Municipal/Other Questionnaire – 2026 Revision
Candidate Info
Candidate Name: Kenneth King
Position Sought: County Council District 1
Are you an incumbent for this position? Non-incumbent
Home Legislative District: 25th
Are you a Democrat? yes
Have you ever been a member of another party? no
Campaign Info
Campaign Manager or Point of Contact: Self
List social media sites: VoteKenKing.com tiktok.com/@ken.vs.kings facebook.com/KennethKingPNW/
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. What makes you the best candidate for this position or office? If possible, give practical examples.
Behavioral Health Crisis Response for King County through DESC, and critical community resource coordinator for Pierce County as a community member and specialist. Recently began working with Family Promise of Puget Sound. I hold my Social Service / Mental Health technical education from Pierce College, Combined with general studies Associates degree, Certified Peer Counselor, Certified Crisis Intervention Specialist, along with six years experience professionally specializing in coordinating care and planning for the highest complexity and high acuity cases for departments such as DDA, HCS, DCYF, Bio and MH Hospitals, shelters, crisis centers, adult family homes, and more.
I was Chair of the board for the Puyallup Watershed Initiative for two years, then on the Pierce County Continuum of Care (HUD) board for the last two years prior to stepping away to concentrate efforts after discovering major service gaps in behavioral health and education services in our county.
I am currently an SEIU 1199 NW member, my spouse is with WFSE as a ferry worker. I grew up in a Steel and Lumber family here in Pierce County.
I ran for State Senate 25th LD in 2024, taking 42 percent of the vote against a republican incumbent in a strong held red district.
The extent of my professional and lived experience, gives me a vantage point to view our local needs and problems from a scope few other candidates are able. Major social issues such as addiction, mental health, aging and disabilities, diversion, resource gaps, and specifically the history of our states law and ethics are deeply rooted in my professional knowledge.
As some one that comes from generations of East Pierce residents, I also remember the steps we've taken in the past and how much progress we have lost just in the last 15-20 years such as the purposeful stagnation of growth in exchange for unregulated development, and loss of resources such as public transportation.
2. What prompted you to run for this office?
I cant sit by and watch people who have no boots-on-the-ground knowledge of subjects like housing and homelessness, make decisions about subjects they don't understand.
3. What are your campaign’s most important priorities (three to five)? How do your priorities align with this position?
Creating Accessible Resources: I will leverage my professional experience in crisis intervention to dismantle barriers to essential services. My focus is on ensuring that behavioral health, housing, and emergency support are not just available on paper, but effectively accessible to the residents who need them most.
Sustainable Growth and Infrastructure: Rapid development in District 1 requires proactive planning. I will prioritize infrastructure investments, roads, utilities, and public transit, that keep pace with population growth, ensuring our community remains livable and resilient for the long term.
Balancing Public Safety and Personal Rights: My lived experience informs my belief that true public safety is built on a foundation of proactive community support, not just enforcement. I will champion policies that protect individual rights while fostering collaborative, data-driven strategies that address the root causes of instability.
Youth Rights: I will continue to advocate for access to free and equitable education and safety as we continue to return from post covid changes and the legislative changes that were paused in an attempt to regain that missing normalcy
Alignment with the Position
As a County Councilmember, I will use my direct budgetary oversight to move the county away from reactive, fragmented spending toward integrated solutions. My background provides the "boots-on-the-ground" expertise necessary to ensure that the Council’s legislative decisions, from zoning codes to human services funding choices that are informed by the reality of our neighbors’ daily lives and aimed at delivering tangible, measurable results for all of District 1.
4. What steps are you taking to run a successful campaign?
When I ran for state senate two years ago, I was unknown and very few people understood what a behavioral health specialist does, let alone how it relates when discussing a seat at the decision making table. While I may not have won that election, it gave me the chance to not only fully learn the steps to a campaign, but also to take the time to explain my goals and plans to a large part of our community, growing a strong base of support while showing our community that I am here to listen and uplift the voices and concerns of our people.
