James Alberson (Renton City Council Position 1, Washington, candidate 2025)

James Alberson

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Nonpartisan

Candidate, Renton City Council Position 1

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 5, 2025

Education

Bachelor's

Purdue University, 1989

Graduate

Purdue University, 1991

Personal

Religion

Christian: Baptist

Profession

Business consultant

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

James Alberson is running for election to the Renton City Council Position 1 in Washington. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source] He was on the ballot in the primary on August 5, 2025.^[source]

Alberson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

James Alberson provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on July 7, 2025:

• High school: Mifflin Sr. High
• Bachelor's: Purdue University, 1989
• Graduate: Purdue University, 1991
• Gender: Male
• Religion: Christian: Baptist
• Profession: Business Consultant
• Prior offices held:
  • City Councilmember (2022-Prsnt)
• Incumbent officeholder: Yes
• Campaign slogan: Accountability - Safety - Opportunity
• Campaign website
• Campaign Facebook
• Campaign YouTube video

Elections

General election

General election for Renton City Council Position 1

James Alberson and Michael Westgaard are running in the general election for Renton City Council Position 1 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	James Alberson (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Michael Westgaard (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Renton City Council Position 1

James Alberson, Gwendolyn Hosea-Mimms, and Michael Westgaard ran in the primary for Renton City Council Position 1 on August 5, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	James Alberson (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Gwendolyn Hosea-Mimms (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Michael Westgaard (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

James Alberson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Alberson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm a 28-year resident of Renton. I'm current President of the Renton City Council and also Chair of the Renton Regional Fire Authority Governance Board. I'm married with three daughters. I am a business owner and I work with businesses in various industries to improve the performance of their sales and management teams. In politics, I focus on providing common-sense leadership in a non-partisan manner.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Accountability - We must restore a strong sense of personal responsibility and accountability in how we govern and how we live. We must strengthen the practice of holding individuals accountable for their decisions and actions, along with the resulting consequences. That means moving beyond a culture of excuse-making and taking real steps to ensure our neighborhoods are safe and welcoming. It seems that we’ve become a society where everyone either plays the victim or makes excuses for those who have chosen to make bad decisions. Consequently, the level of safety within the community has diminished and is a top concern and priority for many Renton residents.
• Safety - I’m committed to increasing the level of safety from every angle, including supporting the Renton Police initiatives to reduce illegal activity in high problem areas, helping create an effective program to significantly eliminate encampments, and continuing to restore our parks and community spaces to areas of worry-free enjoyment and recreation for all residents.
• Opportunity - I’m equally focused on creating pathways and opportunities for residents through inclusive economic growth, workforce development, and affordable access to education and skills training. Every resident who wants to build a better life for themselves and their family should have the opportunity to do so.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Workforce development, public safety, economic development

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My father. Barack Obama is an of someone whose example I would like to follow. He led with integrity and a strong resolve to be fair and just. He rose about much of the pettiness of politics.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

It's important for an elected official to consistently make common-sense, thoughtful decisions that are not driven by party ideology or personal agendas. An elected official must be strong enough to resist being influenced or pressured to abandon what they believe to be the best course of action in order to simply go with the party agenda. They must be willing to make the tough decisions that represent the best choice for the greater good.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Intelligence, pragmatism, fairness, honesty, integrity, thoughtfulness

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The elected official has the responsibility to ask intelligent questions to fully understand issues. He/she also has the responsibility of challenging ideas or issues that are not in the best interest of the people represented by the decisions. The responsibilities of being honest, forthright, accountable, available, and open to learn and grow.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Simply making the right decisions and doing the best job possible that positively affected the greater good of the Renton residents. Paving the way for strong economic growth and opportunity for as many as possible.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The assassination attempt on President Reagan. I was 13 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Taco Bell employee. One year

What is your favorite book? Why?

Plum Island by Nelson DeMille. The novel had humor, suspense, and everything to keep you glued to the pages until the end.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Ironman

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"We are the World" , after watching a documentary of the making of the historic song.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Exhibiting patience for those who choose to take shortcuts and/or give minimal effort towards the task at hand. I struggle with the acceptance of mediocrity and low expectations.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

It's beneficial, but not necessary if they are capable and willing to learn how to be most effective in the position.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Strong communication skills. Skillful as well in the area of critical thinking.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

• Mayor Armondo Pavone

• Former Renton Mayor, Denis Law
• Renton Councilmember Ed Prince
• Renton Councilmember Ruth Perez
• Renton Councilmember Valerie O’Halloran
• King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn
• Washington Association of Realtors

• Affordable Housing Council of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Other survey responses

Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Alberson completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.

• VoteWA Profile

See also

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Candidate

Renton City Council Position 1

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