Andrew Lewis
Laura Marie Rivera
Seattle City Councilmember and Queen Anne resident Andrew Lewis is seeking a second term after an eventful four years defined by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. While serving as an assistant city attorney in 2019, Lewis defeated a field of nine other candidates to represent District 7. He is running to continue the hard and often unglamorous work of local government.
"I wouldn't want to serve in any other level of elected service. I'm a New Deal kind of Democrat. That means building things, things our community needs."
Lewis is quick to rattle off some of those achievements, citing major planned improvements to the Queen Anne Community Center, the acquisition of the Cinerama Theater by SIFF, and preserving the UpGarden P-Patch.
He said, "In my first term, that was community centers. I am proud to have secured $19 million for a full renovation of the Queen Anne Community Center and kept the Magnolia Community Center stabilization improvements on time and on budget.” And he said it was an honor to partner with the Seattle International Film Festival to save the Cinerama theater.
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Tom Mara is the new executive director for SIFF and said, “Andrew reached out to me before my first day to discuss SIFF acquiring Cinerama. He was a critical partner to get that done and he is a great champion for the arts.” Lewis added, “That theater is an institution. Losing it would be like losing the Space Needle, it is irreplaceable."
A lifelong Seattle resident, Lewis grew up in Ballard and put down roots in Queen Anne after graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. He and his wife Laura, an assistant attorney general, recently welcomed a new addition to the family, their now 10-month-old daughter Vivian Grace.
"I love Queen Anne because it's a great neighborhood to raise a family and within walking distance to Downtown. And, really, you know, for me that is what local government is all about. It's about those tangible things. Basic services, liveability, the things that make great neighborhoods."
Lewis placed first in a crowded primary field of 6 candidates nearly 12% ahead of second place finisher Queen Anne resident Bob Kettle. Despite the margin, Lewis came in under 50% of the vote, suggesting the race could be competitive. He is hoping that his long list of endorsements, including Attorney General Bob Ferguson, the 36th Legislative District, and the MLK Labor Council, will help him reach more voters. For the fall campaign, he plans to emphasize his work on public safety and public health.
Mayor Harrell has a vision for comprehensive public safety. It includes building the police service back to a staffing level of 1,450, but it also includes a new 911 behavioral health alternative response called CARE Community Assisted Response and Engagement. Lewis is proud to partner in that work and adds, “The police do not, and should not, have to do everything. These public health workers have a critical role to play. This is the work I have been advancing."
With visible homelessness as a top public concern, Lewis cites progress from the first two years of the Harrell administration, including new services and shelter capacity aimed at reducing tent encampments.
"Over the past year, we have seen tent encampments go down 43%. RV encampments down 35%. It's because of the work we have done with Mayor Harrell. You centralize accountability, you get people into shelter, it's that simple. We really are, finally, making progress on homelessness. And it's progress we can see."
Looking forward to next year, Lewis sees opportunities through the Move Seattle Levy to jump start progress on long deferred infrastructure projects, including some projects that are very important to the Queen Anne and Magnolia communities.
"We can't forget infrastructure. We need to make sure we have a Move Seattle Levy that delivers for District 7. That means a one-for-one in-kind Magnolia Bridge replacement and a new Ballard Bridge. For freight mobility and the future of our maritime economy, we have to get this right."
Ballots are being mailed this week and are due back by Tuesday, Nov. 7. Voters can register or check their current registration at vote.gov/register/wa