5. What is the code of conduct for your campaign?
My campaign is built on a foundation of integrity, transparency, and principled leadership.
Professional Ethics: I am committed to the highest standards of confidentiality and professional conduct. While my experience in behavioral health informs my policy goals, I strictly protect all sensitive information related to my professional practice and will not disclose private details or protected data from my current work or projects.
Principled Advocacy: I believe in speaking truth to power on behalf of our community. My campaign is dedicated to challenging the status quo and advocating for what is right for District 1, even when it is difficult or unpopular. I hold myself accountable to the people, not to political convenience.
Compliance: We will maintain full compliance with all Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) requirements, ensuring that all financial activities are transparent and accessible to the public.
Respectful Engagement: I pledge to run a campaign of respect and inclusion, focusing on substantive policy solutions for District 1 while fostering a volunteer environment free from harassment or discrimination. My campaign will prioritize honesty, constructive dialogue, and the dignity of all residents.
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
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
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
4. Do you support building a municipally owned and operated broadband system in your city or jurisdiction?
Yes
5. Do you support local investments to address climate change where applicable?
Yes
6. Do you support women’s unrestricted access to reproductive healthcare?
Yes
7. Do you support laws regulating the purchase, ownership, and carrying of firearms?
Yes
8. Do you support the right of workers to unionize and bargain, including public employees and excluding the military?
Yes
9. Do you support due process for everyone including undocumented immigrants?
Yes
10. Do you support accountability for ICE activities?
Yes
11. Do you support Keep Washington Working Act?
Yes
Part III – Free Response – Please answer the following questions.
1. Why are you requesting Democratic endorsement? What aspects of the Democratic platform most resonate with you?
I am driven by the Democratic commitment to human dignity, equity, and ethical governance, which I apply daily by transforming these values into proactive, "boots-on-the-ground" solutions for accessible behavioral health, sustainable infrastructure, and the protection of civil rights for every resident in District 1.
2. What public policy reforms do you support to achieve greater equity and inclusion for BIPOC and LBQIA+ individuals in our communities?
All people, have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Unfortunately, that isn't the case in half our county right now. This isn't just going to be about the policy changes, that have already begun. especially here in central and east pierce, its going to be about being an vocal and visible supporter of those changes and being ready to defend those choices.
3. What steps do you think need to be taken to improve voter turnout and increase voter trust in our election process?
Unfortunately, a majority of all the representation we have in central and east peirce, have been the type of people that would be a great addition to a bowling team, but rarely are able to hold the type of deep discussions on the issues, that show new voters consistency and drive. we need transparency, but we also need visible leadership that shows up and earns the trust.
4. Please list at least three specific, concrete actions you would support to ease the homelessness crisis.
Due to the complexity of my approach on this, as a professional that actually works on these issues every day, please feel free to ask me in person.
5. What safety, law, or justice issues are currently facing your jurisdiction, and how will you address them?
Due to the complexity of my approach… ok lets be honest that with Swank, ICE, legislative failure to end the use of VCOs in schools, on going homeless bans, attempts to ban reproductive rights, attempts to turn back civil rights… this is going to be far to long of an answer to write down here.
6. 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?
I've gone into great detail regarding the loss of public transit after the gas station explosion resulted in county pulling 50% of our routes and almost all of the routes in east pierce being effected by that choice. And how every candidate has stated it was a priority, only to turn around and present half sold solutions like sprinter vans and laying claim to para transit. Our people have to walk between 5 and 30 miles for basic resources such as food, employment, public resources, or social supports. there's no reason why someone who is bus bound must walk several miles to a limited run bus, take that bus from bonney lake to sumner, then transfer to another bus to go to auburn, to take another bus to go to Enumclaw, when a single bus should be able to serve the bonney lake, buckley, enumclaw corridor… just to name one example.
By typing my name below, I declare under penalty of perjury the foregoing is true and correct.
Printed Name: Kenneth King
Date: 03/03/2026
