Lindsay Smolko (Puyallup City Council District 3 Position 2, Washington, candidate 2025)
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Lindsay Smolko is running for election to the Puyallup City Council District 3 Position 2 in Washington. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.[source]
Smolko completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
[1]Biography
Lindsay Smolko provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on October 6, 2025:
- Birth date: June 16, 1978
- Birth place: Olympia, Washington
- High school: Timberline High School
- Bachelor's: Washington State University, 2001
- Graduate: Pacific Lutheran University, 2005
- Gender: Female
- Religion: Christian: Lutheran
- Profession: Teacher
- Incumbent officeholder: No
- Campaign slogan: Classroom Tested. Community Invested.
- Campaign website
- Campaign Facebook
- Campaign Instagram
Elections
General election
The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.
General election for Puyallup City Council District 3 Position 2
Mark Crosby and Lindsay Smolko are running in the general election for Puyallup City Council District 3 Position 2 on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
| Mark Crosby (Nonpartisan) | ||
Lindsay Smolko (Nonpartisan)  | ||
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| = 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
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Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Lindsay Smolko completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Smolko's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I'm an elementary STEAM teacher, mother of two and spouse to a local small business owner. I love Puyallup's small-town charm and big-city opportunities. I love our diversity, libraries, sports fields, the farmer's market and our incredible small businesses. I want to capitalize on hiring local labor to do local jobs, support our marginalized communities because doing so is right and also important for the greater common good of our city and society. I believe in research-based solutions. I come from a family of teachers and community leaders who aren't afraid to speak up. But now it's time to do more than talk--it's time to act--and that is why I've stepped up to run for Puyallup City Council.
- I will advocate for fair wages and working conditions by supporting the use of union workers on city projects. I will push for city policies that prioritize the use of union labor on city projects.
I will collaborate with unions and contractors to ensure fair wage agreements.
I will monitor city project bids to ensure they align with labor standards and support workforce development programs. - I will ensure transparent communication and actively listen to all Puyallup citizens’ concerns and ideas. I will hold regular public forums, town halls, or listening sessions to engage with residents--particularly working hard to engage people in civic opportunities. I will use social media, newsletters, and city website updates to keep citizens informed about local government actions and proposals. I will establish feedback channels where residents can easily share concerns and suggestions, and ensure they are addressed publicly.
- I will work to create an inclusive and respectful city government that represents the diverse voices of our community. I will lead by example in fostering respectful dialogue and valuing diverse perspectives. I will support policies that promote equitable access to city services and opportunities. I will build partnerships with community organizations representing different groups to ensure all voices are heard in decision-making processes.
I am most passionate about public policies that center people, equity, and education. The arts, STEM, special education and adaptive program are keys to strengthening public education. I feel strongly about social and economic equity, women's rights and reproductive freedom, community health and well-being, and the arts, culture and public expression.
The Puyallup City Counci is not part of the state government or legal system in a hierarchical sense. Instead, it gets its powers from the state to govern and manage within its jurisdiction. Its importance and unique qualities lie in its direct responsiveness to local needs and its specific role in implementing state laws.
My parents were both high school teachers and my first most important role models, to be sure--both strong advocates for human rights, global citizenship, the arts and athletics. My mom operates with a more assertive approach to addressing political and social issues in conversation with others. My dad is a more astute listener who demonstrates care for what others think and feel as well as for his own ideals. I strive to embody both of their styles--passionately pursuing "liberty and justice for all" any way that I can, unafraid to speak up when necessary. And I know that active listening to truly understand what the other person is saying is the first and most powerful way to to gain trust and build a collaborative connection with them. I would like to continue emulating both of my parents in this way.
Overall, you have to be able to see the "gray" in issues; very little in this world is "black and white." While seeing the nuances, a leader also has to be hot or be cold when it comes to decision-making; lukewarm tendencies will never get the job done. In more detail, the following principles or characteristics are most important: 1) Transparency: Elected officials must be open about their decisions and actions. They should provide clear reasons for their choices and only withhold information when the public interest explicitly requires it. 2) Upholding the rule of law: Elected officials are bound to respect and uphold the laws and constitution of the country they serve. 3) Competence and critical thinking: Officials should do their homework and be prepared to make informed decisions. They must be able to consider the long-term consequences of their choices and avoid creating future problems. 4) Active listening: A true leader listens more than they speak, seeking to understand the concerns, ideas, and perspectives of others.
Above all, city council member are elected to advocate for the needs and concerns of the people they serve.
In a nutshell, key duties of a Puyallup City Council member include creating and amending zoning and land use laws, voting on ordinances and resolutions, approving contracts and expenditures, and engaging with residents to understand and advocate for their issues.
