Dan Strauss
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Dan Strauss
| image = Strauss-Council-Swearing-In-Ceremony (cropped).jpg
| caption =
| office = Member of the Seattle City Council
from District 6
| term_start = {{Start date|2020|01|06}}
| predecessor = Mike O'Brien
| office1 =
| term_start1 =
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 =
| birth_name = Daniel Aaron Strauss
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|4|12}}
| birth_place = Seattle, Washington, U.S.
| party = Democratic
| spouse =
| children =
| residence = Seattle, Washington
| alma_mater = Whittier College (BA)
University of Oregon (MPA)
| profession =
| allegiance =
| website =
}}
Daniel Aaron Strauss (born April 12, 1986) is an American politician who serves on the Seattle City Council from District 6. A native of Seattle's Ballard neighborhood, he previously worked as an aide to local politicians, including Seattle councilmember Sally Bagshaw.
Early life and career
Strauss was born in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle to a Jewish family of social workers and graduated from Nathan Hale High School.{{cite news |last=Vandraiss |first=Karin |date=July 16, 2019 |title=Meet the Jewish Candidates Vying for a Seat on the Seattle City Council (Part One) |url=https://mag.jewishinseattle.org/community/2019/07/four-city-council-candidates-from-the-jewish-community-want-to-change-the-world-or-at-least-seattle |work=Jewish in Seattle Magazine |publisher=Sagacity Media |accessdate=January 9, 2020}}{{cite news |last=Gutman |first=David |date=September 21, 2019 |title=Strauss, Wills clash over homelessness sweeps in District 6 Seattle City Council debate |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/strauss-wills-clash-over-homelessness-sweeps-in-district-6-seattle-city-council-debate/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 9, 2020}} After high school, he joined the National Civilian Community Corps.{{cite news |last1=Archibald |first1=Ashley |last2=Edge |first2=Lisa |title=Vying for Votes: Interview with City Council District 6 candidate Dan Strauss |url=https://www.realchangenews.org/news/2019/10/02/vying-votes-interview-city-council-district-6-candidate-dan-strauss |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=Real Change News |date=October 2, 2019}} Strauss graduated with a degree in political science from Whittier College, where he was elected student body president.{{cite web |last1=Horton |first1=Ariel |title=Alumnus Emerges in Seattle City Council Race |url=https://www.whittier.edu/news/mon-10282019-1023-am/alumnus-emerges-seattle-city-council-race |publisher=Whittier College |access-date=14 December 2024 |date=October 28, 2019}} He then attended the University of Oregon, where he also worked as a policy intern for Oregon state representative Nancy Nathanson, graduating in 2012 with a Master of Public Administration.{{cite news |last=Gutman |first=David |date=October 19, 2019 |title=Seattle City Council candidates Strauss and Wills locked in polite battle over District 6 seat |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-city-council-candidates-strauss-and-wills-locked-in-polite-battle-over-district-6-seat/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 9, 2020}}{{cite news |date=November 14, 2019 |title=PPPM Alum Wins Seattle City Council Seat |url=https://pppm.uoregon.edu/pppm-alum-wins-seattle-city-council-seat |publisher=University of Oregon School of Planning, Public Policy and Management |accessdate=January 9, 2020}}
After graduating from college, Strauss returned to Seattle and worked as an aide to several local politicians. He was part of the campaign team for Snohomish County councilman Dave Somers during his 2013 reelection. He then worked as a legislative assistant for State Senator David Frockt before working for the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. From 2017 to 2019, he served as a legislative assistant to Seattle councilmember Sally Bagshaw.
