Shari Song
By Staff
Northwest Asian Weekly
Shari Song, a managing broker at Prudential Northwest Realty and community volunteer, declared her candidacy for King County Council on Monday, March 4. She will be vying to represent District 9, which is currently being represented by Reagan Dunn, the recent Republican candidate for Attorney General.
District 9 covers south Bellevue, Black Diamond, Convington, Enumclaw, Kent, Maple Valley, Newcastle, and Renton.
Song is based out of Newcastle and works in Bellevue.
“I am passionate about my community and want to bring my decades of experience to serve the residents of King County. With the huge growth that we are experiencing, it is important that there is someone with on-the-ground knowledge of what’s happening. There are immigrants, seniors, and young couples with children — all working hard to make a go of it,” Song said in a statement.
“We all want the same things — a safe and decent home, good social services, and reliable transportation. I am committed to working tirelessly for the people of King County. This is not a job that I am looking at as a stepping stone to something larger, but an opportunity for me to support my community and create a better government for many years to come.”
Her opponent, Dunn, has represented District 9 since 2005, originally defeating Democrat Shirley A. Gaunt-Smith by a margin of 25 percent of the vote.
In the 2009 nonpartisan election, Dunn defeated challenger Beverly Harison Tonda by a margin of over 50 percent.
In addition to her work as a real estate agent, Song has served as president of the Korean America Coalition – Washington and the Korean American Professional Society. She has also served on the board of directors of the Korean American Chamber of Commerce and the Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS).
“I’ve been thinking about running for the council for a long time, and I have a lot of people supporting me,” Song said in a phone interview with the Northwest Asian Weekly. “I believe that Reagun Dunn hasn’t been performing up to standards. I feel strongly that District 9 deserves a committed person at that position, someone in touch with the local community, not someone who would use it as a stepping stone to higher office.”
She continued, “As King County and District 9 get more and more diverse, I think it’s more and more important that we keep a good connection between the different communities.” (end)
For more information, visit www.votesharisong.com.
Staff can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.