Municipal/Other Questionnaire – 2026 Revision
Candidate Info
Candidate Name: Chris Roberts
Position Sought: King County Assessor
Are you an incumbent for this position? Non-incumbent
Home Legislative District: 32
Are you a Democrat? Yes
Have you ever been a member of another party?
Campaign Info
Campaign Manager or Point of Contact: self
List social media sites: https://www.facebook.com/ChrisRobertsWashington
, https://bsky.app/profile/electroberts.bsky.social
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.
As an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation, I would be the first tribal member elected to a King County-wide office. I bring 16 years of experience on the Shoreline City Council, including four as Mayor, and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Washington.
I care deeply about fairness and social justice. I am a member of AFT 1789 (teaching at North Seattle College) and the National Writers Union, with past membership in UAW 4121 and CWA 1184. As a Democrat, I chair the 32nd LD and serve on the national board of the Democratic Municipal Officials.
I am the best candidate because I have managed complex public budgets and helped shape regional policy as a board member of the Sound Cities Association and National League of Cities. Over 130 current and former elected officials support my work in Shoreline and trust me to bring that same passion and dedication to the Assessor’s office. As Mayor, I led Shoreline through major light rail and land-use transitions by balancing growth with community stability. I will bring those same skills to the Department of Assessments to ensure property valuations are fair, transparent, and equitable for all King County residents.
2. What prompted you to run for this office?
I am running to ensure the Department of Assessments prioritizes equity and transparency. As a tribal member, I am particularly motivated to strengthen the government-to-government relationship with Tribal Nations. I will evaluate my success by the efficiency of our "fee-to-trust" land processing, ensuring that tribal land acquisitions are moved into trust status without the administrative delays hindering tribal sovereignty and economic development.
I will also evaluate success by the expansion of our Current Use taxation programs that offer a property tax reduction to landowners who voluntarily preserve open space or manage farmland or forestland. I want to proactively use these programs to protect critical salmon-bearing habitats and traditional lands. By providing tax relief for conservation and habitat restoration, the Assessor’s office can become a vital partner in regional environmental stewardship and Treaty rights protection.
Finally, success means improving customer service and increasing awareness of property tax exemptions for seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. We must do more to help our most vulnerable neighbors stay in their homes.
3. What are your campaign’s most important priorities (three to five)? How do your priorities align with this position?
1) I want to proactively increase awareness of the property tax exemption programs available to King County residents and provide more responsiveness to residents by Department staff through targeted outreach to help keep people in their homes.
2) Work collaboratively with the Executive, Council, and Assessors from other counties to advocate for policies that increase transparency and fairness, ensuring no resident pays more than their fair share.
3) Get the Department’s budget under control. Like other departments within the county, there have been reductions within the Department of Assessments. But it does appear that there have been multi-million dollar cost overruns in the implementation of the county’s new computer assisted mass appraisal software (Property Tax Assessment System).
4. What steps are you taking to run a successful campaign?
I am honored to be endorsed by Executive Girmay Zahilay, Councilmembers Teresa Mosqueda and Rod Dembowski, former Assessor Lloyd Hara, and over 130 officials from across the county. I am also endorsed by UA 32.
I am currently executing a county-wide field strategy, hosting house parties in every district, and securing key endorsements from labor, Democratic organizations, and Tribal leadership to build a broad, winning coalition.
5. What is the code of conduct for your campaign?
I am committed to a campaign of integrity and am working to develop a code of conduct modeled after Senator Liz Lovelett’s, prioritizing transparency and respectful engagement.
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?
Choose Not To Answer
Not applicable to this position
4. Do you support building a municipally owned and operated broadband system in your city or jurisdiction?
Choose Not To Answer
Not applicable to this position
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 strongly believe in social justice and fairness. I've help write the party's platform on Tribal Sovereignty and have done a lot of work to promote and uplift indigenous candidates. As Chair of the 32nd District Democrats, I am seeking endorsements that are in line with my values.
2. What public policy reforms do you support to achieve greater equity and inclusion for BIPOC and LBQIA+ individuals in our communities?
I believe we must start with respecting the dignity of all people and that diversity is a strength. We must recognize that the government has taken lives, land, and opportunity from many people in this country, which cumulatively has made it more impossible for current generations to start from an even-playing field.
We must eliminate all forms of discrimination in our laws and work to eliminate discriminatory practices in our society. Studies show homes in BIPOC communities are often unfairly assessed. I will implement data-driven audits to ensure our valuation algorithms are not perpetuating systemic wealth gaps .
If we start the policy-making process with meaningful dialogue and engagement, then we will develop more meaningful public policies. When we focus on equity, we can really help the people who need the most help.
3. What steps do you think need to be taken to improve voter turnout and increase voter trust in our election process?
I believe we need to preserve vote by mail, move most elections to even-numbered years, and eliminate loopholes in our campaign finance laws and reduce the influence of PACs.
4. Please list at least three specific, concrete actions you would support to ease the homelessness crisis.
The Assessor’s office does not deal directly with the homelessness crisis, but to keep things affordable, property tax assessments must be fair and uniform. Also, by aggressively expanding property tax exemptions for seniors and low-income homeowners, we prevent tax-related foreclosures that push our vulnerable neighbors into housing instability.
As a member of the Shoreline Council, I supported the Work of Lake City Partners to create an enhanced shelter, the Aurora Oaks Enhanced Shelter, in my city. I also championed using some surplus property in the city for very affordable housing. And, I have supported policies that allow for more density across the city.
5. What safety, law, or justice issues are currently facing your jurisdiction, and how will you address them?
The Assessor’s office does not deal directly with safety, law, or justice issues. That said, the office must do a better job of assisting people who appeal their appraisal.
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?
The Assessor’s office does not deal directly with transportation/transit issues.
By typing my name below, I declare under penalty of perjury the foregoing is true and correct.
Printed Name: Chris Roberts
Date: 03/04/2026
