As part of our mission to bring focus, support, and momentum behind the Lid I-5 project, we regularly connect with candidates running for elected office in the Seattle area. Our goal is twofold: Educate candidates about the project and its public support, and to listen as we seek out a diversity of perspectives and advice on how we move forward together with such a transformative vision for our city.
In 2025 we contacted candidates in these races and provided them equal opportunities to respond:
- Seattle mayor
- Seattle city council district seat 2
- Seattle city council citywide position 8
- Seattle city council citywide position 9
- King County executive
Of the ten candidates, we received completed questionnaires from four (Katie Wilson, Rachel Savage, Dionne Foster, and Girmay Zahilay). A historical response from Alexis Mercedes Rinck can be found in our 2024 post. Campaign staff are welcome to contact us for further input. We post candidate statements without making edits or commenting on factual accuracy.
UPDATE: We are aware of relevant verbal statements by several other candidates that are posted in lieu of questionnaire responses.
Lid I-5 has 501(c)(3) non-profit status through our fiscal sponsor, the Seattle Parks Foundation. We do not endorse any political candidates. We may exercise the right to endorse voter initiatives.
Seattle Mayor
Katie Wilson
What uses on I-5 lids would reflect your values or vision for Seattle? Housing, parks, markets, community centers, trails, something else?
Housing, including social housing! And amenities that can help to make downtown, First Hill, etc. better places to live, especially for families: parks, playgrounds, child care, etc.
What outcomes would you like to see from the upcoming community engagement and technical work led by OPCD?
A growing coalition of stakeholders who are invested in and excited about this project; greater public awareness of and support for Lidding I-5; updated cost estimates and technical details for different scenarios with thought given to timelines and political pathways to assembling the needed funding.
What actions will you take to advance the project when you are in office?
I will make sure that the Community Engagement Consultant has active support from the mayor’s office and city departments. When that work is done in 2027, my administration will promptly assimilate its findings, convene stakeholders, and lead on the next steps to advance the Lid I-5 project.
Seattle City Council District 2
Adonis Duckworth
Lid I-5 questionnaire not completed.
[Verbal statement at 10/13/25 Allied Arts candidate forum, question paraphrased] Imagine it is 10 years in the future. The lid over I-5 is completed and you are walking across it and the neighborhoods are connected. What do you think you see? Tell me about that future imagination.
Green spaces, play areas, and connected for people walking and biking.
Eddie Lin
Lid I-5 questionnaire not completed.
[Verbal statement at 10/13/25 Allied Arts candidate forum, question paraphrased] Imagine it is 10 years in the future. The lid over I-5 is completed and you are walking across it and the neighborhoods are connected. What do you think you see? Tell me about that future imagination.
I would love to see a robust green space with trees, with wonderful views of Mt. Rainier, and perhaps fountains. And public bathrooms.
Seattle City Council Position 8
Rachel Savage
What uses on I-5 lids would reflect your values or vision for Seattle? Housing, parks, markets, community centers, trails, something else?
I believe the lid area should be a natural transition of downtown into First Hill and Capitol Hill with a mix of housing and retail use. Not a “tourist attraction” or a park, but invisible as “constructed”.
What outcomes would you like to see from the upcoming community engagement and technical work led by OPCD?
Specific polling and answers to the question:
If we build in separate sections what is the order of construction?
Cost?
Timetable?
What is the best result for the ID neighbors?
How can Council help to bring coalitions together?
What actions will you take to advance the project when you are in office?
Seek state and federal funding for all aspects of the project. I am the Republican candidate and ready to work with this (and the next!) Republican administration.
[Verbal statement at 10/13/25 Allied Arts candidate forum, question paraphrased] Imagine it is 10 years in the future. The lid over I-5 is completed and you are walking across it and the neighborhoods are connected. What do you think you see? Tell me about that future imagination.
I love the idea of the lid. But I want to tell you what I don’t want see in the beautiful green spaces in the park and the botanical garden. I don’t want to see late stage drug addicts dying, OD’ing, using drugs in public. I don’t want it to be an open air asylum where people are severely mentally ill living like animals like we see in our streets and parks now. I don’t want to see tents, I don’t want to see public camping. I want to see a free place where people are getting the care and dignity that they need, long-term care away from the city.
Seattle City Council Position 9
Dionne Foster
What uses on I-5 lids would reflect your values or vision for Seattle? Housing, parks, markets, community centers, trails, something else?
