CAPE Endorsements - Tech Industry endorsements
Jim Street
New Seattle Council Primary Endorsements, Ratings Released
Washington's tech industry group and the Civic Alliance for a Progressive Economy PAC are weighing in on the 2019 Council race.
By Neal McNamara , Patch Staff
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SEATTLE, WA — The state's biggest tech industry group and a new progressive political action committee came out with endorsements in the 2019 Seattle City Council race on Wednesday, giving a boost to some candidates who have already received strong backing.
The Washington Technology Industry Association, which represents scores of tech companies form Amazon down to small startups, is endorsing candidates for the first time this year. The WTIA's endorsements mirrored the Seattle Chamber of Commerce PAC's picks, minus one candidate.
"We need a change in our City Council. We evaluated all candidates willing to participate in our process and interviewed 18 in person. After careful deliberation, we selected capable civic leaders genuinely focused on successful outcomes for all of our residents — not just ideology," WTIA CEO Michael Schutzler said in a statement.
The WTIA's endorsements are:
- District 1 — Phillip Tavel
- District 2 — Mark Solomon
- District 3 — Egan Orion
- District 4 — Alex Pedersen
- District 5 — Debora Juarez (I)
- District 6 — Heidi Wills and Jay Fathi
- District 7 — Michael George
Meanwhile, the new union-backed Civic Alliance for a Progressive Economy PAC (not to be confused with the Seattle Chamber's Civic Alliance for a Sound Economy PAC) released candidate ratings for the primary on Tuesday.
CAPE invited candidates with 150 or more donors to answer questionnaires, which were used to devise ratings between one and five stars. CAPE also rated the King County Council races and the Spokane mayoral race.
The Seattle Council candidates with the highest CAPE ratings were:
- District 1 — Lisa Herbold (I) 4.75 stars
- District 2 — Tammy Morales 4.75 stars
- District 3 — Kshama Sawant (I) 4.5 stars
- District 4 — Emily Myers 4.75 stars
- District 5 — Debora Juarez 4 stars
- District 6 — Dan Strauss and Jay Fathi (tie) 4 stars
- District 7 — Andrew Lewis 3.75 stars