Pat Murakami

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Pat Murakami

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 6, 2019

Personal

Profession

Business owner

Contact

Personal website

Pat Murakami ran for election to the Seattle City Council to represent District 3 in Washington. Murakami lost in the primary on August 6, 2019.

Murakami completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.

Murakami was a candidate for Position 9 representative on the Seattle City Council in Washington. Murakami was defeated in the general election on November 7, 2017.

Elections

2019

See also: City elections in Seattle, Washington (2019)

General election

General election for Seattle City Council District 3

Incumbent Kshama Sawant defeated Egan Orion in the general election for Seattle City Council District 3 on November 5, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kshama Sawant (Nonpartisan)	51.8	22,263
		Egan Orion (Nonpartisan)	47.7	20,488
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	205

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 42,956
= 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 Seattle City Council District 3

The following candidates ran in the primary for Seattle City Council District 3 on August 6, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kshama Sawant (Nonpartisan)	36.7	12,088
✔		Egan Orion (Nonpartisan)	21.5	7,078
		Pat Murakami (Nonpartisan)	13.0	4,279
		Zachary DeWolf (Nonpartisan)	12.6	4,147
	Submit photo	Ami Nguyen (Nonpartisan)	9.2	3,028
		Logan Bowers (Nonpartisan)	6.8	2,250
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	59

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 32,929
= 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.

2017

See also: Municipal elections in Seattle, Washington (2017)

Seattle held general elections for mayor, city attorney, and two at-large seats on the city council on November 7, 2017. A primary election took place on August 1, 2017. The top two vote recipients after the final count of the primary vote advanced to the general election. The filing deadline for this election was May 19, 2017. Incumbent M. Lorena González defeated Pat Murakami in the general election for the Position 9 seat on the Seattle City Council.

Seattle City Council, Position 9 General Election, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
M. Lorena González Incumbent	70.90%	138,824
Pat Murakami	29.10%	56,991
Total Votes		195,815
Source: King County, "November 7, 2017 General Election," accessed November 28, 2017

The following candidates ran in the primary election for the Position 9 seat on the Seattle City Council.

Seattle City Council, Position 9 Primary Election, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
M. Lorena González Incumbent	64.17%	108,602
Pat Murakami	19.71%	33,349
David Preston	8.57%	14,503
Pauly Giuglianotti	2.23%	3,782
Eric Smiley	1.81%	3,069
Ian Affleck-Asch	1.53%	2,585
Ty Pethe	1.52%	2,574
Write-in votes	0.45%	768
Total Votes		169,232
Source: King County, "2017 election results," accessed August 15, 2017

Campaign themes

2019

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Pat Murakami completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Murakami's responses.

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

Homelessness/Drug Crisis: I believe that people need more than just a space to suffer in. I want to prioritize the immediate availability of real services and proven treatment and housing strategies for our homeless population. Affordability Crisis: My plan includes an out-of-state real estate investment tax, vacant units fee, and changes to MHA that will significantly increase our affordable housing supply. I also want to start a municipal home buyers program to move our renters towards home ownership. Equitable Development: To stop gentrification and protect the character of our neighborhoods, we must work to protect legacy tenants, both residential and commercial, from unreasonable rent increases. I will also start a fund to support women and minority owned businesses.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Having lived in my district for 40 years, I have witnessed firsthand the gentrification of the Central Area. I want to stop and reverse this trend and help restore diversity to the Central Area through a home buying program and a fund to assist with development of new minority owned businesses.

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

Dr. Glover Barnes was an incredible neighborhood leader. He fought the city's redlining of the Mt. Baker neighborhood. He picketed the banks and insurance companies that wouldn't provide loans or insurance in our neighborhood. Sometimes he was the only person with a picket sign outside corporate headquarters. He and his wife made huge contributions to our community. Mt. Baker would not be the vibrant, affluent neighborhood it is today if it had not been for Glover.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

While I don't necessarily agree with all the solutions the author presents, I agree with the author's assessment of the process that lays the foundation for gentrification and the oppression of the average person in "Capital City: Gentrification and the Real Estate State" by Samuel Stein. It is a cautionary tale we should all read.

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

Empathy, honesty, transparency and loyalty to one's constituents. An elected official must be willing to work hard and dedicate most of their time to the work of their office.

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

Hard worker, good communication skills, will bring different perspectives to the decision making process, I genuinely listen to what others have to say, sincere desire to help my neighbors.

