1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,101
Announcer: The office of

2
00:00:01,201 --> 00:00:02,736
King County Executive.

3
00:00:02,836 --> 00:00:05,171
The county executive manages

4
00:00:05,271 --> 00:00:06,673
the delivery of such regional

5
00:00:06,773 --> 00:00:09,209
services as criminal justice,

6
00:00:09,309 --> 00:00:10,377
metro transit,

7
00:00:10,477 --> 00:00:12,345
and wastewater treatment.

8
00:00:12,445 --> 00:00:14,514
In 2020, the voters of

9
00:00:14,614 --> 00:00:16,649
King County amended the charter

10
00:00:16,750 --> 00:00:18,018
so that the sheriff became

11
00:00:18,118 --> 00:00:20,053
an appointed position.

12
00:00:20,153 --> 00:00:22,122
Beginning in 2022,

13
00:00:22,222 --> 00:00:23,490
the sheriff will be appointed

14
00:00:23,590 --> 00:00:25,792
by the executive and confirmed

15
00:00:25,892 --> 00:00:27,694
by the county council.

16
00:00:27,794 --> 00:00:29,162
The executive also directs

17
00:00:29,262 --> 00:00:30,797
the local services provided

18
00:00:30,897 --> 00:00:32,899
to those in the unincorporated

19
00:00:32,999 --> 00:00:35,502
areas outside of cities.

20
00:00:35,602 --> 00:00:37,470
This is a nonpartisan position

21
00:00:37,570 --> 00:00:38,571
and is elected

22
00:00:38,671 --> 00:00:40,573
for a four-year term.

23
00:00:40,673 --> 00:00:42,175
All voters in King County

24
00:00:42,275 --> 00:00:44,844
can vote for county executive.

25
00:00:44,944 --> 00:00:46,179
The top two vote-getters

26
00:00:46,279 --> 00:00:47,280
will advance to the

27
00:00:47,380 --> 00:00:50,517
general election in November.

28
00:00:50,617 --> 00:00:54,654
As I was walking here
to the TV studio,

29
00:00:54,754 --> 00:00:57,157
I saw a number
of tents.

30
00:00:57,257 --> 00:01:00,160
Actually, I saw
a lot of tents,

31
00:01:00,260 --> 00:01:01,961
signifying that there's
homeless people

32
00:01:02,062 --> 00:01:03,696
in our society.

33
00:01:03,797 --> 00:01:05,198
And it seems
that each year

34
00:01:05,298 --> 00:01:06,766
the number
of homeless people

35
00:01:06,866 --> 00:01:09,335
have increased and increased
and increased

36
00:01:09,436 --> 00:01:12,072
under the policies
that we have.

37
00:01:12,172 --> 00:01:14,307
And I, Goodspaceguy,

38
00:01:14,407 --> 00:01:16,709
candidate for King County
Executive,

39
00:01:16,810 --> 00:01:19,446
am accusing
the job-destroying

40
00:01:19,546 --> 00:01:21,648
minimum wage
as being the culprit.

41
00:01:21,748 --> 00:01:24,651
So I say that
the minimum wage,

42
00:01:24,751 --> 00:01:26,653
the job-destroying
minimum wage

43
00:01:26,753 --> 00:01:29,355
of the command economy
of socialism,

44
00:01:29,456 --> 00:01:32,058
is destroying jobs

45
00:01:32,158 --> 00:01:34,260
and creating
the homeless people.

46
00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:39,799
So in raising the level
of prosperity

47
00:01:39,899 --> 00:01:41,301
in King County,

48
00:01:41,401 --> 00:01:43,136
we should start
with the homeless

49
00:01:43,236 --> 00:01:46,106
and make it legal for them
to get back to work.

50
00:01:46,206 --> 00:01:48,041
It's wrong
of government

51
00:01:48,141 --> 00:01:50,276
to step in
and say to people,

52
00:01:50,376 --> 00:01:54,747
"You may not sell your labor
at a bargain.

53
00:01:54,848 --> 00:01:56,816
You have to sell it
at a certain price

54
00:01:56,916 --> 00:01:59,385
where people, when they consider
your problems,

55
00:01:59,486 --> 00:02:00,954
will not hire you."

56
00:02:01,054 --> 00:02:03,990
So that is a wrong thing
to do.

57
00:02:04,090 --> 00:02:07,994
So the best
economic system,

58
00:02:08,094 --> 00:02:10,897
for raising the living standard
in King County

59
00:02:10,997 --> 00:02:12,565
is called capitalism.

60
00:02:12,665 --> 00:02:18,037
Capitalism, with
its profit incentive,

61
00:02:18,138 --> 00:02:20,306
serves the consumers
better

62
00:02:20,406 --> 00:02:23,576
and gets a more
balanced economy.

63
00:02:23,676 --> 00:02:27,147
So capitalism and
its supply and demand

64
00:02:27,247 --> 00:02:28,915
and its profit-seeking

65
00:02:29,015 --> 00:02:30,917
best serves
the consumers

66
00:02:31,017 --> 00:02:33,353
and best raises
the living standard.

