Malachi Cabera (Tacoma Metropolitan Park District Commissioner Board Position 2, Washington, candidate 2025)

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Malachi Cabera

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Tacoma Metropolitan Park District Commissioner Board Position 2

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 4, 2025

Personal

Profession

Nonprofit management

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Malachi Cabera ran for election to the Tacoma Metropolitan Park District Commissioner Board Position 2 in Washington. He was on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source]

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

Biography

Malachi Cabera provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on September 7, 2025:

• High school: Cabera attended and graduated from the Puyallup School District
• Gender: Male
• Profession: Nonprofit Management
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign slogan: Safe Parks, Healthy Lives
• Campaign website
• Campaign endorsements
• Campaign Facebook
• Campaign Instagram

Elections

General election

General election for Tacoma Metropolitan Park District Commissioner Board Position 2

Malachi Cabera and Carla Santorno ran in the general election for Tacoma Metropolitan Park District Commissioner Board Position 2 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
		Malachi Cabera (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Carla Santorno (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

To view Cabera's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Cabera in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Malachi Cabera completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cabera's responses.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Malachi Cabera is running for Tacoma Parks Commissioner, Position 2, to ensure the city’s parks are safe, accessible, and equitable for all residents. Inspired by his own childhood experience of finding stability and belonging in neighborhood parks after his family relocated to Pierce County, Cabera emphasizes the importance of parks in building strong communities. His priorities include using proactive measures such as crime mapping, community cleanups, and beautification to make parks safer; ensuring equitable investment so historically underserved neighborhoods receive fair resources; expanding ADA compliance to improve accessibility; and enhancing programming that supports youth education and opportunities for seniors to age in place. Cabera also advocates for environmental stewardship to preserve green spaces for future generations and is committed to community engagement, pledging to meet residents where they are and strengthen partnerships with local governments and the Puyallup Tribe.

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?

• Safe, Welcoming Parks for All Malachi Cabera believes Tacoma’s parks should be safe, clean, and inviting spaces where families and neighbors can gather. He supports a prevention-first approach to safety by promoting community cleanups, crime mapping, and landscape beautification, helping to deter incidents before they happen. By focusing on proactive strategies rather than solely reactive ones, Cabera aims to create parks that foster healthy lifestyles, community pride, and a greater sense of belonging for residents across Tacoma.
• Equity, Accessibility, and Opportunity Cabera is committed to ensuring that every Tacoma neighborhood benefits from well-maintained parks and quality programming. He advocates for equitable distribution of Parks Tacoma resources, directing investment to historically underserved areas. His priorities include increasing ADA compliance to improve accessibility, expanding educational programming for youth, and supporting seniors so they can remain engaged and active in their communities. Cabera’s vision is for parks to be inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome and has opportunities to thrive.
• Stewardship and Community Partnerships Cabera emphasizes the importance of protecting Tacoma’s green spaces while making them sustainable for future generations. He supports environmental stewardship through conservation and thoughtful planning, ensuring parks remain vibrant and resilient. He also values strong community partnerships, pledging to meet residents where they are and strengthen collaboration with government agencies, local organizations, and the Puyallup Tribe. Cabera believes working together will bring greater funding, cultural recognition, and long-term improvements to Tacoma’s park system.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Cabera is passionate about advancing the 10-Minute Walk and 60 by 30 initiatives to strengthen Tacoma’s parks and community well-being. The 10-Minute Walk initiative seeks to ensure every resident has a park within a ten-minute walk of their home. Currently, only 69% of Tacoma residents have this access, but targeted investments and community schoolyard transformations can help close this gap and create more equitable neighborhoods. Cabera also supports the 60 by 30 initiative, which aims for 60% of youth to be active for at least 90 minutes daily by 2030. With only 19% of Pierce County youth meeting current guidelines, he believes parks and programs are essential to improving health, fostering belonging, and supporting the next generation.

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

Integrity and Accountability – An elected official must lead with honesty, transparency, and ethical decision-making. Taking responsibility for actions and ensuring that public resources are used wisely builds the trust needed to govern effectively.

Equity and Community-Centered Leadership – Fairness, empathy, and accessibility are essential to serving all constituents. A good leader actively listens, engages with diverse voices, and ensures that historically underserved communities are not left behind.

Vision and Collaboration – Strong leadership requires balancing long-term goals with practical solutions, while working across differences to build partnerships. Courage and stewardship are key to creating policies that not only address today’s challenges but also protect resources for future generations.

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

Cabera believes that a Parks Commissioner’s core responsibilities include ensuring that parks and recreation spaces are safe, accessible, and well-maintained for all residents. The role involves strategic stewardship of public resources, including oversight of budgets, planning, and capital improvements, to provide equitable services across neighborhoods. A Parks Commissioner must also engage with the community, gathering input from residents, local organizations, and tribal partners to shape policies and programs that reflect the needs of the city. Additionally, the office is responsible for promoting environmental sustainability, public health, and recreational programming, fostering a parks system that supports physical activity, wellness, and community connection for present and future generations.

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

Cabera’s first job was at Popeyes, where he worked for six months during high school. After gaining initial work experience there, he transitioned into landscaping, developing a strong work ethic and hands-on skills while balancing school responsibilities. These early jobs helped shape his understanding of responsibility, teamwork, and the value of serving his community.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Organizations:

WEA-PAC

27th LD Democrats

Environmental Coalition of Pierce County

Indivisible Tacoma

UFCW Local 367

Pierce County Young Democrats

Pierce County Building & Construction Trades Council

Elected Leaders:

Yasmin Trudeau - 27th LD Senator

Kristin Ang – Port of Tacoma Commissioner

Chelsea McElroy – Vice President of Tacoma School Board

Joe Bushnell – Tacoma City Councilmember

Jamika Scott – Tacoma City Councilmember

Anders Ibsen – Former Tacoma City Councilmember & Mayoral Candidate

Brian Ebersole – Former Tacoma Mayor & Former Washington State Speaker of the House

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 Cabera completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.

• VoteWA Profile

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