Shoreline City Councilmember Christopher Roberts announces bid for State Representative

Chris Roberts is running for State Rep
from the 32nd District

The 32nd District is getting a new representative. Longtime public servant Ruth Kagi is retiring from the legislature. Shoreline city councilmember and former mayor Chris Roberts will run for the now vacant seat.

Roberts, currently in our nation’s capital for a meeting of municipal officials from across the country, says his civic experience gives him the tools to be an effective representative for the 32nd district.

“I worked with the state legislature on crucial civic funding packages for Shoreline,” Roberts stated, adding “I’ve built and forged the relationships that will help me hit the ground running for our communities.”

Roberts, who also acts as a legislative liaison with the State PTA, said he respects and plans to continue Representative Kagi’s work on addressing gun violence and education.

"I am running for State Representative because we should not live in a society where my son has nightmares about someone with a gun coming to his school. I am running because my neighbor should not be scared in public because of the color of her skin. I am running to roll up my sleeves and solve our State’s problems, from improving customer service with the Department of Social and Health Services to improving the graduation rates of urban Indians. I want to make sure that no one goes bankrupt because they saw the doctor and that seven generations from now, they will tell stories about how we protected our Salish Sea."

Roberts said he looks forward to having conversations with residents across the district, focusing on ways Olympia can help improve their lives or reduce their financial burden.

“Children and families deserve safe public schools and safe homes. Essential elements of being safe include not having to worry about where a next meal is coming from, if your family can afford rent or mortgage, if you can afford see a doctor and buy medicine, or whether you’ll be treated fairly regardless of who you are.”

“Government can’t do everything for everybody,” Roberts explained, “but it can find ways to make life a little easier. I’m running because I know we can work together to make the 32nd District an even better place to live and raise a family.”

Roberts, an enrolled tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, would be the first tribal member to represent Seattle in the State legislature.He holds a PhD in political science and serves on the Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Board.

Roberts and his family reside in Shoreline. Voters are invited to learn more at www.votechrisroberts.com.