67
00:02:33,453 --> 00:02:34,954
When I lived
in Germany,

68
00:02:35,054 --> 00:02:36,890
I noticed people fleeing

69
00:02:36,990 --> 00:02:39,692
from East Germany,
socialism,

70
00:02:39,792 --> 00:02:43,263
to West Germany,

71
00:02:43,363 --> 00:02:46,266
land of capitalism.

72
00:02:46,366 --> 00:02:49,435
And this was a voluntary vote
with their feet.

73
00:02:51,404 --> 00:02:53,039
When COVID
arrived here,

74
00:02:53,139 --> 00:02:55,074
the first place
in the country

75
00:02:55,175 --> 00:02:57,477
impacted by
this deadly virus,

76
00:02:57,577 --> 00:03:00,113
I took swift,
decisive action.

77
00:03:00,213 --> 00:03:02,115
We led with science
and reason

78
00:03:02,215 --> 00:03:03,850
and saved
thousands of lives

79
00:03:03,950 --> 00:03:05,685
and reduced
our infection rate

80
00:03:05,785 --> 00:03:07,921
to among the lowest
in the nation.

81
00:03:08,021 --> 00:03:09,255
"The New York Times"
reported

82
00:03:09,355 --> 00:03:11,724
that had the rest of America
followed our lead,

83
00:03:11,824 --> 00:03:13,426
the nation
could have avoided

84
00:03:13,526 --> 00:03:16,663
more than
300,000 deaths.

85
00:03:16,763 --> 00:03:18,264
As we emerge from the pandemic,
I'm bringing

86
00:03:18,364 --> 00:03:20,200
that same clarity
and resolve

87
00:03:20,300 --> 00:03:21,968
to the toughest
challenges

88
00:03:22,068 --> 00:03:23,236
and uniting
our region

89
00:03:23,336 --> 00:03:24,604
for an economic
recovery

90
00:03:24,704 --> 00:03:26,739
where everyone
can thrive.

91
00:03:26,839 --> 00:03:28,708
We're taking bold action
on homelessness,

92
00:03:28,808 --> 00:03:30,710
moving thousands
off the streets

93
00:03:30,810 --> 00:03:33,446
and into housing with services
to restore lives.

94
00:03:33,546 --> 00:03:35,281
And through my Best Starts
for Kids initiative,

95
00:03:35,381 --> 00:03:37,784
we've kept 10,000 children
and families

96
00:03:37,884 --> 00:03:39,552
safely housed.

97
00:03:39,652 --> 00:03:41,754
This housing crisis, made worse
by the pandemic,

98
00:03:41,854 --> 00:03:43,323
requires
both compassion

99
00:03:43,423 --> 00:03:46,226
and the proven ability to
drive real change.

100
00:03:46,326 --> 00:03:48,061
We're improving public safety
and public trust

101
00:03:48,161 --> 00:03:50,563
by investing in gun
violence prevention

102
00:03:50,663 --> 00:03:51,798
and aid to victims

103
00:03:51,898 --> 00:03:53,700
of domestic violence
and other crimes,

104
00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:55,401
and collaborating
with communities

105
00:03:55,501 --> 00:03:57,403
to create
real safety.

106
00:03:57,503 --> 00:03:58,838
I've asked community leaders
to work with me

107
00:03:58,938 --> 00:04:00,073
as we appoint
a new sheriff

108
00:04:00,173 --> 00:04:01,608
who's accountable
to me,

109
00:04:01,708 --> 00:04:03,543
the council,
and the people.

110
00:04:03,643 --> 00:04:05,445
We're helping kids stay in
school, graduate,

111
00:04:05,545 --> 00:04:07,046
and avoid the criminal
legal system,

112
00:04:07,146 --> 00:04:09,082
and I've succeeded
in driving down

113
00:04:09,182 --> 00:04:12,151
the youth detention rate
nearly tenfold.

114
00:04:12,252 --> 00:04:14,254
And I'm taking urgent action
on climate,

115
00:04:14,354 --> 00:04:16,055
leading the fight for
regional light rail,

116
00:04:16,155 --> 00:04:19,492
and converting Metro to
an all-electric fleet.

117
00:04:19,592 --> 00:04:21,894
And there's more exciting
progress to come.

118
00:04:21,995 --> 00:04:23,363
I'm grateful for
the endorsements

119
00:04:23,463 --> 00:04:25,698
of Governors Inslee,
Gregoire, and Locke,

120
00:04:25,798 --> 00:04:27,800
over 40 Democratic
legislators,

121
00:04:27,900 --> 00:04:29,569
the MLK
Labor Council,

122
00:04:29,669 --> 00:04:30,903
health care workers,
firefighters,

123
00:04:31,004 --> 00:04:32,205
building trades,

124
00:04:32,305 --> 00:04:34,374
the Washington Conservation
Voters,

125
00:04:34,474 --> 00:04:37,076
and the Alliance for
Gun Responsibility.

