Alexis Mercedes Rinck
Alexis Mercedes Rinck | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Seattle City Council for Position 8 | |
| Assumed office November 26, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Tanya Woo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Pacifica, California |
| Political party | Democratic[1] |
| Education | Syracuse University (BA) University of Washington (MPA) |
Alexis Mercedes Rinck is an American politician who has served as an at-large member of the Seattle City Council since November 2024.[2] A member of the Democratic Party, she defeated incumbent appointed Council member Tanya Woo in the November 2024 special election.[1][3]
Early life and education
[edit]Rinck was born in Pacifica, California to teenage parents who met in a gang and was primarily raised by her grandparents.[4][5] She attended Syracuse University where she earned her Bachelor's degree in political science and sociology, and while in school she was a community organizer and fundraiser for Planned Parenthood.[4][6] She then moved to Seattle to attended University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy and Governance and worked as waitress while at school.[4][5]
After graduating, Rinck was a policy analyst for the Sound Cities Association before becoming a director at the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA).[5][7] While at the KCRHA, she developed the multi-jurisdictional five-year plan focusing on spending money to address homelessness on a regional scale.[4][5][8] Before running for office, Rinck worked at the University of Washington as an assistant director of policy planning and state operations.[7][8]
Seattle City Council
[edit]In January 2024, Teresa Mosqueda vacated her city-wide District 8 seat in the Seattle City Council after being elected to King County Council District 8.[9] Community activist Tanya Woo was appointed to the seat until the November 2024 special election, and whoever won that election would only serve until the end of the term and would have to run for reelection in November 2025.[10] Rinck became Woo's first of four challengers, focusing her campaign on evidence-based solutions and solving the city's budget deficit through progressive taxes.[4][8][11]
In the August primary, Rinck came in first with 50.18%, with Woo coming in second with 38.38%.[12][13] During a September debate, Rinck criticized Woo and the council for approving the Stay out of Drug Area and Stay out of Areas of Prostitution areas in the city and not funding social services with progressive taxes.[12][14] Woo defended the legislation saying the zones would help address public safety issues in high-crime areas, and criticized Rinck for the high cost of the five-year plan Rinck sheperded while at the KCRHA.[12][14]
In the general election, Rinck won with 58% of the vote to Woo's 41%.[15] She took office on November 26, following certification of the election.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Cohen, Josh (November 5, 2024). "Alexis Mercedes Rinck way ahead of Tanya Woo in Seattle Council race". Cascade PBS. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ^ a b Barnett, Erica C. (November 6, 2024). "Alexis Mercedes Rinck Wins Decisively Over Appointed City Council Incumbent Tanya Woo". Publicola. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ Yoon-Hendricks, Alexandra (November 7, 2024). "Alexis Mercedes Rinck wins citywide Seattle City Council seat". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Krieg, Hannah (March 25, 2024). "Alexis Mercedes Rinck Launches Progressive Challenge to Tanya Woo". The Stranger. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d Coughlin-Bogue, Tobias (October 31, 2024). "A Short History of Seattle City Council District 8 Candidate Alexis Mercedes Rinck". South Seattle Emerald. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ Dallas, Julia (November 5, 2024). "Alexis Mercedes Rinck in lead to beat incumbent Tanya Woo for Seattle City Council Position 8". My Northwest. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ a b Cohen, Josh (July 26, 2024). "How Seattle Council candidates differ on crime, taxes, homelessness". Cascade PBS. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ a b c HUA, Vee (March 27, 2024). "CAIR-WA Urges NWDC Ramadan Accommodations; Alexis Mercedes Rinck Eyes City Council Seat 8". South Seattle Emerald. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ "Seattle City Council seeks applicants for vacant seat". King5. January 4, 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ Trumm, Doug (January 24, 2024). "Seattle Council Appoints Morales Challenger Tanya Woo to Fill-In Council Seat". Urbanist. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ Rivera, Laura Marie (July 25, 2024). "Four candidates vie for open city council seat". Queen Anne & Magnolia News. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ^ a b c Cohen, Josh (August 16, 2024). "What Alexis Rinck's Council primary win says about Seattle politics". Cascade PBS. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ^ "King County August 2024 Primary Results" (PDF). King County Elections. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ a b Krieg, Hannah (September 19, 2024). "Tanya Woo Shadowboxes Old City Council on Debate Stage". The Stranger. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- ^ Pauley, Spencer (November 8, 2024). "Alexis Mercedes Rinck wins Seattle citywide council seat". The Center Square. Retrieved 17 November 2024.