Seattle mayoral candidate M. Lorena González talks the UW, experience as civil rights attorney | News

Courtesy of Lorena González

In Seattle Mayor’s area code August 3, incumbent city council president M. Lorena González won 32% of the vote, claiming a spot in the November 2nd elections.

González beat nearly a dozen other candidates, trailing the former city council president 2 percentage points Bruce Harrellwho received 34% of the vote and a place on the ballot.

González, born and raised in the lower Yakima Valley, graduated from Washington State University with a degree in business administration in 1999. After living in Los Angeles for several years, she moved to Seattle in 2002 to study at Seattle University Law School.

It was then, says González, that she fell in love with Seattle.

“It was hard to leave Southern California’s 365 days of sunshine,” said González. “As soon as I found my community and really good friends here in Seattle, I knew this would be my home.”

González grew up in poverty and worked several jobs in order to be able to afford an education. She sees the affordability of life for students in Seattle as a major problem, as she has experienced it herself.

“I know what decisions people have to make as a student,” said González. “For me these decisions were: pay rent or eat.”

González sees the UW as having a duty to help students afford life in the city.

As mayor, González hopes to persuade the UW to subsidize transport and housing costs and to do more for the construction of student dormitories.

“We keep hearing that affordability is a big concern,” said González. “This also includes food insecurity. There are students who rely on our accommodation system and our boarding system. “

González aims to make Seattle more affordable for those looking to stay in town after college. She says more public housing and affordable housing are needed in the private market to meet the need for affordable student housing.

“We want you [students] not just going to school here, ”said González. “We want you not only to live here. We want you to stay part of our community for as long as you want. “

Courtesy of Lorena González

González is supported by UAW Local 4121, the union for academic student workers and postdocs at UW, as well as other unions across the Puget Sound area. She has also received support from Congressman Pramila Jayapal and Senator Bernie Sanders.

“What sets me apart is my track record in promoting progressive policies for working-class families in this city,” said González. “They know that I have always stood in solidarity with working families and the concerns of working people.”

After graduating in law in 2005, González became a civil rights attorney, focusing on cases of discrimination and police brutality, including cases against the Seattle Police Department.

González cites this work as a guideline for her decisions and policies on police reform.

“Our understanding that the role of the police is not to violate our civil rights, but to protect our civil rights and our ability to take our first rights of amendment,” said González.

If she is elected mayor, González hopes to make police accountability and demilitarization of the police her top priorities.

“We don’t want to get into a situation where Seattle allows our evil cops to work in other departments and cause civil rights violations in those areas,” said González. “We need accountability systems to really and fundamentally hold evil police officers accountable.”

Unlike her opponent, who believes the police budget should be kept to retrain officers and hire social workers, González was one of the vocal city leaders who called for the police to be defined.

“I am proud to be one of several members of the city council who have pledged to remove funding from the police for alternatives to law enforcement and community-based organizations,” said González.

When asked what makes a good mayoral candidate, González emphasized the importance of going against the grain.

“We need someone who is willing to push back the business-as-usual approach of our local politics and bring about change,” said González.

After fighting her way through poverty and overcoming it, González sees herself as the most suitable person to represent the people of Seattle as mayor.

“What prepares me? [to be mayor] is my lived experience of struggle and resilience, ”said González. “In my opinion, the people in the city deserve that.”

Reach reporter Timothy Phung at news@dailyuw.com. Twitter: @TimPhung

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