Burien, WA – With strong showings in the August primary, progressive candidates appear poised to reshape the Burien City Council in November. Their election could bring major policy changes on homelessness, housing, and public safety—but community concerns also highlight risks if those changes move too quickly.
Primary Results Signal Momentum
The August 5 primary leaders were:
- Hugo Garcia (Position 1) with 48.7% of the vote (v. Jessica Ivey with 25.6%)
- Sam Méndez (Position 3) with 48.4% (v. Marie Barbon with 30.8%)
- Sarah Moore, incumbent (Position 5) leading with 63% (v. Gabriel Fernandez 23.3.%)
Rocco DeVito will also compete in the general election for Position 7 against incumbent Stephanie Mora. They did not have a primary race.
According to a post-primary election article in The Urbanist, “an unofficial progressive slate has emerged, and though the four candidates don’t agree on every issue, they’re in regular contact to discuss strategy and policy.” (The Urbanist Elections Committee endorsed both Moore and DeVito.)
Progressive Candidates in Burien
Progressive Priorities
The Burien progressive candidates (including two incumbents) have made clear their intention to revisit or repeal Ordinance 864, which bans public camping at all times. They argue that it criminalizes homelessness without providing adequate alternatives. Instead, they favor a Housing First approach that pairs shelter options with services.
They also support clearer rules around Ordinance 861, which permits faith-based organizations to host temporary shelters. Progressives say they want to expand these opportunities, including tiny-home villages and sanctioned car camping, while ensuring more transparent procedures.
On housing policy, the slate supports the city’s recent zoning changes under Ordinance 868, which expanded allowable density and mixed-use development. They would likely extend these reforms with renter protections and additional affordable housing incentives.
Community volunteer Kelsey Vanhee, who livestreams council meetings and supported Sarah Moore’s campaign, told The Urbanist:
“It was honestly way better than I expected … Because historically, when we have odd-year elections and primaries, we see even lower voter turnout.”
— The Urbanist, Aug. 19, 2025
Vanhee added that she is concerned about how zoning decisions are being handled:
“They’re trying to rush the comp plan amendment so that this council gets a vote for it.”
— The Urbanist, Aug. 19, 2025
Community Concerns
Not everyone is encouraged by the potential shift. Conservative Councilmember Stephanie Mora has raised concerns about Burien’s DESC facility, also known as Bloomside. She points to public safety issues and high number of police and emergency calls tied to the low-barrier housing model.
“As time has progressed, this has only been open for a year now, and I’m starting to see that everything that they said to us was a big fat lie.”
— Stephanie Mora, interview on The John Curley Show, 2025
Mora warns that if the progressives undo the camping ban, Burien could again see widespread tents in parks and public spaces. She argues that DESC’s model has already strained police and emergency services.
What a Progressive Majority Could Mean
If progressives win a majority, Burien’s policy direction could change in several areas:
- Homelessness & Encampments: The anti-camping ordinance could be repealed or softened, with expanded Housing First initiatives, outreach, and sanctioned tiny-home or village-style shelters
- Temporary Shelters: Progressives would likely strengthen options for faith-based and nonprofit organizations to expand shelter capacity.
- Housing & Zoning: Building on Ordinance 868, future measures may promote renter protections and further zoning reforms to expand affordable and middle‑income housing options.
- Public Safety: A levy to fund more deputies and emergency services will remain on the ballot, but progressives may seek to balance enforcement with investments in social services, emphasizing prevention and community-based solutions over punitive measures.
The Road Ahead
November’s election could mark a significant ideological shift in Burien. Supporters see a chance for policies that prioritize housing, equity, and services, while opponents warn of safety risks and unintended consequences tied to DESC and camping policy. The outcome will determine whether Burien continues with its current moderate course or pivots sharply toward progressive governance.
19 Responses
Not to bring light to another website but the B Town Blog has an info side tab it is called AIDLINK and every single day there are aid calls to the 1st Ave So/148th St corridor area, Transit station, and also to the DESC Building and I am not talking just once a day, it is sometimes 2 or 3 times a day. Do we want this to triple/quadruple… well it will if these 4 above all get into council together! We thought Burien was in turmoil a few months and months ago well these 4 will make it look like that was nothing, Burien is going to look like we’ve all gone to…
Thank you! AIDLINK is a listing of the live Aid responses (fire/medic/hazard). And as busy as it is, the AIDLINK live feed does NOT include the 911/police calls. We spoke with a couple Burien firefighters over the weekend and they told us they choose to travel to Burien to work (hourlong commutes) because work keeps them busy.
To have an organized, safe and prosperous society you need rules. Progressives want to throw off rules, trying social experiments using our money aiming to bankrupt the middle class, create wealthy non profits but providing no solutions. Coddling criminals, allowing drugs and dealers in downtown, making it legal for squatters to take over public spaces, using social work instead of police diverges sharply from safe civil society. The few are advantaged while the majority suffer ruin.
