Endorsements for November 2nd, 2021 Election
If the last four years have taught us anything, it’s that who Seattle elects as mayor really matters. The incumbent, who is thankfully not seeking reelection, rose to power buoyed by hundreds of thousands of dollars in dark money donations from corporations including Comcast and CenturyLink, and has spent the last four years fighting with the city council, doing the bidding of Comcast’s registered lobbyist, refusing to spend the money appropriated for vital city services, and also teargassing a few neighborhoods while at it.
But enough looking backwards. Seattle has an amazing opportunity this election to vote into office a mayor firmly committed to building out a public internet utility, finally accomplishing an initiative started more than 25 years ago and bringing Seattle in line with the over 900 other cities who have already created some form of public internet option.
Seattle’s next mayor will be sworn into office with a supportive city council in the aftermath of a deadly pandemic that demonstrated more than ever that high-speed, publicly-owned internet access is a necessity, no different than water, electricity, or garbage service.
The deadline to register to vote in this election is October 25th. You can register (or verify your registration) here.
Mayor: Lorena González
Upgrade Seattle enthusiastically endorses Councilmember Lorena González to be Seattle’s next mayor!
When Lorena González first ran for office in 2015, it was immediately clear that she was smart as hell and incredibly passionate about implementing progressive policies that would make life better for all her constituents. She understood why access to the internet was a necessary part of everyday life, and confided with us that she hadn’t been able to afford a home internet connection until after she had graduated from law school.
Lorena’s support for making the internet a public utility has never wavered. When the city shut down in response to Seattle’s COVID-19 crisis, libraries closed and many Seattle residents were stranded without meaningful opportunities to connect to the internet. She recognized the inherent inequities that arise when we allow monopolies like Comcast and CenturyLink to gatekeep who has access to a vital public utility. As mayor, Lorena has committed to building out a “municipal broadband network so every community has excellent affordable internet”.
Lorena’s record in office demonstrate her ability to overcome the inevitable pushback Seattle will receive from Comcast and CenturyLink. While on the Seattle City Council, Lorena passed into law election reforms banning large corporations from donating to local elections, preventing Comcast and CenturyLink from using their monopoly profits to buy another Seattle election.
Lorena’s combination of lived experience and record of accomplishments on the city council make us incredibly enthusiastic to endorse her to be Seattle’s next mayor. This year, Seattle has the opportunity to finally elect a mayor who supports making the internet a public utility at the same time we have a council majority willing to send her the legislation. This opportunity - a supportive mayor and council majority - has never happened in Seattle’s history. We can not miss this chance to elect a mayor willing and eager to invest in our residents and ensure that everyone, regardless of income, has access to high-quality, public, home internet access.
Her opponent, former CenturyLink attorney Bruce Harrell, has a record of opposing municipal broadband projects while publicly claiming credit for the ideas pushed by activists. In 2015, after being caught lying about his support for a municipal broadband pilot project, The Stranger revoked their endorsement of him based on his inability to be truthful with voters.
Vote Lorena González for Seattle Mayor!
Seattle City Council: Teresa Mosqueda and Nikkita Oliver
Teresa Mosqueda
Councilmember Mosqueda has been a municipal broadband champion since entering office in 2017.
While in office, Teresa has managed to simultaneously pass bold progressive legislation like Seattle’s Jump Start Tax—literally Seattle’s most progressive tax legislation ever—while also keeping an eye out for small progressive tweaks that lay the groundwork for future wins. As one example, during the search for a new Seattle City Light CEO, Teresa ensured all applicants were ready and willing to incorporate broadband into Seattle City Light’s current utility portfolio. Teresa’s work on the council has prepared Seattle to move forward with a public internet utility, and we are excited to watch what she can accomplish in four more years with an ally in the mayor’s office.
This combination of bold legislation and long view policy pragmatism makes us incredibly excited to endorse Teresa Mosqueda.
You don’t have to take our word for it (but should), Teresa herself will tell you that “building high-speed municipal broadband as an option for all Seattleites has never been so urgent. For every child that grows up without the internet at home, we lose a potential innovator that could lead the fight against climate change, or revolutionize the way we share ideas.”
Vote Teresa Mosqueda for Council Position 8.
Nikkita Oliver
Nikkita Oliver is an activist, lawyer, educator, executive director, and revolutionary who we needed on the council yesterday. In 2017, they demonstrated to us their deep understanding of the need for municipal broadband in their first run for Seattle mayor.
Since Nikkita’s first run, the need for a public option has only become more apparent. As a law professor at Seattle University, Nikkita had to transition to an all-online teaching format in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In that role, they were confronted daily with the necessity of a robust internet connection and how the digital divide negatively impacts young people, students, and workers who labor from home.
As Nikkita themselves will tell you, “the COVID-19 pandemic has reintroduced the need for municipal broadband internet. We must identify a funding source and timetable to provide this 21st century infrastructure to a 21st century city.”
Vote Nikkita Oliver for Council Position 9.
Seattle City Attorney: Nicole Thomas-Kennedy
Nicole Thomas-Kennedy has run an impressive out-of-left field campaign against incumbent city attorney Pete Holmes, managing to defeat the three-term incumbent in the primary. While her platform of decriminalizing misdemeanors has justifiably garnered the most attention, the Seattle City Attorney’s office also plays a rather central role defending the city from rightwing lawsuits. When the Seattle City Council passes a new tax on big business, big businesses sue and the City Attorney defends them. When the City Council expands rental protections, landlords sue and the City Attorney defends.
If and when the City Council approves the creation of a municipal broadband utility, Comcast and CenturyLink will sue and we trust Nicole Thomas-Kennedy to defend the city’s interests.
Throughout the primary, Nicole Thomas-Kennedy indicated she would maintain and expand the civil litigation division of the City Attorney’s office, focusing on defending against wage theft and litigating on behalf of Seattle residents.
Her opponent, Republican Ann Davison, is completely unqualified for the office and is unfamiliar with the role of the City Attorney. In Davison’s previous run for elected office, she ran for Lieutenant Governor on a platform of abolishing the office. If elected, Davison threatens the city’s ability to defend itself from rightwing attacks on the city’s ability to self-govern.
Seattle residents deserve a City Attorney who will fight for their interests: Vote Nicole Thomas-Kennedy.