Seattle City Council
=2019 election=
Strauss announced his candidacy for the District 6 seat in February 2019, shortly before incumbent councilmember Mike O'Brien announced that he would not seek re-election.{{cite news |last=Beekman |first=Daniel |date=February 13, 2019 |title=Mike O'Brien is fourth Seattle City Council incumbent who won't run for re-election |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/mike-obrien-is-fourth-seattle-city-council-incumbent-who-wont-run-for-re-election/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 9, 2020}} He finished first out of 13 candidates in the primary election, with 34 percent of the vote, and advanced to the general election alongside former city councilmember Heidi Wills. Strauss ran as a progressive in the race and was endorsed by the King County Labor Council and The Stranger. The election gained national attention after Amazon spent nearly $1.5 million on campaign contributions to Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee, which spent more than $400,000 supporting Willis.{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Gene |title=Amazon's spending in Seattle Council races doesn't deliver |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216022246/https://www.washingtonpost.com/ |work=The Washington Post |access-date=August 25, 2024 |date=November 6, 2019}}{{cite news |title=Seattle council candidate Heidi Wills to officially concede |url=https://komonews.com/news/local/seattle-council-candidate-heidi-wills-to-officially-concede |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=KOMO |date=November 10, 2019}}
Strauss won with 55.65% of the vote and was sworn in on December 22, 2019, at a Ballard Centennial Bell Tower ceremony.{{cite web |date=November 25, 2019 |title=November 05, 2019 Official Final Election Results |page=33 |url=https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/elections/2019/nov-general/results.pdf |publisher=King County Elections |accessdate=January 9, 2020}}{{cite web |date=December 22, 2019 |title=Councilmember-elect Dan Strauss takes oath in Ballard |url=https://www.seattlechannel.org/mayor-and-council/city-council/city-council-all-videos-index?videoid=x109744 |publisher=Seattle Channel |accessdate=January 9, 2020}}
=2023 election=
In February 2023, Strauss announced he would seek a second term in office.{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Sarah Grace |title=Strauss will seek reelection to Seattle’s District 6 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/strauss-will-seek-reelection-to-seattles-district-6/ |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=The Seattle Times |date=February 22, 2023}} In the August primary, he face five challengers and came in first with 51.76% of the vote and Pete Hanning, executive director for the Fremont Chamber of Commerce, came in second with 29.34%.{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Sarah Grace |title=Seattle City Council elections 2023: Meet District 6 candidates |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/meet-the-candidates-for-seattles-district-6-city-council-race/ |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=The Seattle Times |date=May 26, 2023}}{{cite web |title=Election Results |url=https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/elections/2023/aug-primary/results.pdf |publisher=King County Elections |access-date=15 December 2024 |date=August 14, 2023}} In the general election, Strauss and Hanning disagreed on most issues, with Hanning running as more of a moderate compared to Strauss.{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Josh |title=Seattle City Council District 6: Dan Strauss vs. Pete Hanning |url=https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2023/10/seattle-city-council-district-6-dan-strauss-vs-pete-hanning |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=Cascade PBS |date=October 13, 2023}} Hanning criticized Strauss' for his support of defunding the Seattle Police Department budget by 50%, and for "flip-flopping" to then supporting SPD.{{cite news |last1=Hyde |first1=David |last2=Denkmann |first2=Libby |last3=Anderson |first3=Hans |title=With Seattle homicides at record high, defund 'flip-flop' haunts City Council incumbent Dan Strauss |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/with-seattle-homicides-at-record-high-defund-flip-flop-haunts-city-council-incumbent |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=KUOW |date=October 24, 2023}} Strauss distanced himself from defund rhetoric, and called his support "a mistake."{{cite news |title=KUOW's District Dash: A Seattle City Council deep dive for busy people |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/kuow-s-district-dash-a-seattle-city-council-deep-dive-for-busy-people |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=KUOW |date=October 18, 2023}}
In the general election, Strauss defeated Hanning, 52.31% to 47.19%.{{cite web |title=Election Results |url=https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/elections/2023/nov-general/results.pdf |publisher=King County Elections |access-date=15 December 2024 |date=November 27, 2023}}
=Tenure=
Strauss is the chair of the Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee in his first term on the council.{{cite news |last=Graham |first=Natalie |date=January 7, 2020 |title=New Seattle City Council Sworn in with Calls for New Progressive Taxes |url=https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2020/01/07/42482799/new-seattle-city-council-sworn-in-with-calls-for-new-progressive-taxes |work=The Stranger |accessdate=January 9, 2020}} At the beginning of his term, he supported policies that reduced government regulations to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, including expanding street cafes and suspending regulations on at-home businesses.{{cite news |last1=Craighead |first1=Callie |title=Greenwood's Yonder Cider to remain open after Seattle City Council approves microbusiness bill |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/food/article/seattle-city-council-passes-microbusiness-bill-16029931.php |access-date=19 January 2025 |work=Seattle Post Intelligencer |date=March 16, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Santos |first1=Melissa |title=Seattle council OKs permanent street cafes |url=https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2022/12/14/street-cafes-permanent-seattle-vote |access-date=19 January 2025 |work=Axios Seattle |date=December 11, 2022}} During the George Floyd protests, Strauss supported cutting the Seattle Police budget by 50%, which he would later reverse, calling his support "a mistake."{{cite news |last1=Hyde |first1=David |title='Defund the police' is back in the spotlight as Seattle council races heat up |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/defund-the-police-is-back-in-the-spotlight-as-seattle-council-races-heat-up |access-date=19 January 2025 |work=KUOW |date=July 15, 2023}}
