We know a lot of progressive Seattle voters wait until the last minute to fill out and return their ballots. (They’re due by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7 — here’s a list of dropboxes where you can return your completed ballot!) So we thought we’d offer a short voter guide if you or anyone you know still needs help to complete their ballots. This is especially useful given that we believe the Stranger got it wrong on two of their school board endorsements – progressives should instead vote for Debbie Carlsen and Ben Gitenstein.
Our overall perspective:
Seattle Public Schools is in serious trouble and without a course correction we could see our public school system unravel. Our fellow progressive parent, Sarah Nau, wrote a fantastic op-ed in the Seattle Times last week making the case for change. We couldn’t say it any better than she did:
“We need to ensure those we elect to the board are committed to building a great school district in partnership with community input, one that is committed to addressing mismanagement and championing true transparency. We need to work with others across the state to ensure our Legislature fully funds public education, looking to opportunities like the nearly $1 billion in capital gains tax revenue as an example of how to help distribute a small portion of the immense concentration of wealth toward an investment in our future.
The Nov. 7 election gives us a chance to challenge the status quo. We need to make sure those in positions of power are fighting for our kids like they promised.”
We agree! Below are our picks for Seattle School Board Directors in 2023. One note: We’ve written more about Debbie Carlsen and Ben Gitenstein because we believe their elections will be most important in shaping the future direction of the district.
Debbie Carlsen
We’re supporting Debbie Carlsen, who brings years of effective advocacy for students and schools, especially LGBTQ+ students, to Seattle Public Schools. Debbie will bring the public back into the management and operation of our public schools, critical during the district’s current budget crisis. The incumbent, Liza Rankin, wants “ruthless” budget cuts that will close as many as 20 schools, and wants it done without sufficient community involvement. Debbie Carlsen thinks school closures should be an absolute last resort and wants to push hard in Olympia to lobby the state legislature to use as much of the$1 billion windfall of capital gains tax revenue to prevent cuts and closures in our schools. Liza Rankin, in contrast, is on the record as saying Seattle Public Schools shouldn’t expect more money from the legislature, undermining progressive advocacy before it’s even started. We’re voting for Debbie Carlsen, who will make community engagement, transparency, and accountability a priority.
Debbie is endorsed by some of Seattle’s most effective progressive leaders, including City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, former City Councilmember and mayoral candidate Lorena Gonzalez, the Seattle Education Association, and MLK Labor (the central council for King County’s labor unions). Debbie’s future colleague on the board, Lisa Rivera Smith, has also endorsed Debbie.
We were also impressed by a strong letter of support of Debbie from teachers at Dunlap Elementary School in Rainier Beach. We have no idea why the Stranger refused to publish it.
Click here to read our full endorsement of Debbie Carlsen
Lisa Rivera Smith
We believe Lisa Rivera Smith does a great job asking tough and important questions of the Seattle Public Schools administration and makes listening to families a priority. She is running to improve transparency and accountability, provide more and better mental and behavioral health supports, and ensure the district conducts authentic community engagement and a deep budget analysis. All of these are good and necessary things our school district needs.
Ben Gitenstein
Ben Gitenstein will lead the fight to save our schools from closure and resist the district’s push for austerity, which will harm kids and drive even more families to abandon public education. Together with our other endorsed candidate, Debbie Carlsen, Gitenstein has held town halls across Seattle, bringing members of the public together to discuss common problems, articulate collaborative solutions, and chart a better course for our public schools.
Gitenstein has support from nearly every Democratic Party organization in the city, along with key legislative leaders like Rep. Frank Chopp and Sen. Jamie Pedersen. An unprecedented list of former school board members, including former presidents and progressive champions Leslie Harris and Sue Peters, are backing Gitenstein. Christie Robertson, a progressive candidate who we endorsed in the primary, has also endorsed Gitenstein for this position.
Click here to read our full endorsement of Ben Gitenstein
Gina Topp
Gina Topp has pledged to fight in Olympia for the funding we need to close our budget gaps and prevent cuts and closures. Although we’d like to see her take a stronger position against closing schools, we would welcome her help in pushing legislators to step up and fulfill their paramount duty to amply fund our public schools. Gina is also endorsed by the Seattle Education Association.