Steffanie Fain

Steffanie Fain

Nonpartisan

Candidate, King County Council District 5

Elections and appointments

Next election

November 4, 2025

Personal

Profession

Attorney

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Steffanie Fain is running for election to the King County Council to represent District 5 in Washington. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025. She advanced from the primary on August 5, 2025.

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

Biography

Steffanie Fain's career experience includes working as an attorney.

Elections

2025

See also: Municipal elections in King County, Washington (2025)

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for King County Council District 5

Steffanie Fain and Peter Kwon are running in the general election for King County Council District 5 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
		Steffanie Fain (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Peter Kwon (Nonpartisan)

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
= 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.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for King County Council District 5

The following candidates ran in the primary for King County Council District 5 on August 5, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Peter Kwon (Nonpartisan)	27.9	9,093
✔		Steffanie Fain (Nonpartisan)	24.2	7,896
		Kim-Khanh Van (Nonpartisan)	23.4	7,654
		Ryan McIrvin (Nonpartisan)	11.6	3,792
	Submit photo	Angela Henderson (Nonpartisan)	6.9	2,254
	Submit photo	Ahmad Corner (Nonpartisan)	6.0	1,958

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	There were no incumbents in this race. Source	Total votes: 32,647
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Fain's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us an endorsement, click here.

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Steffanie Fain completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Fain'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 second-generation Korean American, PTSA and classroom parent, healthcare and employment attorney, cancer survivor, nonprofit leader, and youth sports coach. For nearly two decades, I’ve called South King County home—volunteering and advocating for equitable healthcare, disability inclusion, and safer communities.

For the past 11 years, I’ve served on the Harborview Medical Center Board of Trustees, now as its longest-serving President. I helped lead through the pandemic, working with the County Council on major public health and safety issues. And I’ve seen how often good ideas fall short without clear plans or accountability. That’s why I’m running. I never planned to run for office—but after the last election, I felt compelled to step up. Our region needs leadership focused on results, not just rhetoric. I bring both lived experience and a track record of working across sectors to get things done. I’m proud to be endorsed by more than 65 leaders, including US Representatives Adam Smith and Marilyn Strickland, former Governor Chris Gregoire, and most of the mayors in District 5. This campaign is backed by labor, housing, and business groups—from the Building Trades to the Realtors.

For me, this isn’t politics—it’s a continuation of my community service. I’m ready to bring thoughtful, independent leadership to the Council.

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?

• Public Safety

  We need a smarter, more coordinated public safety system. Cities must have fully staffed first responders AND robust co- and alternative-responder programs that improve outcomes and allow first responders to focus on incidents that require their specialized training and authority. We must also invest upstream in violence prevention, youth programs, and mental health services, while ensuring fairness and accountability in our justice system.

  Above all, public safety must be grounded in collaboration and trust. I’ll work to align safety strategies guided by data, informed by frontline experience, and accountable to the people receiving those critical services.
• Homelessness Homelessness is a visible symptom of deeper failures in our housing and behavioral health systems. I’ll work to expand access to housing options across the board and improve service coordination so people don’t fall through the cracks. We must also hold publicly funded providers accountable for delivering results and drive regionally aligned, outcome-based strategies.
• Housing & Affordability In order to improve affordability, we must increase and preserve housing people can actually afford by engaging common-sense reforms, strong partnerships, and a coordinated regional approach. We must increase production of housing at all levels—especially middle housing and ADUs—through incentives like density bonuses, reduced parking minimums, and streamlined permitting. We must expand access to apprenticeships, job training, and workforce development to create economic mobility for working families and small businesses. With aligned planning policies on housing, land use, and transportation, as well as clear goals and shared accountability, we can build a more affordable future for all King County residents.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As a longtime Harborview Medical Center Board trustee, I know how essential behavioral health is to community safety and wellbeing. We need to treat behavioral health as part of a fully integrated continuum of care—from crisis response to detox, inpatient treatment, housing, and long-term recovery. That requires sustainable funding, stronger coordination across providers, and real-time data sharing to prevent individuals from falling through the cracks during transitions.
As a Councilmember, I’ll focus on solutions that work: aligning investments with proven strategies, listening to frontline experts, setting clear metrics, and strengthening accountability across the system to improve outcomes and public trust.

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

I look up to my parents. They built a life rooted in hard work and service. My mom immigrated from South Korea by herself when she was 22, with limited English but incredible courage. After raising three kids, she went back to school—starting at North Seattle College and earning her psychology degree from the University of Washington at age 60.
Even while working long hours and raising us without nearby family, my parents volunteered weekly at our church—taking on tasks like maintaining the church’s 1.7-acre grounds for years. I didn’t realize at the time that they were teaching us something deeper: that community isn’t just where we live—it’s how we show up for each other. Their example taught me humility, perseverance, and the power of consistent, quiet service. It’s how I strive to lead today—with integrity, care for community, and a commitment to doing the work, even when no one’s watching.

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

The most important qualities in an elected official are transparency, a willingness to listen, and the ability to work collaboratively—even with those who may not always agree. Public trust is built through open communication, clear decision-making, and a genuine commitment to community input. That means listening to frontline workers, engaging those with lived experience, and creating space for diverse perspectives at the table. Strong leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about asking the right questions, seeking common ground, and following through. Effective leaders bring people together, set clear expectations, and ensure accountability for results—not just intentions.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

I’m proud to have earned endorsements from a broad and diverse coalition—Democrats and independents, business leaders and labor unions, housing advocates and healthcare professionals. That kind of support doesn’t happen by accident. It reflects my commitment to listening first, working across differences, and focusing on practical solutions over partisan politics.

I’m honored to be supported by more than 65 current and former elected leaders, including U.S. Representatives Adam Smith and Marilyn Strickland, former Governor Chris Gregoire, and the majority of mayors across South King County.

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 Fain 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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King County Council District 5

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