Ryan Mello
Candidate for Pierce County Executive
Currently on Pierce County Council for District 4
Tacoma, Washington
What was the first major issue that got you into public service as a politician?
My first activism experience was in high school in Hawaii. I joined the “Save the Earth” club, and our
major action was helping to stop a housing development on the North Shore of Hawaii. This rural area
could not handle this kind of growth, which would have damaged the coral reef at iconic Sunset Beach.
We succeeded in preserving the rural heritage of the area and protecting the water quality. After college, I served in the AmeriCorps program, and my political activism focused on LGBTQ civil rights. I had the opportunity to be a super volunteer with the Tacoma United for Fairness campaign to protect our LGBTQ anti-discrimination law passed by the Tacoma City Council in 2002. We were one of the first communities to win an LGBTQ civil rights ballot measure by a vote of the people.
What is the core of your platform that represents you today?
The core of my platform is that we all do better when we all do better. I believe in lifting everyone up
and providing opportunities for everyone to be safe, feel safe, have access to opportunities, freedom to
be their full selves and thrive.
What is the thing you are most proud of achieving thus far?
I have had the chance to work on many significant issues in public service. From helping to found Equal Rights Washington to passing the Behavioral Health & Therapeutic Courts tax in both Tacoma and Pierce County, and more. The achievement I am most proud of is mustering the required bipartisan support to pass the Maureen Howard Affordable Housing Act in 2023 by the Pierce County Council. This act quadruples the amount of dedicated funding Pierce County has to invest in permanently affordable housing throughout the county. It will stabilize thousands of families and help build thousands of permanently affordable homes over the next decade and beyond.
What goals do you still have to accomplish?
My goals as County Executive include:
Building thousands more permanently affordable housing units.
Tackling our homelessness crisis with solutions that include temporary housing such as well-
managed tiny home villages, effective case management, behavioral health treatment, and
significantly more permanent supportive housing options to move people off the streets and into
stability.
Expanding mental health and substance use disorder services to serve many more people
throughout the county.
Implementing a Vision Zero program to make our streets safer for all users in Pierce County.
Bringing better-paying jobs to Pierce County so that people do not need to commute long
distances for a dignified job.
Getting Pierce County on a trajectory to meet our climate pollution reduction targets to address
the climate crisis.
Making our community safer by tackling the root causes of crime, scaling up therapeutic court
programs for every jurisdiction in Pierce County, and ensuring our sheriff’s department is well-
trained and resourced.
And more.
What is the highest level you want to reach before leaving public office?
I am very focused on serving my community. Currently, I believe I can do the best by serving as the next Pierce County Executive. It matters who serves as our County Executive. It’s important to have an Executive who is pro-choice, pro-LGBTQ, pro-housing affordability, pro-community safety solutions, and pro-environment. I am the only candidate who shares these values.
Who inspires you to keep fighting even when the battles seem too much?
The people I fight for are those who have been discounted and counted out. I am fighting for those
living on the financial edge, for people working two or three jobs to make ends meet when one job
should suffice. I am fighting for reproductive freedom, LGBTQ civil rights, local solutions to the climate crisis and making our streets safer for everyone.
Who is your role model from history in public service?
My role models include Speaker Laurie Jinkins, who is like a sister to me. We collaborate frequently on
various initiatives. We have been shoulder-to-shoulder for many years on LGBTQ civil rights, enacting
paid sick and safe leave in Tacoma, raising the minimum wage in Tacoma, and protecting the Health
Department from a hostile takeover by the current County Executive during the COVID-19 pandemic. I
admire Speaker Jinkins for her clarity about her values and priorities. She is always there to support me
when I’m faltering and when the challenges seem too great.
What advice do you have for the community to help make change happen, beyond voting?
Beyond voting, my advice is to engage in uncomfortable conversations. It’s challenging to talk to family, friends, and even strangers about politics, policy, and what’s at stake, but it’s essential for driving change. We must discuss what’s at stake and explain why engaging in voting and elections matters. With so much at stake this year, the most effective action is to have one-on-one conversations about important issues and why it’s crucial to vote to protect our freedoms and improve our lives.
