Seventh declares in the sixth
Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss announced his plans to run for re-election on Feb. 22, making him the seventh and final councilmember to make their intentions known.
Strauss’ declaration means that there will be three councilmembers trying to retake their seats while the other four bow out. Councilmembers Tammy Morales and Andrew Lewis are also running. Councilmembers Teresa Mosqueda and Sara Nelson ran in 2021 and have another two years, although Mosqueda is also running for King County Council’s District 8, which is being vacated by Councilmember Joe McDermott.
Strauss represents District 6, which encompasses Ballard and other northwest communities. He ran originally on a plan that focused on transportation, and his re-election campaign runs the gamut from continuing to fully fund the Seattle Police Department to reforming laws and restrictions that prevent housing from being built.
All told, 29 people, including Morales and Strauss, have filed to run for the seven open seats.
Go quietly
A piece of legislation that would reform Washington law to make it easier for a terminally ill patient to die on their own terms passed through the Senate Health & Long-Term Care committee. State representatives have not yet voted on its companion bill in the House.
According to proponents, the bills would not make huge changes to the law. People who seek medically assisted death must still be mentally capable adults with six months or less to live, work with a doctor and be able to opt out if they change their minds, among other things.
What they would do is allow advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to be either the attending or consulting medical provider. A doctor would still need to be involved in whichever role the nurse or physician assistant did not fill.
Patients must also request oral medication twice in order to access it, but these bills would shorten the wait time from 15 days to seven. Patients would also be able to get their medication shipped to them rather than picking it up in person.
Real Change covered death with dignity in a three-part series in 2017.
Access to care
A new website managed by a nonprofit legal organization will help abortion seekers and health care practitioners get pro bono legal help around abortion access, according to a release from the Washington state Attorney General’s Office.
The website — abortiondefensenetwork.org — connects people with attorneys who can provide help navigating the changing legal landscape around abortion access, particularly as patients from other states come to Washington looking for care.
The AGO also created a “know your rights” pamphlet and form for state residents if they feel that their rights to abortion access have been violated.
Read more of the Mar. 1-7, 2023 issue.