Name: Dionne Foster
Running for: Seattle City Council Position 9
Location: Seattle, WA
****All Candidates have been endorsed by The Victory Fund******
What are the major issues that are getting you into public service as a politician?
I am running for Seattle City Council because I believe our city needs leadership that is committed to equity,
accountability, and solutions rooted in community. My motivation comes from lived experience—I benefited
from programs like the Seattle Downpayment Assistance Program that helped me become a homeowner,
and I’ve seen firsthand how policy can open doors for families like mine.
The major issues driving me into public service are making housing more affordable and accessible,
ensuring our neighborhoods are safe and healthy, and confronting the climate crisis with urgency and
justice. Too many families are being priced out of the city, too many people don’t have access to the care
and services they need to thrive, and climate impacts are hitting our most vulnerable neighbors first and
worst. I’m stepping up because I know we can build a Seattle where families can afford to stay, where our
communities are safe and supported, and where climate action is an opportunity for resilience, good jobs,
and healthier neighborhoods.
What is the core of your platform that represents you today?
The core of my platform is building a Seattle where every family can afford to stay, where our neighborhoods
are safe and healthy, and where we are leading on climate action with equity at the center. My vision is
grounded in making housing more affordable and accessible, expanding community-based safety and crisis
response, and investing in climate solutions that improve lives while creating opportunities for good jobs.
I believe that effective leadership starts with listening to community and ensuring that those most impacted
by our policies are shaping the solutions. That means expanding affordable housing options, strengthening
behavioral health and youth development programs, and tackling climate change through local action—from
cleaner transit and resilient infrastructure to equitable access to clean energy. At its core, my campaign is
about delivering results that make Seattle a more affordable, safe, and sustainable place for all of us.
What is the thing you are most proud of achieving thus far, and how will it help you as
an elected official?
At the Seattle Foundation, I managed public-private partnerships to improve outcomes in Seattle by focusing
on places, policies, and systems changes in our city. I invested in organizations that are creating new
housing strategies to stop displacement and promote economic vitality, driving community led services to
address homelessness, and investing in multi-generational Central District residents to unlock creative
strategies so they can thrive where they live. I worked with community leaders across the city and built
relationships that have lasted over the years with leaders from diverse communities working on some of our
most pressing problems. I’m excited to take the depth of issue experience I learned in that role and those
relationships to work on our most pressing issues at City Hall.
What goals are you trying to accomplish?
My goals are rooted in making Seattle a city where families and communities can thrive. First, I want to ensure housing is affordable and accessible so that people who work in our city can afford to live here, raise their families, and build stability. Second, I want to strengthen public safety by investing in behavioral health services, crisis response, and youth development programs that prevent harm and keep communities safe in lasting ways. Third, I want Seattle to lead on climate action by prioritizing equitable solutions like cleaner transit, resilient infrastructure, and affordable access to clean energy—that also create good jobs and healthier neighborhoods.
Beyond these core priorities, I am committed to building trust in city government by ensuring decisions are made in partnership with the people most impacted. My goal is to bring equity and accountability to every part of city policy so we can make Seattle more affordable, safe, and sustainable for all.
What are your political ambitions?
I decided to run for office because I want to make people’s lives better. In one way or another my career has
been about helping people, whether that was making improvements in delivery of affordable utility programs
or fighting for a fairer tax system, the core has always been the same. My political ambitions are to win my
race for Seattle City Council, Position 9 and to use my role on the City Council to push for equitable,
inclusive change. I want to be an integral part in building a Seattle that is thriving, affordable, and welcoming
to all and a Seattle that works for its citizens first.
Who inspires you to keep fighting even when the battles seem too much?
My greatest inspiration comes from my son. I want him to grow up in a Seattle that is safe, healthy, and
affordable—a city where he can thrive and eventually raise his own family if he chooses. Thinking about his
future reminds me that the work we do today is about the generations to come. He’s also my greatest source
of joy and the person who keeps me tethered to living in the present moment. When things are hard I’m
always grateful to go for a walk or play a game together.
Who is your role model from history in public service?
Shirley Chisholm – the first Black woman to serve in Congress. I think about her saying, “if you
don’t get a seat at the table bring a folding chair” often. Being Black, being queer, being a woman
running for office, I often think it is important to not just show up but to show up whole and to make
sure that my presence makes a difference in every room I’m in and opens doors for anyone who
might come behind me.
What advice do you have for the community to help make change happen, beyond voting?
I believe so much change originates in the community – from parents talking to one another at the
bus stop, workers identifying needed changes and protections at their jobs, neighbors joining
together in protest – we all make so much change beyond the ballot box. So much more is possible
when people are organized, whether that is in an informal group, a union, or as part of a volunteer
organization. Figure out what you want to work on and find people you want to work on it with and
go from there!
