By Omari Salisbury

In an interview yesterday, Randy Engstrom, principal and co-founder of the cultural policy consulting business Third Way Creative, discussed his extensive public service experience and reasons for seeking appointment to the Seattle City Council District 2 seat.

Engstrom's career is deeply rooted in community development and cultural policy. For eight and a half years, he directed the City of Seattle's Office of Arts and Culture, where he oversaw initiatives such as transforming King Street Station into a creative economy space and restoring arts education to Seattle Public Schools. Engstrom also has a strong background in consulting, having worked on projects such as the reanimation of Washington Hall and the establishment of the Feast program as an independent nonprofit.

Why is Engstrom running for the District 2 seat?

Engstrom, who has called Beacon Hill home for 23 years, expressed a longstanding interest in public service, stating that his experiences opening the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center and being appointed to the Seattle Arts Commission in 2006 sparked his desire to serve in a larger capacity. While he had considered running for City Council in the past, the opportunity to fill the current interim appointment appealed to him due to its unique timing and the city's pressing needs.

"Donald Trump just got reelected, and there are very material threats against the city and the district in which I live," Engstrom said. "And I think we need a cogent and competent policy to meet the moment and to protect particularly the most vulnerable amongst us."

Engstrom also highlighted the upcoming "World's Fair Moment," with the opening of Waterfront Park, the World Cup, and other major events expected to draw millions of visitors to Seattle. He believes the city has a unique opportunity to position itself as a global leader in culture, creativity, and innovation and to use that position to drive economic opportunity and address issues such as affordability and public safety.

Representing a Diverse District

District 2 is known for its diversity, and Engstrom acknowledged the importance of representation. "I think that's a serious conversation that has to be had," he said. "District 2 has been a district for 12 years. I never imagined that a middle-aged white dude would be vying to serve this district or to represent this district."

However, he also emphasized his track record of collaborating with communities of color and producing meaningful solutions. "I would build on the relationships I have," he said. "I've had lots of incredible conversations with Friends of Little Saigon, with Hood Famous, with SEED, with the Hillman City, with Black and Tan Hall, and Northwest Tap Connection. Because of the position that I had at the city, I've been fortunate to be in relationships with a lot of organizations and leaders throughout the city and in particular throughout D2."

Engstrom stated that he intends to pursue the seat as an interim appointment, committing to serving through the election results and making room for a more representative voice to be elected in the fall.

Addressing Pressing Issues

Engstrom identified public safety, affordability, homelessness, and economic opportunity as the top issues facing District 2. He emphasized the need to listen to and partner with the community to develop solutions, citing examples such as the 30-point safety plan developed by Friends of Little Saigon.

"In general, I think community is often pretty tuned in to what they need to be successful," Engstrom said. "And I think the opportunity you have as a council member in a district like D2 is to be a convenor and a facilitator and then to look for ways to either act on those ideas that community has developed or explore ways to resource them in the future."

Regarding affordability, Engstrom stressed the need to explore and scale innovative housing solutions offered by the community, such as co-ops, congregate housing, co-housing models, and land trusts.

Seizing Opportunities

Engstrom sees the influx of resources from tourism and investment as a major opportunity for the city. He believes Seattle can leverage its strong creative economy to create more opportunities for historically underserved communities and drive economic growth.

"And if we can create more opportunity and in particular more opportunity for the folks who haven't historically had it because when you look at who's getting the high paying creative economy jobs, it tends to be over-represented by people that look like me," he said. "And I think we need to be working to make sure that all the folks in this city, particularly BIPOC, black and brown communities, have the opportunity to pursue those jobs."

Engstrom also highlighted the potential for converting unused downtown office space into housing and other uses to address the affordability crisis.

A Commitment to Collaboration and Community

Engstrom's pitch to voters centers on his experience, commitment to collaboration, and deep connection to District 2. "Building community through culture and in collaboration has been my life's work," he said. "And I want to bring that collaboration, that spirit of possibility to the second floor (City Council Chambers) because I think the city has an opportunity to do something exceptional these next two years. And I'd love to be a catalyst for seeing that happen."

He acknowledged the role's challenges but expressed confidence in his ability to navigate the complexities of city government and work towards solutions that benefit the community.

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