JASON RANTZ

Rantz: Sawant challenger doesn’t live in district, but still cares more

Nov 30, 2018, 5:48 AM | Updated: Dec 3, 2018, 10:12 am

Beto Yarce...

(Courtesy of Beto Yarce campaign)

(Courtesy of Beto Yarce campaign)

Beto Yarce announced his challenge to Kshama Sawant for City Council and there’s already some mild controversy. He doesn’t really live in the district, even if he has historical ties to Capitol Hill.

鷡շ:Sawant officially has challenger for City Council seat

Yarce and his husband actually live in Mill Creek. In October, Yarce entered into a short term, month-to-month rental in Capitol Hill and is currently registered to vote in District 3.

According to his campaign statement:

District 3 has been my home for 12 years. I lived on Capitol Hill when I first arrived in Seattle, and remained there until my partner and I relocated to Mill Creek to be closer to his job. For those 4 years, I have worked and served here in District 3, growing the non-profit I manage, serving on Boards, and volunteering in the community. Our plan has always been to move back home and we are in the process of doing that now.

Yarce is the first serious challenger to Sawant, who, as I have been reporting for months, may not run for re-election. She’s currently choosing whether or not she’ll take a job with the national Socialist group.

Convenient relocation?

The decision to announce in a district he doesn’t have current stable ties to may have you wonder if he’s only running in the district because Sawant has lost much of her stable activist support. Union members, in the last year, have started to turn on Sawant after she became the face of the job-killing Amazon tax and her crusade against a new police contract, which benefited the union members in the Seattle Police Officer’s Guild.

But I think it’s a mistake to use this against him.

Rent is high in the district of his supposed-choosing, and there’s no doubt he’ll use that fact to deflect from criticism that he doesn’t live in the district. Despite being a technical outsider, Yarce clearly has genuine interest in the neighborhood he wants to represent. In fact, I’d argue he’s more focused on issues of the district than Sawant is, who frequently tackles bigger picture issues to forward the national Socialist movement.

During his campaign kick off, Yarce noted that Sawant “…needs to focus on the needs of her district.” This will be one of his key attacks on Sawant.

And there’s no reason to believe this line of criticism will hurt Yarce.

Progressive hero Pramila Jayapal when she ran the first time, and she cruised to victory (she has since moved to the district.) Same goes for Sarah Smith, the Socialist challenger to Rep. Adam Smith; she in the district she ran for. On the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH, Smith , even if she ended up losing — but not because of this issue.

While I’ll likely disagree with him on policy, since we appear miles away ideologically, don’t count on me calling him out for where he currently resides.

UPDATE: I added a correction. Earlier I wrote that Jayapal doesn’t currently live in the district (based on a WaPo report), but her office explained that she has moved into the district after her first election.

Listen to the Jason Rantz Show weekday mornings from 6-9 a.m. on KTTH 770 AM (or HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here.

Jason Rantz on AM 770 KTTH
  • listen to jason rantzTune in to AM 770 KTTH weekdays at 3-7pm to The Jason Rantz Show.

Jason Rantz Show

Jason Rantz

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Senator pushes bill benefitting sex offender?

Jason Rantz unpacks his exclusive story about a Washington Democrat who pushed for softer child sex crime penalties to help her friend with a predator son. Listen to The Jason Rantz Show on Seattle Red or livestream on the Seattle Red YouTube Channel weekdays from 3pm – 7pm or on demand wherever you podcast!

3 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: King County Court lets a rapist go?

The King County Superior Court accidentally released a convicted rapist from custody, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (KCPAO) confirmed to “The Jason Rantz Show.” A jury found Noel D. Stepney guilty of Rape in the Second Degree on June 11. According to the KCPAO, he has a combined 33 convictions and charges stemming from […]

4 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: AM 770 KTTH becomes Seattle Red

Bonneville Seattle has officially rebranded AM 770 KTTH as Seattle Red, launching a fresh conservative media presence for the Pacific Northwest. The change marks more than just a name—it’s a mission. Listen to The Jason Rantz Show on Seattle Red or livestream on the Seattle Red YouTube Channel weekdays from 3pm – 7pm or on […]

4 days ago

A shot from the KING 5 studio control room when Jason Rantz was allowed on the station. (Photo: Jas...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: Seattle’s ‘Resistance TV’ pushes another story making criminal illegal immigrant the victim

KING 5 news wants you to think a criminal illegal immigrant is the victim for being deported. Maybe that's why they don't detail his crime.

6 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Are WA murder rates really going down?

Jason Rantz explains why the new data showing that Washington’s murder rates are declining isn’t exactly what it seems. Listen to The Jason Rantz Show weekdays from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. on AM 770 KTTH or on-demand wherever you listen to podcast

8 days ago

UNRWA is hosting a 5k run in Redmond this Sunday. (Photo: Listener submission)...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: UNRWA 5K walk/run for Hamas sympathizers in Redmond this weekend

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) USA is hosting the annual “Gaza 5K,” which is basically a PR rebrand for Hamas.

10 days ago

Rantz: Sawant challenger doesn’t live in district, but still cares more