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Table of Contents
- Chair
- First Vice Chair
- State Committee Member
- Vice Chair for Communications
- Vice Chair for Outreach
- Vice Chair for Fundraising
- Treasurer
- Secretary
Chair
Beth Bazley
https://www.facebook.com/beth.bazley/posts/pfbid02y7PPyrLziTWjWkdJaBGUgUGZdHxDQ4BEmsagxB8Jb94pLZSdCa7nHEVrqZgd55Sil
“Our national political landscape has shifted once again. Together, we will face these next years with the resolve, determination, and commitment that brought King County and the State of Washington to the enviable position of the most left progressing region in the country. This curve-busting shift didn’t happen by accident. It was built by our hard work and our focus on supporting candidates who reflect our shared democratic values. Today I ask for your support to lead our County Party — the largest county in the bluest state in the country — with a goal to create broader and deeper support, to serve our communities, and to contest every race with trained candidates committed to our values.
In the past, I’ve been the person to organize, fundraise, call, and canvass to be sure that my candidate wins. This time, I’m the one asking for your support to bring King County Democrats to the next level. To lead and be an example to counties across the country who are grappling with the fight for democracy. To show them what world-class grassroots organizing is and how impressive the power of a PCO can be to every neighborhood. I ask for your support to lead our county with the conviction of our shared values and enthusiasm for the bright future that we will create together.
I offer to you my experience as a fundraising professional, a 31-year resident of unincorporated King County and Sammamish, and as an “it’s in my DNA” Democrat. My first political experience was inspired by my activist father who let me go campaigning for Jimmy Carter while wearing a peanut costume. Little did I know that first doorbelling experience would lead to many more years of launching canvasses, hosting fundraisers, and leading in the 5th LD as Endorsement Chair and this past biennium as King County Democrats Endorsement co-chair. I believe in the power of strong communication, transparency in policy and action, and the strength of our communities. Working together we will lead the way forward.”
First Vice Chair
Josh Vaughn
https://bsky.app/profile/joshvaughn.bsky.social
“Thank you for considering me for the next 1st Vice-Chair of the King County Democrats. I’m a member of the 43rd living in Belltown and have also lived and served with the 48th and 45th on the Eastside. I moved here from a coal mining region of southern Illinois in 2013. There, my family primarily worked as public school teachers and mail carriers and I saw firsthand the essential services the government can provide for the common good.
I first attended an LD meeting in January of 2017 following Trump’s 1st election. I served the 45th LD as Representative to the King County Democrats and as its Resistance Chair, partnering with other organizations such as Indivisible to help organize around defending our rights.
I was previously elected to the King County Democrats executive board in 2018 and 2020, serving with Treasurer Melissa Taylor and Washington State Democrats Chair Shasti Conrad. Together, along with the rest of the board and all of our members and PCOs, we saw gains in parts of the county that typically don’t vote with us and helped organize folks for wins in adjacent counties. I would strive to continue that bottom-up, service-oriented leadership.
I have also worked as Field Director for DelBene for Congress and served as Deputy Executive Director for Sanders for Washington 2020 during the primary season. Whether working with the New Democrat Coalition or the Progressive Caucus, my goal is to promote good governance and effective, honest, ethical candidates that share our common values.
I am again humbly asking for your confidence to serve on the board. All of us Democrats and left-leaning folks must lock arms and tell the incoming administration “not here.” Not in Washington, not in King County, and not to the people we love or to our neighbors. I am eager to work with Beth and the rest of the team on my plans for the 2 committees that the 1st Vice-Chair leads as defined in the Bylaws. Thanks for your consideration and I hope to earn your vote.”
Eddie Chang
https://changgroup.com
“Even though I am new to the King County Democrats, I have had a long history of code of conduct and ethics training through Seattle King County Realtors. Beyond my day to day of helping clients with their real estate needs, I am a licensed Real Estate Instructor and teach the Code of Ethics course at my firm. I am also a member of the Seattle King County Grievance committee as well as being one of the Ombudsmen for the Realtors. Ethics is something I am passionate about, and I would love to share that passion with the KCDCC.”
State Committee Member
Lisa Rivera
“I am Lisa Rivera and I am excited to be running to serve as King County Democrats State Committee Member for the next biennium.
Currently serving as the Vice Chair and Communication Chair of the 46th District Democrats, I’ve been involved in local politics since 2003, starting with the King County Young Dems and the 43rd District Democrats. I’ve served as a 46th LD PCO, and I was elected twice to the Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors. Currently, I’m serving as the Western Vice Chair to the Washington State Democrats Latino Caucus. With my experience as an organizer and collaborator, and I’m excited to work with Chair-candidate Beth Bazley, to organize our PCOs and help to elect democrats. Furthermore, I’m excited to continue to work on behalf of the democrats within King County. As a former School Board Director, I’m experienced at representing large constituencies and advocating on their behalf. I believe it is our collective duty to serve our communities, especially the most marginalized and vulnerable.