In a nutshell, key duties of a Puyallup City Council member include creating and amending zoning and land use laws, voting on ordinances and resolutions, approving contracts and expenditures, and engaging with residents to understand and advocate for their issues.
I'd love to see more average, everyday citizens willing to step up and govern in the best interest of their neighbors--those they know and those they don't. Encouraging and fostering greater civic engagement--battling and beating back apathy--is a legacy I'd like to leave.
I remember the start of the Iraq War when I was in middle school--and wearing copper bracelets engraved with an a soldier's name. Through school, I had a soldier pen pal I wrote to--his name was Richard Chamberlain, oddly enough, but I never heard back from him. To this day, I've hoped he made it out alive and well.
I started babysitting for multiple neighborhood families when I was 12 years old. I baby sat regularly through high school. My parents prioritized my education over more rigid employment, so I babysat most weekends. I have always loved working with children. The summer after I graduated, I worked for a company that staffed the concession stands at several local baseball parks. That was my first W2 job, for sure. I worked for them for 2 summers before pursuing jobs more in line with my future career goals and hobbies.
The first book that really made me a reader was in 4th grade when my mom gave me a copy of "Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret," and I couldn't put it down. I saw myself, in all my prepubescent awkwardness and curiosity and got the answers to questions I hadn't fully formulated yet. From there, I read "Clan of the Cave Bear" and "The Shining," and I've been a constant reader of novels of many genres ever since. I prefer historical fiction like those written by Kristin Hannah. "The Women" is a more recent fave.
Easy--Jo from "Little Women;" she is the fictional character I have related to most since I first read the novel and saw the Susan Sarandon film version with my 3 best high school girlfriends. We each identified with a different sister, and it was a serendipitous moment in time for us.
I have struggled with symptoms of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), but when I discovered the power of performing--as a dancer and actor in high school theater and on paper as a writer--I found greater focus and peace in everything I do.
The council has the final say on appointments to most volunteer boards and commissions.
Shaping city policy: While the mayor nominates individuals, the council's approval is required to confirm volunteers who advise on key city issues, from land use to historic preservation. This creates a path for residents to influence city policy from within the advisory structure, but council approval is the key to entry. And the current council has selected community volunteers who will bend to the will of the majority council member sub-group instead of what is desired or needed by the city of Puyallup's citizens.
Shaping city policy: While the mayor nominates individuals, the council's approval is required to confirm volunteers who advise on key city issues, from land use to historic preservation. This creates a path for residents to influence city policy from within the advisory structure, but council approval is the key to entry. And the current council has selected community volunteers who will bend to the will of the majority council member sub-group instead of what is desired or needed by the city of Puyallup's citizens.
Yes, but not too much--for the role of City Council, I think it's best to have attendedCity Council meetings to observe how they operate and become familiar with the issues. A heart for volunteerism is key--having leadership experience in any service organization is certainly helpful. Above all, it's critical to educate yourself on local issues, the city's governance, and community needs to prepare to make the most thoughtful decisions possible.
Decision-making: Council members must consider all available evidence and make sound judgments, even on difficult and controversial issues, without being swayed by public pressure or personal bias.
Resource management: Council members must effectively manage city resources and explore alternative revenue sources.
Collaboration and teamwork: A healthy governing body works as a team with the city manager and staff. Council members should advocate for their positions while remaining open-minded and respectful of their colleagues.
Key qualities include being the closest level of government to residents for addressing daily issues, the ability to set the city's strategic direction, and representing community values through policy decisions on economic development, public safety, infrastructure, and quality of life.
25th Legislative District Democrats, WEA-PAC, Indivisible Puyallup, Environmental Coalition of Pierce County, Fair Vote Washington Democracy Champion
Stacy Abrams has been my political inspiration for several years now; her commitment to equity, justice and government accountability is inspiring. At a celebration for high school valedictorians, Abrams, who was valedictorian of her class, was initially blocked by a security guard from entering the Georgia Governor's Mansion. Abrams recounts that she remembers nothing else from the event except for "a man standing in front of the most powerful place in all of Georgia and telling me I don't belong". The memory fueled her understanding of how institutions, even through subtle barriers, can deny people a sense of belonging. I listen to her weekly podcast, "Some Assembly Required," and she is the one I first heard say that solving today's political issues in this country would require that everyday citizens be willing to govern.
In 2024, I was selected by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum to become a member of the Teacher Innovator Institute. Hundreds apply each year, and 30 are chosen. For the past two years, I have gladly accepted their challenges to learn about high-tech engineering and design principles I then take those lessons and tools into my elementary STEAM classroom. It's the best job on the planet--and I'm so grateful to NASM and my school district for supporting bringing such unique opportunities to our youngest students.
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Other survey responses
Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Smolko completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
