My opponent

I’m running for office because of my opponent, Sarah Rumbaugh. I’ve had numerous interactions with her. They’ve been extremely frustrating. I don’t think she should be in office.

Before her election to Tacoma City Council, Sarah Rumbaugh’s career was in political fund raising. If you’re concerned about money in politics, you should be concerned about her.

I first reached out to Sarah Rumbaugh to address the issue of homeless camps in the park behind our house in June of 2023. It took a month to get in contact with her through a maze of web form, admin and then evasive emails. I was finally able to organize an online meeting. During that meeting I was told variously that nothing could be done about homeless camps, that city staff is well aware of issues and even congratulated on feeling safe walking in the park full of homeless camps. Sarah proudly told me how in her Brown’s Point neighborhood they had success fencing off a park so no one could use it. She suggested we could do that with more parks.

Another time I waited through a five hour long city council meeting in an attempt to speak with Sarah Rumbaugh. When I went up to her after the meeting she told me that after a meeting is not a good time to talk to your city council person. Personally, I can’t think of a better time.

In yet another unpleasant encounter, she joined a walk I’d requested with Deputy Mayor John Hines of a section of the Bayside Trail. She clearly didn’t want to walk on the trail. Once on the trail she falsely stated it was closed and unsafe. Led to the bottom of the trail, she clearly wanted to end the conversation and was unwilling to discuss how the city might maintain our public land. She told me over and over that issues were difficult and complex.

That at the core is my objection to having Sarah Rumbaugh on our city council. When confronted with an issue I’ve seen her offer excuses, blame other council members and say the issue is complex and unsolvable. I haven’t been able to pin her down on opinions. During her tenure our district has deteriorated. In all that, she holds herself above the electorate, a position I find abhorrent for an elected official.

In the last five years there’s been a problem with cars camping illegaly along Marine View drive. They monopolize the viewpoints and dump garbage. Rather than dealing properly with those cars by towing them, Sarah Rumbaugh worked to have all the turnouts along Marine View drive closed. This deprives the public of some of the best and most accessible views in Tacoma.

Blocking off public spaces like this is typical of Rumbaugh’s policy. I’ve found it very disapointing.