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Susan Soto Palmer (Yakima County Commissioner District 2, Washington, candidate 2024)

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Susan Soto Palmer

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Candidate, Yakima County Commissioner District 2

Elections and appointments
Last election

August 6, 2024

Education

High school

Mary Carroll High School

Associate

Del Mar College, 1994

Personal
Birthplace
Corpus Christi, Texas
Religion
None
Profession
Legal assistant
Contact

Susan Soto Palmer (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Yakima County Commissioner District 2 in Washington. She was on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024.[source]

Palmer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

[1]

Biography

Susan Soto Palmer provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on July 12, 2024:

Elections

General election

General election for Yakima County Commissioner District 2

Susan Soto Palmer and Kyle Curtis ran in the general election for Yakima County Commissioner District 2 on November 5, 2024.


Candidate Connection = 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 Yakima County Commissioner District 2

Susan Soto Palmer and Kyle Curtis ran in the primary for Yakima County Commissioner District 2 on August 6, 2024.


Candidate Connection = 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.


Election results

Endorsements

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

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Susan Soto Palmer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Palmer's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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My journey into community engagement began during the 2012 presidential election. Inspired and activated, I knocked on doors, attended rallies and participated in grassroots organizations. In 2016, I ran for the 14th Legislative District Representative Position 1, introducing Senator Bernie Sanders to a crowd of 7,000 in Yakima. My involvement extended to serving as a Party Leader and Elected Official National Delegate for Bernie Sanders at the 2016 DNC.

In 2018, I ran for Yakima County Commissioner District No. 3, securing an impressive 26% of primary election votes. Despite the general election outcome, I remain resolute in my mission to engage voters and protect vulnerable communities.

I have been a staunch advocate for voting rights in Washington State, participating in legal battles such as the Aguilar, et al. vs. Yakima County Commissioners lawsuit and the Soto Palmer vs. Hobbs federal voting rights act lawsuit. Beyond the courtroom, I believe in collective action as a driver of progressive change.

With over 30 years of legal experience as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal, I bring a multifaceted background and unwavering dedication to effect positive change in Yakima County and beyond.
  • Equity, Justice and Economic Empowerment: Susan promotes fairness and justice for neglected and underserved communities, including housing justice, quality education, accessible healthcare and resource equality. Susan is also dedicated to improving our local economy, ensuring prosperity for ALL residents. Let’s dismantle the systemic barriers together!
  • Environmental Advocacy: Susan supports green policies to protect our environment and preserve our natural resources. Let’s create a sustainable future together!
  • Community Safety, Transparency and Accountability: Susan prioritizes safety, working to create a secure environment for everyone. Susan believes in open communication with the community. Let’s build transparency, collaboration and community empowerment together!
Investing in our county's future involves a multifaceted approach and many issues intersect making it essential to address these intersections holistically to create positive change. Protecting and preserving our natural resources and environment; addressing disparities to uplift all residents including historically underserved communities and improving community safety.
County Commissioners serve both executive and legislative functions as dual roles. They have legislative authority granted by state constitutions and laws to create local regulations which affect land usage, and environmental matters, and they possess executive powers.
A huge influence to shift my political philosophy to more progressive solutions is Senator Bernie Sanders. Senator Sanders has advocated for progressive policies for years and there is much material that can be reviewed to better understand.
An effective elected official embodies transparency, accountability and a commitment to equitable development. They strive to create strong, safe, healthy and livable environments for all residents. Additionally, they prioritize evidence-based decision-making, even if it diverges from their party’s stance. Being open to vetted facts ensures thoughtful governance that benefits the entire community. Inclusivity, environmental stewardship, social justice advocacy, active community engagement and a collaborative approach are also hallmarks of progressive leadership.
Equitable Resource Allocation: A commissioner ensures that county resources are distributed fairly, prioritizing underserved communities. They advocate for funding programs that address housing, education, healthcare, and infrastructure disparities.

Environmental Stewardship: They actively work to protect natural resources, promote clean energy and address climate change. They collaborate with local agencies, organizations and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation to create sustainable policies.

Community Engagement: Commissioners engage with residents through town halls, community meetings and active listening. They seek input on key decisions and involve the public in shaping policies.

Social Justice Advocacy: Commissioners champion civil rights, equity and justice. They work to dismantle systemic inequalities, combat discrimination and promote inclusivity.

Collaboration and Partnerships: Commissioners collaborate with other elected officials, community organizations, neighboring counties and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. They build partnerships to address shared challenges and find innovative solutions.

A Commissioner is committed to positive change, transparency and community well-being.
The first historical event that I can remember in my lifetime is when John Lennon tragically died in 1980. I was 10 years old and I remember vividly being at school and feeling such sadness and pain. It was very profound for me and I did not consider myself a fan at that time.
County Commissioners approve budgets, oversee spending and hire county employees. They also enact local ordinances and administer them.
Experience can be beneficial but it is not necessary. It is more important that the holders are committed to the characteristics/principles described above.
Utilizing the characteristics/principles described herein. Being able to understand local, state and federal policies and stay updated. Creative problem-solving and analytical thinking to tackle issues. The ability to allocate resources, prioritize spending and oversee the county budget.
OneAmerica Votes; National Women's Political Caucus of Washington; Yakima and South Central Counties Labor Council
Both are very important and should be expected of our government and elected officials.

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.

See also


External links

Footnotes