Kauffman running for state Senate against Boyce, Kaur

Former State Sen. Claudia Kauffman has decided to run for her old 47th Legislative District seat against Bill Boyce and Satwinder Kaur.

Kauffman, a Kent Democrat, held the seat from 2007 to 2010 before losing to Republican Joe Fain in 2010. She announced her candidacy Tuesday, May 3.

“I come from a working class family with a long history of giving back to our community,” Kauffman said in a press release. “I bring a wealth of experience that no other candidate has in this race and I am ready to run and do the hard work that is necessary for the campaign. I want everyone in our district to have access to opportunities and resources for our working families, small businesses, and the community of the 47th Legislative District.”

Boyce, a Republican, and Kaur, a Democrat, are each members of the Kent City Council. The 47th District includes parts of Kent, Covington and Auburn.

The primary election is Aug. 2 and the general election is Nov. 8. King County Elections filing week for candidates is May 16-20.

During her time in the Legislature, Kauffman successfully championed legislation and policy to protect children, address equity and improve public education, according to her press release. She said her wide range of leadership in state government, policy and budgets will be extremely beneficial to the 47th District as it loses two of its three current legislators.

Sen. Mona Das, D-Kent, decided against running for a second four-year term. State Rep. Pat Sullivan, D-Covington, is retiring after 16 years in the House.

Kauffman said she is running to bring an urgent focus to some of the most pressing issues facing our state: public safety, housing affordability and education.

Kauffman is a longtime resident of South King County. She was on the Green River College Board of Trustees in Auburn from 2011 to 2017. She is chair of the Seattle Indian Services Commission, appointed by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray during his 2014-2017 term.

She serves as the Intergovernmental Affairs liaison for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe where she oversees the tribe’s legislative agenda on a local, state and federal level.

Kauffman said she is a fierce advocate for children and education. She has been a foster mother to 10 children, and advocates for foster children, developmental disabilities, and the improvement of access, equity and inclusion in education.

Kauffman has received numerous awards including the Anne Foy Baker Award from the Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Association, the Champion for Children Award from WA Children’s Alliance, the Governor’s Award of Excellence for a Lifetime of Volunteering from Gov. Christine Gregoire, and the Ruby Award for Women Helping Women from the Soroptimist International.

Among people who have endorsed Kauffman are State Rep. Debra Entenman, D-Kent (47th District); Secretary of State Steve Hobbs; State Sens. Bob Hasegawa, D-Seattle and Joe Nguyen, D-West Seattle, and State Reps. Sharon Tomiko-Santos, D-Seattle and Noel Frame, D-Seattle.

Although she has filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission, Kauffman hasn’t yet filed any contribution or spending reports.

Boyce has raised $83,418 and spent $25,123, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Kaur has raised $37,931 and spent $186.

Kauffman ran for Port of Seattle commissioner in 2017 and finished fourth in the August primary out of four candidates. Voters elected Ryan Calkins.

Voters narrowly elected Das in November 2018 to a four-year term over Fain, of Auburn, who held the seat for eight years. Das received 50.79% of the vote while Fain had 49.03%. Fain was first elected in 2010 when he beat Kauffman 55% to 45%.

Kauffman defeated Republican Michael Riley in 2006 for the seat previously held by Stephen Johnson before he decided to run for the state Supreme Court, where he lost to Susan Owens.