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

Listen and react to the concerns of those I represent. Ensure the health and safety of everyone who lives in or visits Seattle. To lead the policy agenda of the city. To be a good steward of Seattle's tax dollars, spending taxes wisely. To establish a social safety net so no resident of Seattle falls through the cracks. To lead Seattle to a brighter and better future.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to build a Seattle that serves everyone: a safe community, provides stable housing and offers opportunity to everyone, regardless of their life circumstances.

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

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy. I was 9 years old.

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

Clerk at Library Resources for Anchorage Public Schools. About 4 years, with time off for attending college out of state.

What happened on your most awkward date?

My date, whose name I do not remember, got drunk and I walked off the dance floor and went home alone.

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

Thanksgiving. Because people come together to enjoy each other's company and a good meal without all the pressures of gift exchanges.

What is your favorite book? Why?

"Down and Out in Paris and London" by George Orwell. It is an excellent portrayal the contrast between the haves and have nots from the perspective of someone working to exhaustion and barely scraping by to serve those who don't appreciate how easy their lives are.

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

Leslie Knope - because she is the embodiment of public service; she was honest and hardworking and was able to accomplish great things.

What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?

My husband.

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

Shawn Mendes - If I Can't Have You

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

Currently, filing out questionnaires. Seriously, my parents' deaths.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

The City Council negotiates contracts with Seattle Fire and Police Departments, and is a very important aspect of the job of the City Council.

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

Experience owning and operating a business. The ability to spend money wisely. The ability to analyze a problem from several different perspectives and find solutions that benefit the most people possible.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the local government?

Not only is this the legislative branch of the largest city in our state, but Seattle is a leader nation-wide in progressive policy making. Seattle's cultural diversity - we have over 130 languages spoken in Seattle and 99 cultures - make Seattle a wonderfully unique city and the job of being a council member that much more complex and important.

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

No. I believe the most important experience is knowing the people and issues of my district. Engaged community members often know more about how the city works and SHOULD work than career politicians.

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.

2017

Murakami's campaign website included the following themes for 2017:

“	RESTORING THE VOICE OF NEIGHBORHOODS Over the past decade neighborhoods have been left out of the planning process. Neighborhood Plans which were the result of countless hours dedicated work by community members throughout Seattle have been tossed aside and replaced by reckless up-zoning , which benefit the desires of developers. The unique character and flavor of Seattle neighborhoods is waning, replaced by monochromatically designed Lego structures. The poorly conceived model of retail down, little or no parking, and residential up aren’t sustainable because the jobs on the ground floor don’t pay well enough to allow someone to afford an apartment in the same building. We need adequate parking or high foot traffic to ensure the retail down will be successful, coupled with economic development to create jobs in industries other than retail. Community members know best what their neighborhoods need and what business models will succeed in their community. It is time for Seattle to again listen to the residents of our City. AFFORDABLE HOUSING Seattle residents have generously and repeatedly taxed themselves to help end homelessness. The larger the tax bill; the greater the number of homeless on our streets and the more long-term residents that are forced to move out of Seattle as it becomes unaffordable for them. We need to hold developers accountable to our established policies for inclusionary housing. Affordable units should be mandated in every new complex (25 to 30% per complex), and must remain affordable for the life of the structure or until the need for affordable units declines. City inspectors should verify compliance on a regular basis. THE HOMELESS CRISIS & DRUG EPIDEMIC We must put individuals living on our streets in unsafe and unsanitary conditions into shelter immediately. There is no excuse for not creating a campus environment with needed medical, mental health, social services and job counseling on-site. The campus would provide a warm, safe place to stay, with showers, laundry and 3 meals per day. Next, we must address the criminal element that has been preying on this very vulnerable population. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & LIVING-WAGE JOB CREATION Small businesses account for 64% of net new private-sector jobs. City policies should support small business success. Formation of an incentive program for companies that create new jobs and to attract new businesses to Seattle would go far in creating living-wage employment. The City's economic development needs to diversify into new sectors rather than primarily focusing on new development and construction projects. We can provide long-term jobs for the building trades by updating critical infrastructure, seismic retrofitting and energy efficiency upgrades. PEOPLE OVER DEVELOPERS Development needs to work for everyone. Currently the emphasis is on what serves the best interests of developers, many of whom aren't from Seattle, Washington or the United States. Developers need to pay impact fees for infrastructure. Seattle residents are subsidizing wealthy developers who aren't paying for the increased strain on schools, fire firefighters & police, roads, water treatment, etc. Corporate welfare must end. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY Some elected officials believe the solution to every problem is to increase taxes, as though it is as effortless as going out back to pluck the $100 bills off the magic money tree. Taxes come at a cost to everyone who lives in Seattle. We need to closely examine the budget and how effectively and efficiently the funds entrusted to the City by its residents, are spent. We have a right to require measurable outcomes for all monies disbursed by the City.	”
—Pat Murakami (2017)

Endorsements

2017

General election

The following table displays group endorsements issued in Seattle's 2017 general election. Click [show] on the box below to view endorsements.