During his second term, Strauss was the budget committee chair and had to oversee a severe budget shortfall.{{cite news |last1=Daniels |first1=Chris |title=Seattle City Council contemplates $241M budget cut amid escalating spending concerns |url=https://komonews.com/news/local/seattle-city-council-241-million-budget-cut-spending-revenue-jumpstart-tax-downtown-king-county-fiscal-consolidation-transportation-sweetened-beverage-tax-restrictions-jon-scholes-strauss |access-date=19 January 2025 |work=KOMO |date=April 18, 2024}} He would propose a "balanced package," which passed, sparring cuts to popular programs, like the Seattle Channel, but relied on pulling funds from the city's Jumpstart tax.{{cite news |last1=Barnett |first1=Erica C. |title=Council’s Budget “Balancing Package” Restores Seattle Channel Programming, Grabs $59 Million More from JumpStart |url=https://publicola.com/2024/11/02/councils-budget-balancing-package-restores-seattle-channel-programming-grabs-59-million-more-from-jumpstart/ |access-date=19 January 2025 |work=Publicola |date=November 2, 2024}}
Electoral history
= 2019 election =
{{Election box begin no change|title=City of Seattle, City Council, District 6, 2019 Primary Election{{cite web |title=Election Results |url=https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/elections/2019/aug-primary/results.pdf |publisher=King County Elections |access-date=25 August 2024 |date=August 19, 2019}} }}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = Dan Strauss |votes = 11,328
|percentage = 34.15%
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Heidi Wills
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 7,048
| percentage = 21.25%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Sergio García
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 4,730
| percentage = 14.26%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jay Fathi
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 4,367
| percentage = 13.16%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kate Martin
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 1,137
| percentage = 3.43%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jon Lisbin
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 1,063
| percentage = 3.20%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jeremy Cook
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 829
| percentage = 2.50%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Melissa Hall
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 820
| percentage = 2.47%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ed Pottharst
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 599
| percentage = 1.81%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = John Peeples
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 452
| percentage = 1.36%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Joey Massa
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 299
| percentage = 0.90%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Terry Rice
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 287
| percentage = 0.87%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kara Ceriello
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 146
| percentage = 0.44%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Write-in
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 67
| percentage = 0.20%
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
|votes = 34,207
|percentage =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title=Seattle City Council District 6, 2019 General Election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = Dan Strauss
|votes = 23,868
|percentage = 55.68%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = Heidi Wills
|votes = 18,799
|percentage = 43.83%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = Write-in
|votes = 221
|percentage = 0.52%
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
|votes = 44,399
|percentage = 59.37%
}}
{{Election box registered electors no change
|reg. electors = 74,785
}}
{{Election box end}}
= 2023 election =
{{Election box begin no change|title=City of Seattle, City Council, District 6, 2023 Primary Election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = Dan Strauss |votes = 15,869
|percentage = 51.76%
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Pete Hanning
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 8,996
| percentage = 29.34%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Shea Wilson
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 1,900
| percentage = 6.20%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dale Kutzera
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 1,383
| percentage = 4.51%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Victoria Palmer
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 1,355
| percentage = 4.42%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jon Lisbin
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 1,016
| percentage = 3.31%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Write-in
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 140
| percentage = 0.46%
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
|votes = 31,372
|percentage = 40.57%
}}
{{Election box registered electors no change
|reg. electors = 77,322
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title=Seattle City Council District 6, General Election 2023}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = Dan Strauss
|votes = 20,601
|percentage = 52.31%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = Pete Hanning
|votes = 18,586
|percentage = 47.19%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = Write-in
|votes = 199
|percentage = 0.51%
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
|votes = 40,537
|percentage = 52.35%
}}
{{Election box registered electors no change
|reg. electors = 77,438
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Seattle City Council}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Strauss, Dan}}
Category:Politicians from Seattle
Category:Seattle City Council members
Category:Jewish American people in Washington (state) politics
Category:21st-century Washington (state) politicians
Category:Whittier College alumni