The Law and Justice Committee on July 29 confirmed 10 inaugural members of the newly created King County Human and Civil Rights Commission, voting 4-0 to advance the appointments to the full council.
Sponsors and staff described the commission as a strengthened successor to an earlier civil rights body and said the new panel will advise the county executive, the council and the public on policies to protect human and civil rights.
Councilor Dombowski, sponsor of the ordinance that created the commission, invoked an Eleanor Roosevelt observation to explain the lawmaker’s motivation: “Where after all do human rights begin — in small places close to home; unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere,” and said the commission grew out of a multi-year assessment developed with the Korematsu Center at Seattle University School of Law.
Erica Newman of Council Central Staff summarized the ordinance and membership requirements and told the committee the commission consists of 11 members reflecting the county’s diversity; 10 of the 11 nominees were before the committee on Tuesday with the expectation that the appointees would select an 11th member within six months. Newman noted the initial advertisement ran from April 16 through June 3 and that the county received strong interest in the openings.
The committee heard brief remarks from each nominee before the vote. Nominees who spoke about their interests and experience included Jacob Jones Poulton, an admissions representative with Western Washington University, who said, “I meet folks coming from all kinds of different backgrounds and different life aspirations,” and described wanting to address disparities in schools and communities. Allison Hastings, who has worked on correctional access and disability issues, said the commission’s emphasis on community engagement and collaboration drew her to serve. Other nominees who addressed the committee included Bethlehem Michael, Emily Wynne, Anika Farrell, Jennifer Carls, Mona Jaber, Steven Sawyer, Daisy Wong and Vanessa Sanchez Mexicano.
The committee voted to approve motions numbered 2025-0188 through 2025-0196 and 2025-0203 on a 4-0 voice vote; Council members Balducci, Dombowski, Mosqueda and Chair Badon registered “aye.” The chair said, if there are no objections, he will place the items on the consent agenda for the August 19 full council meeting, which means the appointees need not attend that meeting.
Committee members urged the new commission to develop a focused annual work plan. Council member Dombowski and Vice Chair Balducci both asked the commission to hold elected officials accountable and to present concrete recommendations — including laws, policy changes or other actions — where appropriate.
The staff report and ordinance cited King County Ordinance 19,770 (adopted June 24) as the establishing authority for the commission; the council central staff packet lists membership requirements and expectations for community engagement. The committee’s action acknowledges receipt of the nominations and forwards confirmations to the full council for placement on the August 19 consent calendar.
The committee meeting also included a brief public-comment period that did not produce substantive comments on the commission nominations.