Progressive Seattle mayoral candidate refuses to pay rent, owes over $20K

“The rent is damned high,” says the campaign website of Seattle’s mayoral candidate Andrew Grant Houston – and he means it literally.

According to a new report by conservative talk radio host Jason Rantz, the “queer” mayoral candidate – who also wants to raise the minimum wage to $ 23 an hour – has not paid rent since shortly before the pandemic began and now owes the apartment complex, where he owes more than 20,000 Dollar spends.

The rising politician, nicknamed “Ace”, is apparently one of many tenants using nationwide eviction moratoriums to protect tenants from being thrown out during the pandemic-induced economic crisis.

In April, the property management company, which owns the $ 1,695-a-month Capitol Hill apartment that Houston rents, emailed the candidate to review his payment plans.

“I heard that you are running for mayor and on the staff of Teresa Mosqueda,” the email said. “Our office recently received a press query regarding your rental balance. Before we respond, we’d like to know if you plan to update your outstanding balance of $ 14,485.”

Rantz reported that the property management company now claims that Houston’s debt has risen to $ 20,828.

It is currently unclear whether Houston plans to pay the rents owed. But because of the eviction moratorium, the property management can only kick him out of the apartment in August.

In a statement to KTTH, Houston’s team tried to turn the topic into a campaign pitch that shows how much he is one with the people.

“Ace is one of an estimated 200,000 Washingtoners arrears on rents totaling over $ 1 billion,” campaign communications director Dylan Austin told the radio station. “Ace is the only candidate in this race who does not own a home and who has a huge difference in personal wealth compared to any other top contender (some in the millions).”

“Ace has the same lived experience as many Seattle residents who previously (and now) struggled in a pandemic to keep up with rising rental prices and affordability issues in our city,” he added.

Not so ironic, one of the most important campaign issues in Houston is “housing justice” or, more precisely, “rent control”. On its campaign website, Houston Beats “Limit[ing] Rent and business increases to ‘inflation plus 2%’ or 4%, whichever is higher. “

Prior to running for mayor, Houston ran an architectural firm in the city and also served as interim policy manager in the office of Seattle City Councilor Teresa Mosqueda.

Andrew Grant Houston, Candidate for Mayor of the City of Seattle – Video Voters’ Guide 2021 Primary youtu.be