126
00:04:37,176 --> 00:04:39,145
My commitment to public service
was instilled in me

127
00:04:39,245 --> 00:04:42,482
by my parents, retired public
school teachers.

128
00:04:42,582 --> 00:04:44,250
Today, Shirley and I are raising
our daughter

129
00:04:44,350 --> 00:04:45,752
in the same West Seattle
neighborhood

130
00:04:45,852 --> 00:04:46,786
where I grew up.

131
00:04:46,886 --> 00:04:48,588
Let's keep working
together to help

132
00:04:48,688 --> 00:04:50,823
all King County
families thrive.

133
00:04:50,923 --> 00:04:52,625
Thank you.

134
00:05:03,903 --> 00:05:06,039
After 12 years of
the current leadership

135
00:05:06,139 --> 00:05:07,840
failing to solve
our biggest problems

136
00:05:07,940 --> 00:05:10,677
like homelessness,
it's time for change.

137
00:05:10,777 --> 00:05:11,844
My name is Joe Nguyen,

138
00:05:11,944 --> 00:05:13,713
and I'm running for
King County Executive

139
00:05:13,813 --> 00:05:15,048
because we don't
have time

140
00:05:15,148 --> 00:05:17,016
to wait for
incremental progress.

141
00:05:17,116 --> 00:05:18,384
Homelessness
isn't waiting.

142
00:05:18,484 --> 00:05:20,019
Climate change
isn't waiting.

143
00:05:20,119 --> 00:05:22,021
Racial inequities
aren't waiting.

144
00:05:22,121 --> 00:05:23,856
The status quo
isn't working,

145
00:05:23,956 --> 00:05:26,292
and we need leaders who share
the same experiences

146
00:05:26,392 --> 00:05:28,127
as families
in King County

147
00:05:28,227 --> 00:05:29,862
and will act with
the urgency required

148
00:05:29,962 --> 00:05:31,597
to deliver results.

149
00:05:31,698 --> 00:05:33,433
I'm the son of refugees
from White Center,

150
00:05:33,533 --> 00:05:35,368
and growing up in unincorporated
King County,

151
00:05:35,468 --> 00:05:37,770
I saw firsthand how much
of a difference

152
00:05:37,870 --> 00:05:39,772
investing in people
can make.

153
00:05:39,872 --> 00:05:41,274
When I was 7 years old,

154
00:05:41,374 --> 00:05:43,276
my dad was in a terrible
car accident.

155
00:05:43,376 --> 00:05:45,978
It left him quadriplegic,
and my family relied

156
00:05:46,079 --> 00:05:49,349
on anti-poverty programs
like TANF to get by.

157
00:05:49,449 --> 00:05:52,085
Because of that assistance
and years of hard work,

158
00:05:52,185 --> 00:05:53,920
I broke the cycle
of poverty

159
00:05:54,020 --> 00:05:57,056
and built a successful career
in the private sector.

160
00:05:57,156 --> 00:05:58,658
Now I represent
the community

161
00:05:58,758 --> 00:06:00,259
that held me
and my family up

162
00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:02,695
as a state senator
in the legislature.

163
00:06:02,795 --> 00:06:05,098
And since taking office,
we've passed policies

164
00:06:05,198 --> 00:06:07,433
that are making a difference
in people's lives --

165
00:06:07,533 --> 00:06:10,136
tax breaks for seniors
and working families,

166
00:06:10,236 --> 00:06:11,838
strengthening
police accountability,

167
00:06:11,938 --> 00:06:14,240
and funding the same
anti-poverty programs

168
00:06:14,340 --> 00:06:16,843
my family relied on
so countless others

169
00:06:16,943 --> 00:06:20,012
can stay housed and fed
through this pandemic.

170
00:06:20,113 --> 00:06:22,615
We've made tremendous progress
in the legislature

171
00:06:22,715 --> 00:06:25,818
but need leaders who will work
with the same urgency

172
00:06:25,918 --> 00:06:27,987
to get things done
in the county.

173
00:06:28,087 --> 00:06:30,156
We need an executive who
will uplift the voices

174
00:06:30,256 --> 00:06:31,457
of those
in the community

175
00:06:31,557 --> 00:06:34,327
instead of making them fight
just to be heard.

176
00:06:34,427 --> 00:06:35,962
Homelessness
has been an emergency

177
00:06:36,062 --> 00:06:39,198
for over a decade, and nothing
seems to change.

178
00:06:39,298 --> 00:06:42,168
It's time for the Executive's
Office to get it done

179
00:06:42,268 --> 00:06:44,103
because families in King County
work hard

180
00:06:44,203 --> 00:06:45,838
every day to
improve their lives.

181
00:06:45,938 --> 00:06:47,673
They deserve a leader
who will work

182
00:06:47,774 --> 00:06:49,475
just as hard for them.

183
00:06:49,575 --> 00:06:50,643
My name is Joe Nguyen.

184
00:06:50,743 --> 00:06:52,412
I'm running
for County Executive,

185
00:06:52,512 --> 00:06:54,914
and I'd be honored
to earn your vote.