First candidate announces for Kshama Sawant's Seattle City Council seat

SEATTLE — The first candidate has entered the 2019 race for the Seattle City Council seat held by Kshama Sawant.

Beto Yarce announced Thursday he would take on Sawant in Council District 3, which includes Capitol Hill.

Yarce is originally from Mexico and built a jewelry business in Seattle. He now leads a nonprofit called Ventures.

"We help people to move out of poverty by empowering them to start their own business," Yarce said.

Sawant has built a national profile as a socialist and fierce critic of Amazon.

KIRO 7 asked Yarce for his view of the company.

"I don't think Amazon is evil," he said.

Yarce said he wants to talk with Amazon about its social responsibility.

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"That's going to be my goal, to negotiate with them and to make sure they bring more resources to our community," Yarce said. "And after that conversation, if it doesn't happen, we will have a conversation about taxes."

Yarce said he supports the idea of a head tax, but says the current city council handled the issue poorly without a clear spending plan.

Yarce said he does not support sweeping homeless encampments, and wants more shelters built so people can be moved off the streets with empathy and dignity.

Regarding Sawant's sometimes combative style, Yarce said, "I will approach problems by uniting, rather than dividing. I know how to break through divisive rhetoric."

Sawant has not yet announced her intentions for the 2019 election and did not respond to an interview request on Thursday.

There is a question about Yarce's residency, first noted by independent journalist Erica C. Barnett.

Responding to questions from KIRO 7, Yarce said he moved to Mill Creek for four years because of his partner's work.

His campaign said he's back in the neighborhood in a short-term rental looking for a permanent home, and already meets the residency requirement in the city charter.

"I've been working in the district because that is where Ventures is located and I'm here Monday through Friday and I know the issues of the district because this is what I call home," Yarce said.

Yarce later referenced the cost of housing in moving back to Capitol Hill.

"That's one of the challenges we've had, to be honest. It's very expensive."

KIRO