Throughout all my years of work in this party, I’ve learned that the most important thing we can do is EMPOWER OTHERS! The democratic party is about neighbors, community and working people, working together. As your State Committee Member, I will work hard to gather the input I need from all corners, to vigorously represent the values and needs of our King County legislative districts and PCOs. And after each quarterly State Committee meeting, I will present comprehensive and digestible summaries of the business conducted, the outcomes, and likely topics for the following meeting. I’ve attended every State Committee Meetings these last two years, so I will be going into this new role ready and able to hit the ground running.
I’m eager and ready to represent you and our shared values at the state level, and work with our electeds to push for legislation that will protect and bolster our progressive principles. I humbly ask for your support and vote.”
Martin Chaney
https://www.facebook.com/martinchaney/
“My name is Martin Chaney and I am running to be one of your State Committee Members from King County. I would be honored to receive your support.
I have been involved in Democratic Activism since Dennis Kucinich inspired me to become involved in 2004. Since then, I have served in many roles including Chair of the 45th LD, Chair of the 5th LD, State Committee Member from the 5th LD, King County Endorsements Chair, and currently Technology Chair in the 45th LD.
I was thrilled when Beth Bazley asked me to join her team as one of King County’s State Committee Members. I am excited by the prospect of working together with the dynamic group of leaders she has put together. I feel I am well suited for this role both by experience and inclination. The role of a King County State Committee Member is to be a bridge between the State and King County organization as well as all the Democratic PCOs and voters in King County. It’s about encouraging people to work together for mutual benefit; and building the King County Democrats into an organization which leads by example and provides valuable services to its Legislative Organizations. I would like to see us build on the example of how the Endorsements Committee provided service to LDs in the last cycle by applying the same mindset to everything we do.
Personal values can be transgenerational and mine are rooted in my mother’s experience as a native-born young adult Seattleite American citizen of Japanese descent, uprooted from her family home by World War II executive order 9066. I also am deeply concerned about the future of our world and country and the place of my three granddaughters, two of whom are Hispanic, in it. My concerns are heightened by the potential reversal of over half a century of slow and insufficient progress in civil rights.
It would be a great honor and privilege to represent you as one of your King County State Committee Members. I humbly ask for your vote and support toward that end.”
Vice Chair for Communications
Fred Mariscal
No statement provided.
Kristopher Katz
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10170792275370019&set=a.261570790018
“First of all, thank you for considering me for Vice Chair for Communications. As an entertainment writer with a background both in news and in video games, I bring extensive experience speaking to audiences across cultures and numbering in the tens of millions.
I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, eventually earning my bachelor’s in mass media communications from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2005. From there, I worked for a number of radio stations and their newsrooms, even producing monthly constituency call-in shows for two sitting governors (Republican Mike Huckabee and his successor, Democrat Mike Beebe) for the Arkansas Radio Network. In 2008, I moved to Seattle and helped make several very successful video games, which gave me frequent opportunities to speak to players across the globe, and in huge numbers.
In the spring of 2024, I volunteered myself to the King County Democrats, offering to do “whatever is helpful”. I ultimately stepped in to handle the email newsletter following the Trump rally shooting last summer. Since then, I’ve continued to offer my way with words to the party using the platform to (ideally) inspire hope and dispel despair, resulting in major surges of volunteer signups in the lead-up to the 2024 election. When I wasn’t putting pen to paper, I organized dozens of phone banks for the State Coordinated Campaign.
Words matter. The years ahead will be challenging, and as the only “blue” state to slide left in the election we will have a lot of eyes on us. What I offer is a voice comfortable with speaking to the anxieties of the moment, as well as aiming people’s energy toward the hard, principled work of making our democracy happen. It is my hope to work with Beth and the team to help shape and strengthen our conversations and messaging so that we can all pave a path toward tomorrow’s victories.”
Vice Chair for Outreach
Andrew Ashiofu
“I am excited to announce my candidacy for Vice Chair of Outreach for the King County Democrats. With a steadfast commitment to building coalitions, fostering community relations, and strengthening our Democratic Party, I am ready to lead efforts that ensure every voice in King County feels heard, valued, and empowered.
I have held several leadership roles within the party, including Chair of the King County Democrats Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, Constituency Caucus Chair, Chair of the Washington State Stonewall Democrats, and King County Representative for my Legislative District.
Our party’s strength lies in its diversity and inclusivity. As Vice Chair of Outreach, I will prioritize meaningful engagement with communities across King County—urban, suburban, and rural—breaking down barriers to participation and ensuring our message resonates with every voter. By recruiting candidates who reflect the rich diversity of our region and holding our elected officials accountable to the values of equity and justice, we can build a stronger, more representative Democratic Party.
