Marilyn Strickland

Marilyn Strickland was born in Seoul, South Korea, and lives in Tacoma, Washington.[1][2] Strickland earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Washington and a master's degree in business administration from Clark-Atlanta University.[1][2][3] She served as the campaign chair of the United Way of Pierce County; as a trustee of the Tacoma Public Library and Annie Wright Schools; a board member of Grand Cinema; and a member of The Black Collective and the International Women's Forum.[3]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born in Seoul, South Korea. My father, who fought in two wars, met my mother while he was stationed in Korea. If elected, I will be the first African-American to represent Washington state at the federal level, and the first Korean-American woman ever elected to Congress.

My parents wanted me to have opportunities they were denied and taught me to work hard, stay true to my values, serve the community, and to stand up for the underdog. Those values inspire me today.

As the two-term Mayor of Tacoma, I helped transform a city and economy crippled by a deep recession. I led successful efforts to raise the minimum wage and pass paid sick leave. I helped create thousands of electric vehicle charging stations and raised solar energy use by 26%. We raised the high school graduation rate in Tacoma from 55% to 89% by making education a civic priority. I was proud to endorse and support the statewide initiative requiring police deescalation training, and stood with the LGBTQ community in support of Marriage Equality and transgender rights, and pass universal background checks for gun sales in Tacoma.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I grew up in Pierce County, have deep community connections and a proven track record of working with others to get things done. From passing a minimum wage increase and universal paid sick leave to investing in local infrastructure and small businesses, I have experience building coalitions to improve our communities.I will fight for progressive policies in Congress, from universal health care to green energy investments to housing for all.My election will make history - I will be the first African-American to represent Washington state in Congress and the first Korean-American woman in the country.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Healthcare, housing, climate change, and building an inclusive economy.

Health care is a right, not a privilege. I strongly support universal coverage, starting with adding a public health care option to the Affordable Care Act, lowering the Medicare eligibility age, and increasing the age for children to stay on their parents' insurance.

Everyone deserves the right to a safe, healthy home they can afford. The federal government must put more resources into building housing. We need a response to the housing crisis that matches the scale of the problem. I will champion this effort in Congress.

Climate change is a public health issue, a national security issue, and an equity issue. I will work to invest in renewable energy in pursuit of a carbon-free future, rebuild the EPA focusing particularly on equity impacts, and reinstate regulations on emissions and protections for our public lands.

For too long, structural barriers and inequality have kept financial security out of reach for millions of hard working people. I support paid family leave, and Universal Basic Income pilot programs to help ensure everyone's basic needs are met.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

My experience working with a broad coalition of people to get things done as Mayor would serve me well in Congress. Successful legislating is about finding areas of common ground across the political spectrum and societal landscape and coming together to pass a mutually beneficial law. I have made a career of working with others to get things done - as Mayor, I worked with small businesses in Tacoma to pass a minimum wage increase and universal paid sick leave that wouldn't drive them out of business. Working with business and labor, I led investment of $500 million of infrastructure spending in our roads, bridges, transit systems, and utilities. As CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, I successfully lobbied to add an equity focus to our mission statement and convinced the Chamber to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Washington State AFL-CIO and endorse the Washington State Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Act, to increase opportunities for minority-owned businesses to earn government contracts. I launched a program pairing landlords with vacant apartments with people who are homeless, and paired them with social services to help ensure their basic needs were met.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

A Congressperson's core responsibilities are to represent the needs of the communities they serve and fight to improve lives through ensuring that everyone's basic needs are met and that they have the opportunity to reach their potential. That is the job of government, and that is what I will do in Congress.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes. As a proven leader in government, I have shown that I can work with others to get things done. Governing is about working with people from a variety of sectors and with differing viewpoints to achieve a common goal. When I was Mayor of Tacoma, we raised the minimum wage, passed paid family leave, passed the biggest infrastructure package in nearly 50 years, and raised the graduation rate from 55% to 89% through collaboration and working together.

Moreover, it is critical that we elect more local leaders - those who have been on the ground with the people they represent - to Congress. I am the only candidate in my race with local government experience, and I have seen first-hand how the policies we implement affect the people we represent. I will bring that perspective to DC.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

My top committee choices are Appropriations or Ways and Means, because I want to deliver funding for the 10th Congressional District, for Washington, and for our country. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is of interest to me because these are significant needs in the 10th District and the Puget Sound Region. I am also interested in the House Financial Services Committee , because that is the committee with jurisdiction over housing matters, and Veterans Affairs to help care for the many veterans in the 10th.