Off-year elections are just as important as the elections held at the federal level. Even though they do not get the same kind of exposure or ability to change things at a national level, the issues that affect everyday Americans are more likely influenced by decisions made at the state and local levels. This year, many states and localities are having elections, and municipal elections this year could determine how the next few years of our lives play out.

One progressive candidate we are profiling is Latasha Palmer (she/her), is looking to make a difference in her community on the city council in her first-ever election. Latasha, a queer Black millennial woman, is running to expand the political power of labor unions, build a green local economy, protect LGBTQ+ rights, and uplift BIPOC leadership. At one point homeless, Latasha became the first person in her family’s history to graduate from college (Columbia University) and went on to work as a community organizer at the Hilltop Action Coalition and the Aya Community Land Trust. Devoted to the natural environment, this anime fan and devoted mother of three still finds peace in the great outdoors.

Where are you based?
Hilltop, Tacoma

What is your position/what position are you running for?
Tacoma City Council, at-large position 6.

How would you briefly summarize your platform?
If elected, my top priority will be restoring trust and stability in Tacoma at a time when families are facing serious challenges. Our city is confronting a budget deficit, a growing homelessness crisis, uneven investment across neighborhoods, and the impacts of federal systems that are failing to meet people’s needs. Many residents feel disconnected from their government, and that loss of trust is as urgent as any policy challenge.

To address this, I will focus on three core priorities. First, housing stability: we must keep people in their homes, create permanent affordability through community land trusts and social housing, and make sure development incentives strike a fair balance. They should encourage mixed-income housing and affordability, but not hand out excessive profits to developers at the expense of residents. Second, economic security: I will champion family-wage jobs that build Tacoma’s future, like clean energy retrofits, climate-smart construction, and workforce training pipelines, while ensuring local businesses have the support they need to succeed and keep dollars circulating in our neighborhoods. Third, neighborhood hubs: these will serve as centers of civic power, resource access, and problem-solving. By giving residents a real seat at the table, these hubs will reduce reliance on crisis response while building stronger, more connected communities.

These priorities reflect my commitment to practical, community-based solutions. By investing in housing, jobs, and neighborhood hubs, Tacoma can weather today’s crises and emerge as a more stable, affordable, and united city.

What inspired you to run?
I was inspired to run because I understand what it feels like to navigate broken systems and feel powerless in the face of loved ones’ struggles. I’ve been there myself. When my children lost their father to mental illness, it was more than a personal tragedy. It exposed the deeper truth of how our systems fail people like him: people of color, children of immigrants, and veterans neglected by the very institutions meant to support them. And now, with the current Administration attempting to dismantle these already fragile systems while Congress stands by, the well-being of Tacoma residents depends on bold local and state leadership.

Tacoma is my hometown. I grew up here, I’m raising my kids here, and I know how much potential this city holds. To meet this moment, we need bold, innovative solutions and leaders who believe that lasting change only comes when everyone affected is at the table. I know we can solve our toughest challenges when we work together block by block. This time calls for something more, and I am ready to lead with the vision and urgency Tacoma deserves.

What change are you hoping to bring to your district and country?
The change I aim to implement is a shift in our problem-solving approach. Too often, governments react after a crisis instead of investing in prevention and stability from the start. In Tacoma, that looks like making housing affordable for the long term, building genuine partnerships with neighborhoods, and ensuring workers and small businesses can prosper without being pushed out.

I also want to change who feels heard in City Hall. Decisions are stronger when they’re made with the people most affected at the table, whether that’s families facing displacement, workers fighting for fair wages, or young people demanding climate action.

Nationally, I hope Tacoma can be a model that shows communities don’t have to wait on Congress to act. By building bold, local solutions rooted in equity and community care, we can inspire other cities to follow our lead and prove that real change grows block by block.

What do you feel are the most important issues right now, why, and how do you plan to tackle them?
If elected, my focus will be on prevention, addressing problems at their root so we aren’t constantly paying more to manage crises once they grow.

On housing and homelessness, prevention means urgent action and systemic change. In the short term, we must strengthen alternative response programs, reallocate shelter beds to meet needs better, and expand Housing First models that quickly get people inside, while coordinating regionally so our city is not carrying this challenge alone. Stable housing also depends on more than shelter. Families need living-wage jobs, access to health care, and emergency assistance to cover costs like utilities before they fall into crisis. I support the Workers Bill of Rights because protecting wages and job stability reduces housing insecurity citywide. In the long term, Tacoma must build housing that stays affordable for generations through community land trusts and social housing.