As Vice Chair of Outreach, I will prioritize:
– Coalition Building: Collaborating with community organizations, grassroots movements, and activists to expand our network of support and foster meaningful relationships.
– Community Engagement: Ensuring that our outreach efforts authentically connect with people across King County, especially in traditionally underserved or overlooked areas.
– Expanding Representation: Advocating for diverse voices within the Democratic Party to reflect the vibrant mosaic of our community.
Strategic Growth: Developing comprehensive strategies to grow our party by empowering volunteers, engaging new voters, and fostering a spirit of unity and purpose.
I would be honored to have your support as Vice Chair of Outreach. Together, we can grow our party, mobilize our base, and ensure that King County continues to lead the way in progressive advocacy and inclusive politics. Together, let’s build a stronger, more connected Democratic Party that serves as a true reflection of our county’s diverse and dynamic communities.”
Vice Chair for Fundraising
Melissa Taylor
https://www.facebook.com/melissawptaylor/posts/pfbid02HPpQUyincjPBFyWK4LHyj3PfCxQenhq5rkm7HHRZhQ2xMLvLi23XXk43vqRRvmeol
“In order to ensure we are resilient and ready for whatever comes from this next administration, we will need funds to reach every corner of our county and make a difference in every election. With over 300 offices up for election in 2025, King County Democrats needs to ensure we have a Democrat running in every seat.
I have served as Treasurer of King County Democrats for the past four years and as an elected or appointed officer since joining the board in 2018. Some of you will remember that I temporarily moved down to Auburn to help Michelle Rylands run for Senate in the 31st in the 2017 special election and, as part of that, I helped her raise $165K. Since then, I have helped raise several hundred thousand dollars for candidates and causes and I am looking forward to doing that for King County Democrats in the upcoming cycle.
I am excited about the vision that Beth and the team are building to protect our school districts against organizations like Moms for Liberty and against austerity measures due to lack of funding. School funding and our upside-down tax code are what drew me into politics back in 2015 and I have been fighting to address those ever since.
As your Vice Chair for Fundraising, I am excited to re-launch a signature spring event next year as well as monthly giving programs. If you are interested in serving on the committee, I promise an opportunity to learn, have fun and make a meaningful difference in our communities. And I would be remiss if I ran for this role and did not suggest that you take this opportunity to go to kcdems.org and sign up as a monthly contributor to the work we’ll be doing together this cycle. Thank you and I hope to earn your vote for Vice Chair for Fundraising.”
Treasurer
Dianna Phillips
https://www.facebook.com/dianna.phillips.927
“I’m running for Treasurer because I want to help King County Dems reach into the more rural areas and my experience with budgets and difficult fiscal decisions is best suited to this role. KCD has the opportunity to engage Democrats in historically red areas and, as a resident of a rural area in unincorporated King County, I will bring that perspective to the executive board. In the next few years, it is going to be essential to find Democrats to run for local positions historically held by Republicans. Managing donations and support for these local races are key building blocks for increasing Democratic presence in all levels of government and building pipelines for future leaders.
I’ve been involved in the Democratic Party in several ways: Chair of the Endorsements Committee for the 5th LD, State Convention delegate, and Treasurer and technology lead for the 12th LD. After redistricting to the12th, I’ve seen that even small increases in funding have a big impact on engagement. I’ve not only been managing cash flow, reporting and PDC compliance, but also using these small donations to create a website, mailing lists and banners for 12th LD to participate in events. In previous employment, I’ve managed multi-million dollar budgets and built reporting to show ROI and highlight opportunities for change. I am also the accountant for my two small businesses where fiscal responsibility is vital.
I have also built robust documentation systems. I look forward to enhancing and improving the Budget and Finance Committee processes so that the increasing financial demands upon KCD do not impact the ability to make timely decisions. Increasing transparency by publishing scope and application packet requirements will also streamline the increased load. I have the skills and experience to steward KCD finances and am pleased to have the endorsement of Melissa Taylor, the outgoing Treasurer. I look forward to earning your vote to serve as Treasurer these next two years.”
Secretary
Rickey Klein
“I am excited to work with Beth and the rest of the team to make sure that King County Democrats is well-organized to protect our communities from this upcoming federal administration and prepare to take back Congress in 2024. I volunteered every week this past campaign cycle with the State Party’s Coordinated Campaign. I am an elected PCO in the 36th, residing in Magnolia.
As a professional dancer, I am deeply committed to ensuring everyone can experience the Arts as part of high quality public education. As a longtime renter, I have seen first hand how housing affordability impacts my communities.
I really enjoy the details and organization required for the Secretary role. I previously served on the Board of Governors for AGMA (American Guild of Musical Artists) and am committed to ensuring that the King County Democrats has strong, solid governance during this next term. I would be honored to earn your vote to serve as the Secretary for King County Democrats.”