SEATTLE — Katie Wilson, who took a lead in the primary to become Seattle’s next mayor, rejected the notion Friday that she does not have sufficient experience for political office. “I’ve spent 14 years working at city hall as an outsider,” she said.
Wilson, pitted against incumbent Bruce Harrell, took 50.8% of the primary vote to Harrell’s 42.2%. The two squared off Friday night in a debate hosted by We in partnership with The Seattle Times.
Wilson is the co-founder and executive director of the Transit Riders Union (TRU). During her time leading TRU, she has focused her work on stronger renter protections, increasing worker wages and efforts to provide more affordable housing. The election is her first time running for an elected office, focusing her campaign on homelessness, affordable housing and a “Trump-proof Seattle,” among other issues. If elected, she would become the third woman to serve as Seattle mayor.
Wilson has come under fire for her lack of experience at the government level. Her professional background outside of organizing for TRU includes assorted jobs as a barista, lab tech, laborer, boatyard worker, apartment manager and legal assistant. A section of her website devoted to describing her background prominently notes that “Katie graduated salutatorian of her high school class in Binghamton, New York.” She did not complete a degree at Oxford University.
Wilson affirmed her background as an organizer Friday evening when asked about her relative lack of political experience, especially in office.
“I’ve been at the table when policy was designed,” she said. “That experience has given me inside experience into how city hall works.”
트위터 공유: 시애틀 시장 향해 달린다 윌슨