On the budget deficit, prevention means using our dollars wisely. I know what to look for in a budget, not just line items, but whether spending produces real results for residents. I’ll ask tough questions, evaluate outcomes, and make trade-offs transparent. We must cut waste from ineffective programs and invest more in what works. At the same time, we need fair revenue strategies that ensure large corporations and high-profit sectors contribute so that small businesses and working families are not carrying an uneven share.

On public safety, prevention means reducing emergencies before they happen. That requires fully staffing, training, and nurturing community partnerships with fire, police, and public works to improve response times, morale, and trust. It also requires addressing root causes such as unstable housing, untreated mental health needs, and a lack of youth opportunities. By investing in neighborhood hubs that connect residents to resources and civic power, we can reduce crises while building safer, stronger communities.

America is extremely divided these days. How would you hope to bridge that divide with your constituents to better unite Americans?
America feels more divided than ever, and people are tired of leaders who only deepen those divides. What gives me hope is that at the local level, neighbors still come together to solve problems. As someone running for a citywide position, my duty is to bring the whole city together. That means creating opportunities and spaces where collaboration can thrive. Community Development Corporations, or CDCs, are one example. They are nonprofit, community-driven organizations that bring residents, businesses, and local institutions together to make decisions about housing, safety, and economic development.

These spaces do more than solve problems. They build civic awareness and familiarity. They help my working-class constituents see that they are fighting for the same things, and they help my big business constituents understand that their long-term success is tied to the well-being of working families.

As a council member, I would support and expand these kinds of spaces while keeping the focus on what unites us: safe neighborhoods, stable housing, good jobs, and a healthy future for our kids. By grounding our work in community care and practical solutions, we can model a different way forward, one that shows Tacoma and the country that we do not have to agree on everything to make progress together.

How do you see your unique identity and background to be an asset to you in office?
I want to serve on the Tacoma City Council because my life experience and community leadership have prepared me to fight for a city where everyone has stability, security, and a stake in our future. I grew up here, and I am raising my children here. As a single mother, caregiver, and first in my family to graduate from college, I understand the struggles of working families trying to make it in Tacoma. Those lived experiences fuel my commitment to build a city that puts people first.

I am the only candidate committed to putting people, neighborhoods, and Tacoma’s future ahead of special interests. That means keeping housing affordable, partnering with major employers to ensure every worker earns a living wage, and supporting small businesses that keep our local economy strong. My focus is on practical solutions that make life more stable and affordable for families across the city.

I am also ready to govern on day one. My service on Tacoma’s Charter Review Committee gave me deep knowledge of how our city works and how to design solutions that are grounded in research and evidence. Every recommendation we made was built on national models and informed by the people in Tacoma who would be most affected. I have already been building partnerships with community leaders, unions, and local business owners, and I will carry that collaborative, evidence-based approach to City Hall.

I want to be on Council because I know Tacoma can rise to meet this moment, and I am prepared to lead in a way that starts closest to home, block by block. Our neighborhoods have the expertise and the will to solve problems when City Hall gives them the tools and the voice to do so.

With State Senator Yasmin Trudeau, who Jejune featured in 2024

What is your motto in life?
My motto in life is rooted in a philosophy I’ve learned from Buddhist teachings, one that speaks to universal human experience: impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and selflessness.

Impermanence reminds me that change is constant. Nothing stays the same forever, and that means even our most significant challenges can be transformed. Unsatisfactoriness keeps me grounded in the reality that life brings struggle, but those struggles can teach us resilience and push us to build something better. Selflessness reminds me that my work and my life are not just about me. They are about what I can contribute to others, to my family, and to my community.

Together, these principles guide me to face hardship with perspective, to embrace change with hope, and to stay committed to service.

Where can we find out more about you?
I think it's vital to stay accessible to the people you wish to serve so you can find me on:

Instagram and Facebook - @latashafortacoma

TikTok- @TacomaTeawithLP

Website: latashafortacoma.com

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2025 - Latasha Palmer, Tacoma, WA City Council At-large position 6