Thank you. Today in The Seattle Times, a “King County audit finds unapproved payments, possible fraud.” They cite internal control failure, and mention that Dept of Community and Human Services (DCHS) expanded its grant dispersal by 6700% in only six years. 2019-2020 gave out $22 million in grants. In 2024-25 it gave out $1.5 BILLION in grants.
Who are the least progressive candidates?
Thanks for asking. The most progressive Burien Council candidates are named in this article, and are also cited in The Urbanist article (Moore, DeVito, Garcia, Mendez.) They don’t agree on everything, but they align on many significant issues.
Stephanie Mora, Marie Barbon, Jessica Ivey and Gabriel Fernandez
Thanks, Dean. That will help voters to take a closer look.
Well for this household we are voting for Stephanie Mora, Marie Barbon, and Gabriel Fernandez. Stephanie of course is a re-elect but as for the other 2 we want fresh new faces in office and we believe their (all 3) thoughts on the City and to keep it going forward are the best.
A vote for those Activists is a vote for an increase in crime, squatters, junkies and feel good measures that don’t add up or pay the bills. They just gather round the lastest movements and act all do gooder but nothing comes of dreams and ridiculous ideas and nonsense. All of us need to support the other sane candidates financially and with signs posted in front yards and businesses to stop these knuckleheads from ruining Burien, and keep Seattle/King County policies in the garbage.
The existing Burien Council has made many bold strides in the name of public safety, especially as they have resisted King County dictates. Voters made a resounding choice 2 years ago (away from the progressive candidates) because there were tents on the sidewalks in the city center. What will voters focus on this election cycle?
Thanks Burien News! Always appreciate your helpful observations about our great city.
We truly will take a step back as a community if these 4 progressives (socialists) win those elected positions in November.
Thank you! It IS a great city, and Burien.News strives to provide useful information for voters and residents who want to keep it that way!
How about some pragmatism? Start with actual data, analyze it, and see where it goes. Stop with the ideologies and emotional arguments.
How much does it cost taxpayers for each homeless person per year? Some estimates found online vary from about $12,000 to about $40,000 per year. Maybe more. What does it cost in Burien? How much per person in DESC? On the street? Can we afford it? Could that money be put to better use?
What percentage of DESC “residents” are in treatment?
What percentage of DESC “residents” are “released” each year, month? How many DESC “residents” become contributing members of society each year, month? How many come back to DESC each year, month? How many die in DESC custody each year, month? How many police and fire department responses to DESC are made each year, month? What do these responses cost to Burien taxpayers? Are the taxpayers going to have to pay for some of the homeless for their expenses the rest of their life? And how much might this cost?
What about the homeless outside of DESC? Costs, numbers of homeless, where are they, …?
What are the direct and indirect costs to Burien businesses and residents? How much money, time, and effort is lost to theft? How much money, time, and effort is lost as residents avoid going to government agencies, libraries, grocery stores, bakeries, cafes, …. because they feel unsafe about walking by the homeless?
How much does it cost to pick up the trash, human waste, … on our city sidewalks and streets?
What are the near-term, mid-term, and long-term forecasts for reducing the homeless populations? How much money will this require?
Could monetary costs be reduced if the homeless were relocated elsewhere such as a rural or sparely populated area? If so, why not move them? Services are mobile.
Are all homeless people the same or could they be triaged and managed accordingly? Would some be ok in temporary housing? Some in treatment programs? Some in civil commitment?
Is there an actual plan to address and solve the homeless problem? If so, where is it?
Lots of questions, lots of emotions, lots of generalities, lots of claims, lots of whatever, but very little data is public and actionable.
To those Burien residents campaigning for public office: what say you?
To close these questions with this quote “To be an informed citizen means actively seeking reliable information, understanding the core functions of one’s government and civic processes, and using that knowledge to make reasoned decisions, participate in public discourse, and hold elected officials accountable.”
Those are practical and timely questions, especially germane to this Burien election cycle. Regarding DESC-Bloomside, you are correct – the data is not easy to find, but now that the 95-person “permanent supportive housing” has been here for one year, perhaps it’s time for a deeper analysis. What do readers think?
Ugh… I don’t want to go backwards. Hoping that those who didn’t vote in the height of summer come back ready to vote.
Keep talking to your neighbors…
Will never support or endorse any candidates who support bringing in more homeless, giving away resources for homeless. The homeless have burned every bridge that was built for them. Time to stop the madness.
Thank you. In past years, progressive council members (and a former planning chair) made sure that homeless individuals had new tents and “harm reduction” tools to help keep people in crisis and on the streets. Current moderate council members are making sure that outreach services through Kristine Moreland (The More We Love) provide support service options that include shelter, mental health treatment and drug rehab.