Candidate endorsements
Endorser	Mayor	Position 8	Position 9	City attorney
Alliance for Gun Responsibility Victory Fund	Jenny Durkan	N/A	M. Lorena González (i)	Pete Holmes (i)
Democracy for America	Cary Moon	N/A	N/A	N/A
Equal Rights Washington	Jenny Durkan	Teresa Mosqueda	M. Lorena González (i)	Pete Holmes (i)
King County Democrats	Cary Moon	Teresa Mosqueda	M. Lorena González (i)	Pete Holmes (i)
M.L. King County Labor Council	Jenny Durkan	Teresa Mosqueda	M. Lorena González (i)	N/A
Seattle Education Association	Cary Moon	Teresa Mosqueda	M. Lorena González (i)	N/A
Seattle Weekly	Cary Moon	Jon Grant	M. Lorena González (i)	Pete Holmes (i)
SEIU 6	Cary Moon	N/A	N/A	N/A
SEIU 925	Cary Moon	N/A	N/A	N/A
SEIU 1199NW	Jenny Durkan	N/A	N/A	N/A
Teamsters Joint Council No. 28	Jenny Durkan	N/A	N/A	N/A
The Seattle Times	Jenny Durkan	N/A	Pat Murakami	Scott Lindsay
The Stranger	Cary Moon	Jon Grant	M. Lorena González (i)	Pete Holmes (i)
UFCW 21	Cary Moon	N/A	N/A	N/A
Unite Here Local 8	Cary Moon	N/A	N/A	N/A
Washington State Council of County and City Employees	Jenny Durkan	N/A	N/A	N/A

Primary election

The following table displays group endorsements issued in Seattle's 2017 primary election. Click [show] on the box below to view endorsements.

Candidate endorsements
Endorser	Mayor	Position 8	Position 9	City attorney
Civic Alliance for a Sound Economy (CASE)	Jenny Durkan	Sara Nelson	M. Lorena González (i)	N/A
M.L. King County Labor Council	Jessyn Farrell Bob Hasegawa	Teresa Mosqueda	M. Lorena González (i)	N/A
Metropolitan Democratic Club of Seattle	Bob Hasegawa	Teresa Mosqueda	M. Lorena González (i)	Pete Holmes (i)
Seattle Democratic Socialists of America	Nikkita Oliver	Jon Grant	N/A	N/A
Seattle Education Association	Bob Hasegawa Nikkita Oliver	Teresa Mosqueda Sheley Secrest	M. Lorena González (i)	N/A
Seattle Hospitality for Progress	Jenny Durkan	Sara Nelson	N/A	Scott Lindsay
Seattle Subway	Cary Moon	Teresa Mosqueda	N/A	N/A
The Seattle Times	Jenny Durkan	Sara Nelson	Pat Murakami	N/A
SEIU 775	Jenny Durkan	Teresa Mosqueda	N/A	N/A
Sierra Club PAC Washington State	Mike McGinn	Teresa Mosqueda	M. Lorena González (i)	N/A
Socialist Alternative Party	Nikkita Oliver	Jon Grant	N/A	N/A
The Stranger	Cary Moon	Jon Grant	M. Lorena González (i)	N/A
The Urbanist	Cary Moon	Teresa Mosqueda	M. Lorena González (i)	N/A
UFCW 21	Jessyn Farrell	Teresa Mosqueda	M. Lorena González (i)	Pete Holmes (i)
Washington Conservation Voters	N/A	Teresa Mosqueda Sara Nelson	M. Lorena González (i)	N/A
32nd District Democrats	Bob Hasegawa Mike McGinn Cary Moon	Teresa Mosqueda Sheley Secrest Hisam Goueli	Pat Murakami	Pete Holmes (i)
36th District Democrats	N/A	Teresa Mosqueda	M. Lorena González (i)	Pete Holmes (i)
37th District Democrats	Bob Hasegawa	Sheley Secrest Teresa Mosqueda	M. Lorena González (i)	Pete Holmes (i)
43rd District Democrats	Jessyn Farrell	Teresa Mosqueda	M. Lorena González (i)	Pete Holmes (i)
46th District Democrats	Jessyn Farrell Bob Hasegawa	Teresa Mosqueda	M. Lorena González (i)	Pete Holmes (i)

See also

2019 Elections

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External links

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