Municipal/Other Questionnaire – 2026 Revision
Candidate Info
Candidate Name: Kelsey Barrans
Position Sought: Pierce County Councilmember District 1
Are you an incumbent for this position? Non-incumbent
Home Legislative District: 2nd
Are you a Democrat? Yes
Have you ever been a member of another party? No
Campaign Info
Campaign Manager or Point of Contact: Kelsey Barrans
List social media sites: @votekelseybarrans
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.
I am a lifelong Washingtonian who has lived in Pierce County for the last 16 years. I moved to an unincorporated part of Bonney Lake 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 was a member of Soroptimist International of Auburn from 2020 to 2025 where I served as the chair of the Awards and Education committee and Club Vice President. Currently I am an elected representative for Pierce County District 1 on the Charter Review Commission, and I chair that commission. I am the best person to represent District 1 on the Pierce County Council because I believe there needs to be a diversity of representation on the County Council. 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 for Pierce County Council because as a social worker I see the ways that policy decisions can drastically alter the resources that are available to communities and I would like to utilize my experience to shape policy at the county level that centers our most marginalized community members. I’m also running because I would like the opportunity to vote for a different option than who is typically on the ballot in District 1.
3. What are your campaign’s most important priorities (three to five)? How do your priorities align with this position?
1. Infrastructure for unincorporated Pierce County residents. Over the last year we have seen some of our communities become islands that have cut off access to services and income because of failing infrastructure like bridges. And I believe that the council can do more to increase the flow of funding to projects that focus on the needs of unincorporated Pierce County.
2. Increased access to public transportation and adding capacity to roads that connect rural communities. At this point, there is only one way for people living in rural communities to access services like hospitals and governmental services, and that is single occupancy vehicles. This is true even for those living in town. It is challenging for lower income households to access those services because they can’t afford the price of gas. But even if families do have the financial resources to drive, many spend a significant portion of their day commuting due to the congestion on roads that has not kept pace with the increasing population size. This is another drain on rural communities.
3. Housing solutions that meet the needs of the community. There is no one-size fits all solution to the housing crisis that exists. However we can invest in strategies that communities identify as meeting their needs. For some areas that might be increasing housing density, for others it could be incentivizing land owners to build additional living units, or offering subsidies for renting in areas where there is an excess of unused housing stock.
4. What steps are you taking to run a successful campaign?
Last year I completed the Emerge Washington training where I learned the skills and tools to run a successful campaign. I utilized that training and have built connections within Pierce County that helped me successfully win my race to become a District 1 representative on the Pierce County Charter Review.
5. What is the code of conduct for your campaign?
My campaign is rooted in the value of compassion. I believe that true community engagement means listening to everyone. And building systems that support the needs of our whole community is the work the government should be doing, not just meeting the needs of those with the most power and resources. That principal will be my guiding focus both in this campaign and as a councilmember. I will be running a campaign that shows my strengths as a candidate and my deep commitment to service, not a campaign focused on tearing anyone else down.
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 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. 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 because of the differences in communities that are represented in District 1, there need to be unique solutions to this problem. One solution that would most impact the rural 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.
5. What safety, law, or justice issues are currently facing your jurisdiction, and how will you address them?
Through my work on the Pierce County Charter Review Commission I have seen firsthand the polarization that exists in the County because of the actions that are being taken by the County Sheriff. The fear that so many members of the community feel because of the power this person holds has to be addressed. And the fact that there is no action beyond a recall or waiting for the next election, that would remove someone who is causing so much harm, is a structural catastrophe, regardless of who is holding that position. It is structural changes in things like job requirements and oversight that are needed to curb that power a single person can hold.
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 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 typing my name below, I declare under penalty of perjury the foregoing is true and correct.
Printed Name: Kelsey Barrans
Date: 04/01/2026
