At Katie Wilson’s longtime nonprofit, Seattle mayor’s race brings cheers and changes

As Katie Wilson strengthens her lead in the race for Seattle mayor, people at the advocacy organization she founded are “over the moon” about her potential win — and they're anxious to see what her possible term in City Hall could mean for the issues she's championed with them.

Wilson said Wednesday she’s excited to “potentially partner from the mayor’s office on some big initiatives" with the Transit Riders Union. She said her possible transition from leading the nonprofit to occupying the mayor’s office is exciting for everyone involved.

“We have so many members who have done so much work over the years building the organization alongside me, and it’s been really inspiring seeing people step up to new leadership roles,” Wilson said.

If her progress continues against incumbent mayor Bruce Harrell, Wilson said she’s thinking about celebrating her surprise journey to the mayor’s office by taking a day off with her family, enjoying yet another type of transit: “I think a nice ferry trip to Bainbridge Island could be a fun way to spend a day.”

Wilson has held both a volunteer and a paid role at the Transit Riders Union since founding it in 2011. The group expects to announce her replacement in the paid role shortly. The organization elected Wes Mills to replace Wilson in the unpaid role of General Secretary in October.

Mills said he’s thrilled to see Wilson’s ascent as ballots are counted.

“I’m over the moon; I think it’s incredible,” Mills said. “As somebody who – we rent in Seattle, we live in Seattle without a car, my wife and I don’t drive. It’s very awesome to see someone who’s like you.”

Mills said he would expect Wilson to bring many of the same priorities she’s previously worked for to the mayor’s office.

“Bike lanes, bus lanes, prioritizing those sorts of ways of living in the city are things the mayor can have a lot of influence on,” Mills said, adding that he expects the Transit Riders Union to join Wilson in pursuing those issues.

Mills said those priorities go beyond solid transit service to “what transit riders need,” especially those on limited incomes. The Transit Riders Union campaigned for higher minimum wages, social housing, and the city’s payroll expense tax at bigger businesses, often called the JumpStart tax.

Since its founding, Wilson has been the face of the Transit Riders Union, a small organization that counted her as its only paid employee.

The group’s recording secretary Anthony D’Amico said, based on her tenure there, he believes that if Wilson is elected mayor “she’ll work really hard to hear from as many people as possible and elevate voices. She’ll be extremely collaborative and work way too much."

D’Amico imagines, as mayor, Wilson might champion zoning changes to allow more density, along with dedicated bus lanes, more corner stores, and bike-friendly changes to traffic infrastructure. And, like Mike McGinn, another activist-turned-mayor elected in 2009, D’Amico doesn’t doubt Wilson will run into opposition.

“She’s going to have to be herself and build strong relationships and find ways to work together and that’s what she’ll do,” he said, adding that one of her assets is that she’s “extremely normal in so many ways. She’s unique and special and outstanding -- but she’s also just like, ‘I’m on the bus to take my daughter to the zoo.’”

Parts of the Transit Riders Union website are outdated — it only lists a series of funders from 2015 and 2016, which include several labor organizations. It is a 501(c)(4) which means it is considered a social welfare organization that can engage in lobbying and some political campaign activities, and donations are not tax deductible.

D’Amico and Mills said their funding comes primarily from flexible membership dues and an annual fundraiser that has featured local elected officials as speakers.

“We think this year it might be the mayor,” D'Amico said.