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Campaigns and Elections

Hacks & Wonks Interviews with Seattle City Attorney Candidates

Hacks & Wonks Interviews with Seattle City Attorney Candidates

Three challengers have entered the race for Seattle City Attorney against incumbent Ann Davison.

Lightning Round Comparison

For your convenience, results of our Hacks & Wonks Lightning Round!

Q: Do you own or rent your residence? Nathan Rouse: Own, Rory O’Sullivan: Own, Erika Evans: Own Q: Are you a landlord? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: No Q: Have you ever been a member of a union? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Have you ever walked on a picket line? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Have you ever crossed a picket line? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: No, Erika Evans: No
Q: Is your campaign staff unionized? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: No, Erika Evans: No Q: If your campaign staff wants to unionize, will you voluntarily recognize their effort? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: What political party do you identify with? Nathan Rouse: Democrat, Rory O’Sullivan: Democrat, Erika Evans: Democrat Q: Have you used the Seattle Public Library system in the past month? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Have you been to a Seattle City Council meeting in person in the past year? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Didn’t ask
Q: Have you or someone in your household ever relied on public assistance? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Have you ever been stopped or questioned by police in Seattle? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Have you ever worked in retail or a job where you had to rely on tips? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Have you ever owned a business? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: No Q: Have you ever managed a team of 10 or more? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes
Q: Have you ever managed a team of 100 or more? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Have you ever reported someone’s misconduct in your workplace? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: No, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Have you ever fired someone? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: No, Erika Evans: No Q: What’s your favorite park in Seattle? Nathan Rouse: Seward Park, Rory O’Sullivan: Seward Park, Erika Evans: Cal Anderson Q: What’s your favorite restaurant? Nathan Rouse: Billiard Hoang, Rory O’Sullivan: Island Soul, Erika Evans: Sushi Kappo Tamura
Q: What was the last live performance that you saw in Seattle? Nathan Rouse: Weezer, Rory O’Sullivan: Rain City something, Erika Evans: Tems Q: Do you agree with the City Attorney’s decision to end Seattle Community Court? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: No, Erika Evans: No Q: Do you believe that SPD referrals for use and possession of controlled substances are equitable throughout the city? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: No, Erika Evans: No Q: Do you believe CAO filing decisions for use and possession are being made equitably? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: Don’t know, Erika Evans: No Q: Do you support SOAP/SODA legislation passed by the council? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: No, Erika Evans: No
Q: Do you agree with the city’s decision to jail people arrested for misdemeanor offenses in the SCORE facility in Des Moines? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: No, Erika Evans: No Q: Do you support the new safety regulations for nightlife lounges operating after 2 a.m to address gun violence and disorder? Nathan Rouse: Tentatively, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Do you support increasing funding in the City budget for violence intervention programs? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Do you believe it is inappropriate to subpoena media organizations for their records on behalf of SPD? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Need to know more, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Do you support the city’s decision to join a lawsuit that challenges Trump actions against jurisdictions that have “sanctuary” policies? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes
Q: Do you believe that the City Attorney’s Office provides sufficient data and transparency regarding their activity and outcomes? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: No, Erika Evans: No Q: In addition to the Criminal Division, should the CAO also provide quarterly reports for the Civil and Administrative Divisions? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Do you believe the CAO should make hiring decisions that include consideration of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Do you believe the CAO should incorporate DEI considerations in the design & evaluation of the effectiveness of programs & initiatives? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Should the CAO report on all financial settlements and staff costs related to claims regarding city employee conduct? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes
