 candidates
2+ years research and admin with Northwest Ecobuilding Guild, focusing on stormwater infrastructure research, community educator at UW-Bothell Mechanical Engineering Dept.
IAMAW (1 Summer in AK Salmon industry)
2+ years federal habitat restoration construction (CREP)
2. What prompted you to run for this office?
Asked by my farming community
3. What steps are you taking to run a successful campaign?
the Wellstone Way
4. What are your campaign’s most important themes, issues, or priorities (three to five)?
More efficient use of our tax dollars on projects that achieve a larger net benefit to battle climate change.
A focus on stormwater and clean water to maintain the Salmon run, as we have promised the tribes under WA treaty.
The first opportunity to activate voters ahead of an important election year.
Part II – Yes/No Questions, please qualify your answer if necessary
1. Do you support steps to build a fairer economy through tax reform and progressive taxes as wealth increases? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #1 I support the recent income tax assessment on Washington's highest earners.
2. Do you support robust investment in publicly owned housing/subsidized housing for elderly and low-income individuals/families, and zoning changes to support such housing? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #2 Four wall and a door that locks is the first step towards individual stability.
3. Developer impact fees are allowed under the Growth Management Act. Should they be increased to help pay for needed improvements to our roads, parks, and schools? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #3 development should be carefully planned and implemented to benefit the wider community.
4. Do you support building a municipally owned and operated broadband system in your city or jurisdiction? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #4 High Speed internet is standard and necessary in much of America and should be available to rural populations.
5. Do you support local investments to address climate change where applicable? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #5 This is the essence of my campaign. We need to train up for green infrastructure jobs in the face of climate chaos.
6. Do you support women’s unrestricted access to reproductive healthcare? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #6 not my doctor, not my business.
7. Do you support laws regulating the purchase, ownership, and carrying of firearms? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #7 To be honest I believe firearm training should be compulsory for minors and immaturity during this training should be grounds for an extreme risk protection order. I took hunter safety when I was 8 and am very uncomfortable with peers learning to shoot as adults. All Americans should understand how firearms work so that they can better react to gun violence.
8. Do you support the right of workers to unionize and bargain, including public employees? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #8 As a growing business, I look foreword to the day my company is large enough to request the skills of a unified workforce.
Part III – Free Response (Please answer at least four fully, and consider the additional three optional)
1. Why are you requesting Democratic endorsement? What aspects of the Democratic platform most resonate with you?
I believe I represent Democratic values well and would like to active and empower democrats in this election, especially in areas that have had trouble earning the representation they desire.
2. What public policy reforms do you support to achieve greater equity and inclusion for BIPOC and LBQIA+ individuals in our communities?
Utilitarian spending in communities most affected by adverse conditions such as industrial pollution. Access to civil rights representation. Participatory budgeting.
3. What steps do you think need to be taken to improve voter turnout and increase voter trust in our election process?
More opportunities to vote. The Republicans get this, they're engaging their youth in the DUTY of the civic process. Meetings that are engaging, informative, sometimes fun- but that's not necessarily the focus. Church is sometimes fun, it's indoctrinated. Politics shouldn't be what one person in the family does once per month, it should be the whole family attending, every time.
4. What important local issues have you worked on (or taken an interest in) that you feel aren’t getting enough attention from elected leaders and the local media?
The current battle over the GMA led by the Friends of Sammamish Valley. stay tuned for the future of development law (dec 28 I believe).
5. Please list at least three specific, concrete actions you would support to ease the homelessness crisis.
Housing first. Removing pharmaceuticals from index funds and 401k plans. Increasing funding for behavior health services and inpatient care.
6. What safety, law, or justice issues are currently facing your jurisdiction, and how will you address them?
The looming west side fire. Seeking the advice of native communities with regards to forest management. Ending the practice of treating water as a drainage problem and instead as an upland resource.
7. What are the transportation/transit challenges which face your jurisdiction and how would you address them? What role does green energy play in your proposed solutions?
Too many commuters. Continuing work from home and hybrid practices for staff. creating opportunities for voluntary relocation to closer workplaces for employees within the same company, union, or industry. For example, schoolteachers could request voluntary replacement to a building closer to their home over the summer, and shuffle employees to reduce total commute distances. This would be a voluntary, with movements based on availability and seniority. KCD does not really cover transportation, but I'm into exploring reduction of commute for folks whenever possible.
By typing my name below, I declare under penalty of perjury the foregoing is true and correct.
Printed Name: Erik Goheen
Date (mm/dd/yy): 12/14/2023
