Municipal/Other Questionnaire
Candidate Info
Candidate Name: Kelsey Barrans
Position Sought: Pierce County Charter Review Commission District 1, Position 1
Are you an incumbent for this position? Non-incumbent
Home Legislative District: 2nd Legislative District
Are you a Democrat? Yes
Campaign Info
Campaign Manager or Point of Contact: Kelsey Barrans
Website: votekelseybarrans.com
Facebook:
Twitter:
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. Beyond your qualifications, what makes you the best candidate for this position or office? Please describe any specific background or unique perspective you offer and how those will help you accomplish your goals for the position sought. If possible, give practical examples.
I am a lifelong Washingtonian who has lived in Pierce County for the last 15 years. I moved to Bonney Lake in 2009 after completing both a Bachelors and Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Washington, and currently live in Graham. After college I worked at a non-profit domestic violence agency where I advocated for survivors of domestic violence, supervised volunteers and staff, and worked as the grant manager of local, state, and federal grants. For the last six years I have worked at Green River College. I am currently the Director of Transformation Wellness where I supervise a team that provides basic needs access to students through our food pantry and direct funding for housing, supports students who are survivors of violence, and resource navigation for parenting students. I also am a member of college and state wide committees where there are often competing needs and priorities that require working collectively to find the best possible solution. Additionally, I have been a member of Soroptimist International of Auburn since 2020 where I have served as the chair of the Awards and Education committee and Club Vice President. I am the best person to represent District 1 on the Charter Review Commission because I believe there needs to be a diversity of representation on a commission that will impact the residents of Pierce County for the next decade. I have a unique set of experiences as someone who has lived in different parts of the district, my work directly serves residents of the district, and I have experience working with groups of people to accomplish goals that best meet the needs of the community.
2. What prompted you to run for this office?
I am running to represent the first district of Pierce County on the Charter Review Commission because having a diverse set of voices and experiences on the Charter Review is critical to having a Charter that reflects the diversity of the county. Specifically, District 1 is not a place where rural women's voices, rural queer voices, and rural progressive voices are typically represented, and I would like to bring those perspectives to the commission.
3. What steps are you taking to run a successful campaign?
I am currently a part of the Emerge Washington 2025 cohort to learn the skills and tools to run a successful campaign.
4. What are your campaign’s most important themes, issues, or priorities (three to five)? Share issues or priorities specific to the office that you’re running for.
The top three priorities that I have in running for the Charter Review Commission are to maintain the seven districts that represent Pierce County, to have a commission that represents the whole of Pierce County, and to ensure that as many people as possible understand the Charter Review Commission and have a say in what stays the same and what changes.
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
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
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
4. Do you support building a municipally owned and operated broadband system in your city or jurisdiction? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #4
5. Do you support local investments to address climate change where applicable? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #5
6. Do you support women’s unrestricted access to reproductive healthcare? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #6
7. Do you support laws regulating the purchase, ownership, and carrying of firearms? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #7
8. Do you support the right of workers to unionize and bargain, including public employees? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #8
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 chose a career as a social worker because I know that there are systemic barriers that have been established to ensure that a small group of people have access to as much power and resources as possible, and I believe that it is possible to reduce the impact, and hopefully one day eliminate those barriers. To me, it is the Democratic Party that shares that basic value. I identify as a Democrat not because I agree with every policy or decision that is made by Democratic leaders, but because the Democratic Party, in my experience, is interested in using the power it has to positively impact the lives of all Americans. It is also important to me to belong to a party that can acknowledge the strength that comes from a diversity of experiences and perspectives, instead of seeing diversity as dangerous. In particular, when I think about the values that compel me to affiliate with the Democratic Party, there are three that feel the most significant to me; access, equity, and accountability. In terms of access, it is crucial to maintain and expand access to basic needs including housing, food, gender affirming health care and reproductive care, and social services that help people navigate the complex systems we have established. With equity, I believe that means developing policies and regulations that recognize the uniqueness of each person’s experience and allow for people to make the choices that are the best for themselves and their communities. This includes funding for programs that provide culturally representative resources, investing in small businesses, and accessible healthcare. And finally for accountability, that means taking action to reduce the impact of climate change in partnership with the communities that are impacted the most, increasing investment and providing incentives for individuals to engage with their local and state government.
2. What public policy reforms do you support to achieve greater equity and inclusion for BIPOC and LBQIA+ individuals in our communities?
There is no single public policy reform that will eliminate the fact that this country has prospered by intentionally excluding BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ people from equal access to health care, housing, and financial stability. However, one place to start is by protecting the ability of educators to include all of American history, even when that history acknowledges atrocities done to BIPOC people and the way white people have continued to benefit. And for LGBTQIA+ perspectives, books and experiences to be an active part of education at all levels so that children and youth can see their experiences reflected, and celebrated.
3. What steps do you think need to be taken to improve voter turnout and increase voter trust in our election process?
I believe that the problem of low voter turnout is often rooted in a lack of options voters have, especially in suburban and rural areas. Many races, especially down ballot races in places like District 1, have only one person running for an office which means voters are not actually choosing a candidate that they feel will represent them. This causes a lack of motivation to engage in the process of voting, especially when it is the same names on the ballot year after year. One way to change this dynamic is by increasing the number of people who are willing to run for office, and for those people to bring a new perspective.
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?
5. Please list at least three specific, concrete actions you would support to ease the homelessness crisis.
Homelessness is a crisis in all areas of District 1, but homelessness looks different across the district, and the communities that are represented in District 1 have different strengths and challenges in supporting unhoused community members. Therefore, unique and tailored solutions to this problem are required. One solution that would most impact the area of District 1 that I live in is an increase in funding for mobile outreach specifically to rural communities since they are essentially cut off from accessing services due to the lack of public transportation. An increase in public transportation would make it possible for people who are in more remote areas to access the education they need to increase their ability to earn a livable wage. And additional funding that is available through community colleges to students who are unhoused to help them stay in school to complete a degree.
6. What safety, law, or justice issues are currently facing your jurisdiction, and how will you address them?
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?
The primary transportation challenge in Pierce County's first district is a complete lack of public transit. Many of the cities and towns in the district are completely cut off from any form of public transportation. The lack of access to public transportation in the community means elders and people with mobility challenges are stuck in their homes, youth can’t easily access activities or events that help them engage in their community, and it means that our neighbors who are already struggling to make ends meet, are walking along highways and county roads for miles to access any form of public transportation. For District 1, creating bus service to cities and towns like Orting and Buckley would be a 100% increase in access for the residents in those cities, and would reduce the reliance on single passenger vehicles. By increasing public transportation to these areas, there is also the opportunity to utilize new green energy solutions because there is no existing infrastructure to consider.
By typing my name below, I declare under penalty of perjury the foregoing is true and correct.
Printed Name: Kelsey Barrans
Date (mm/dd/yy): 06/29/2025