Q: Will you vigorously defend the city against lawsuits that oppose funding or action by Seattle’s social housing developer? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Do large corporations in Seattle pay their fair share of taxes? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: No, Erika Evans: No Q: Do small businesses pay their fair share of taxes? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Do you plan to increase funding and staffing for prosecutions of labor violations like wage theft and illegal union busting? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Do you think facial recognition should be banned in city use? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: No, Erika Evans: Waffle
Q: Did Seattle ever “defund the police”? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: No, Erika Evans: No Q: Do you think every police officer in Seattle should be required to live in the city? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: Waffle, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Have you ever been arrested? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Have you ever served on a jury? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: No, Erika Evans: No Q: Have you ever contested a traffic ticket? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes
Q: Have you taken transit in the past month? In the past week? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Have you ridden a bike in the past month? In the past week? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: No Q: What’s your favorite song? Nathan Rouse: Fetch the Boltcutters, Rory O’Sullivan: Sing, Sing, SIng, Erika Evans: Outstanding Q: What's the last song you listened to? Nathan Rouse: Nina, Rory O’Sullivan: Under the Bridge, Erika Evans: HOT TO GO! Q: What’s the most recent book you read? Nathan Rouse: Punishment Without Crime, Rory O’Sullivan: Whiteout, Erika Evans: Barracoon
Q: Have you voted in every general election in the past 4 years? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Have you voted in every primary election in the past 4 years? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: Have you made any political endorsements that you regret? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: No, Erika Evans: No Q: Have you made any political donations that you regret? Nathan Rouse: No, Rory O’Sullivan: No, Erika Evans: No Q: In 2021, did you vote for Bruce Harrell or Lorena González for Seattle Mayor? Nathan Rouse: González, Rory O’Sullivan: González, Erika Evans: Harrell
Q: In 2021, did you vote for Ann Davison or Nicole Thomas Kennedy for Seattle City Attorney? Nathan Rouse: NTK, Rory O’Sullivan: NTK, Erika Evans: Her husband Q: In 2021, did you vote for Sara Nelson or Nikkita Oliver for City Council? Nathan Rouse: Oliver, Rory O’Sullivan: Oliver, Erika Evans: Oliver Q: In 2022, did you vote for Leesa Manion or Jim Ferrell for King County Prosecutor? Nathan Rouse: Manion, Rory O’Sullivan: Manion, Erika Evans: Manion Q: In 2024, did you vote for Alexis Mercedes Rinck or Tanya Woo for Seattle City Council? Nathan Rouse: Rinck, Rory O’Sullivan: Rinck, Erika Evans: Rinck Q: In 2024, did you vote for Nick Brown or Pete Serrano for Attorney General? Nathan Rouse: Brown, Rory O’Sullivan: Brown, Erika Evans: Brown
Q: In 2024, did you vote for Bob Ferguson or Dave Reichert for Governor? Nathan Rouse: Ferguson, Rory O’Sullivan: Ferguson, Erika Evans: Ferguson Q: In 2024, did you vote for Donald Trump or Kamala Harris for President? Nathan Rouse: Harris, Rory O’Sullivan: Harris, Erika Evans: Harris Q: Will you be voting to approve the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) levy on the April 22nd ballot? Nathan Rouse: Yes, Rory O’Sullivan: Yes, Erika Evans: Yes Q: This year, on Seattle’s social housing initiative in February, did you vote for option 1A, 1B, or no to both? Nathan Rouse: 1A, Rory O’Sullivan: 1A, Erika Evans: 1A Q: Will you be voting for Claudia Balducci, John Wilson or Girmay Zahilay for County Executive? Nathan Rouse: Zahilay, Rory O’Sullivan: Undecided, Erika Evans: Zahilay

Full Interviews

Listen to or read transcripts of our interviews with them here:

Nathan Rouse

Public Defender Nathan Rouse Brings Frontline Experience to Seattle City Attorney Race
Public defender Nathan Rouse challenges incumbent Ann Davison for Seattle City Attorney, advocating a transformative approach that addresses root causes and draws from his frontline experience.
Hacks & WonksShannon Cheng

Rory O'Sullivan

Reform-Minded O’Sullivan Sets Sights on City Attorney Position
Seattle City Attorney candidate Rory O’Sullivan outlines his plans for transformative change, including restoring Community Court, improving jail conditions, protecting civil rights, and aggressively prosecuting wage theft—all guided by his 20 years of legal and policy experience.
Hacks & WonksShannon Cheng

Erika Evans

Former Federal Prosecutor Erika Evans Launches Bid for Seattle City Attorney
Former federal prosecutor Erika Evans challenges incumbent Ann Davison for Seattle City Attorney, promising to restore Community Court, address root causes of crime, and strengthen civil rights protections.
Hacks & WonksShannon Cheng

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