Ryan Mc Allister of Brinnon is the first announced candidate in the upcoming race for Commission District 3 in Jefferson County, a seat currently held by Commissioner Kathleen Kler. Kler has not yet announced whether she will seek re-election.

BACKGROUND

Mc Allister, 30, has lived in Jefferson County’s Commission District 3 for 11 years. He is currently employed as an emergency room technician. Before that, he was a firefighter, he said in a press release Feb. 19.

Mc Allister also is a shop steward and union organizer for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21. He said he has negotiated successful contracts for more than 1,000 hospital employees. He and his wife, Vicky, also own a small mobile food business.

Within the Jefferson County Democratic Party, Mc Allister serves as the elected state committee member representing the county’s priorities at the state level. He also chairs the Code of Conduct Committee, serves on the Technology Committee, and is the founder and chair of the Jefferson County Young Democrats. He also serves as a volunteer for the Duckabush Citizens monitoring project in Brinnon, where he lives.

Mc Allister was selected as an at-large delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, and was one of only 10 delegates to be added statewide to the delegation from Washington.

A local organizer in support of Sen. Bernie Sanders during that election cycle, Mc Allister voiced concerns with moving money out of politics and creating a more equitable society.

GOALS

Mc Allister told The Leader he was motivated to run for this election cycle “because the South County is my home, in all of its diversity and differing political views,” and he believes District 3 needs a commissioner who “can reach across social and political boundaries, something I’ve proven I can accomplish.”

Mc Allister said the most pressing concern facing the county is “restoring and fostering trust back into our local government,” particularly with the residents of District 3.

“If the citizens trust their government, they will become an engaged and active citizenry,” Mc Allister said. “With that we can solve issues together as a community.”

At the age of 30, Mc Allister believes his relative youth would be a positive contribution by providing “a more accurate representation” of the county.

“For me, the status quo represents a system that favors the affluent retired members of our community, who have the privilege of time to influence our politics,” Mc Allister said. “I will make it easier for the younger generation in our community to have a voice and a platform for their issues.”

Mc Allister has been attending Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meetings regularly since 2016, and estimates that he manages to make 85 percent of the BOCC’s weekly meetings, in spite of their scheduled time of 9 a.m. on Mondays, which he deemed “not ideal for the working class,” since “the only people in our county that have the privilege of attending and having their voices heard are largely the retired in our community.”

When asked about the BOCC’s shooting range moratorium, Mc Allister said he supports it.

“I believe it’s in the best interest of the community to pause and take a detailed look at the possible impacts,” Mc Allister said.

When asked about the proposed Pleasant Harbor Master Planned Resort, Mc Allister said he doesn’t support further development in Pleasant Harbor.

“As a shop steward and union organizer, I’m constantly weighing the pros and cons of economic development, and an increase in jobs,” Mc Allister said. “As a resident of the Brinnon community, I do not believe the remaining two phases of the MPR will be beneficial to the surrounding area, and may even further displace some local business, and have a negative effect on the environment.”