I believe the I-5 lid represents an extraordinary opportunity to repair the divisions created by the freeway and build a healthier, more connected city. I envision lidded spaces that bring people together — with affordable housing, vibrant public parks, community spaces, and small business opportunities that reflect Seattle’s diversity. We should also explore uses that advance climate and mobility goals, such as tree canopy restoration, safe pedestrian and bike connections, and spaces for markets or cultural events. In short, the lid should help us build a Seattle that is more affordable, sustainable, and inclusive — a city that works for all of us.
What outcomes would you like to see from the upcoming community engagement and technical work led by OPCD?
The next phase of work should reflect deep, equitable engagement — ensuring that the communities most affected by the freeway’s impacts, including the Chinatown-International District and surrounding neighborhoods, help shape the design. I’d like to see clear plans that incorporate environmental justice, affordable housing, climate resilience, and small business opportunities, not just technical feasibility. Successful engagement will build broad public ownership of the project and align it with community-driven goals for health, mobility, and cultural vitality. The process should also identify pathways for long-term funding and stewardship so this effort endures beyond any one administration or grant cycle.
What actions will you take to advance the project when you are in office?
I will be a champion for maintaining momentum on the I-5 lid project and ensuring it remains a priority in the City’s long-term vision and our short and mid-term planning. That means advocating for continued local, state, and federal funding; supporting inclusion of lid planning in Seattle’s capital and legislative agendas; and convening community and agency partners to keep the project coordinated and transparent. I’ll also work to ensure the benefits of lidding I-5 are shared equitably — from affordable housing and green space to economic opportunity — and that the project stays focused on reconnecting communities that have been divided for generations. Over the course of my term I will work to ensure the OPCD planning process stays on track and I will advocate for a plan that benefits Seattle residents.
[Verbal statement at 10/13/25 Allied Arts candidate forum, question paraphrased] Imagine it is 10 years in the future. The lid over I-5 is completed and you are walking across it and the neighborhoods are connected. What do you think you see? Tell me about that future imagination.
One thing I would add to this beautiful image is music and investment in artists locally who are playing music. I always love it when we have public art that is accessible. Music creates a sense of place.
Sara Nelson
Lid I-5 questionnaire not completed.
[Verbal statement at 10/13/25 Allied Arts candidate forum, question paraphrased] Imagine it is 10 years in the future. The lid over I-5 is completed and you are walking across it and the neighborhoods are connected. What do you think you see? Tell me about that future imagination.
I would to see a botanical garden that is accessible and near to where I work, frankly. It is green space, it is more housing, and it is a skate park potentially.
King County Executive
Girmay Zahilay
What uses on I-5 lids would reflect your values or vision for Seattle? Housing, parks, markets, community centers, trails, something else?
I envision I-5 lids as spaces that bring people together and strengthen our communities. I’d prioritize uses that make Seattle more affordable, connected, and sustainable such as affordable housing, parks and green spaces.
Ultimately, community input is essential to the development of the I-5 lids, as well as clear technical understanding of what is feasible.
What outcomes would you like to see from the upcoming community engagement and technical work led by OPCD?
I’d like to see community engagement and technical work led by OPCD result in a clear, community-driven vision that reflects the priorities of the people most affected by I-5 and nearby development. The process should elevate voices that have historically been left out of planning decisions, especially residents, small businesses, and communities of color. It should also include clear input from major business and labor leaders to understand what partnership looks like to them. Advancing a major capital project like this requires a broad and durable coalition, and starting that work early will help sustain momentum over time.
I also hope the technical work provides actionable, transparent data on feasibility, cost, and equity impacts so we can make informed choices.
Ultimately, the outcome should be clear goals and vision for a future masterplan that moves us toward reconnecting neighborhoods, creating affordable housing, expanding green space, and ensuring that the benefits of I-5 lids reach all Seattle residents.
What actions will you take to advance the project when you are in office?
If elected Executive, I’ll collaborate with local and federal partners to advocate for the resources needed to advance the project planning.
As we explores future uses for our King County owned buildings downtown, I’ll make sure that Lid I-5 is part of those discussions, aligning our efforts to create a more connected and vibrant downtown core.
This project, just like Seattle’s recent waterfront redevelopment and the Seattle Convention Center expansion, is a unique opportunity to make progress on some of our most pressing problems, improve our region’s livability, and build community pride. I look forward to engaging further with the Lid I-5 team.
Lid I-5 