MUKILTEO—Former Mukilteo City Councilman and Vice Chair of the 21st Legislative District Democrats, Riaz Khan, officially resigned from the Democratic party three days ago, on May 5, and is now running for the 21st Legislative District State Representative position as a Republican against Democrat incumbent Strom Peterson.

The Mukilteo resident officially filed for candidacy to run against current state Rep. Strom Peterson, on Tuesday, May 7. He told the Lynnwood Times he “walked away” from the Democratic party because the party’s approach to issues “no longer aligns with the values [he] holds most important.” He also criticized the party for lacking “leadership skills at all levels” —state level, federal, level, and party level—as well as the cause of rising grocery prices and crime.

When asked how Republican voters can trust him to serve their values and needs, given his history as a Democrat, Khan told the Lynnwood Times he is a “people person” and “family person” above all else and will value the voice of the people to ensure their needs are properly met.

“I’m switching to the Republican party because I see good leadership skills here,” said Khan. “They have a good agenda.”

Heading into the race, Khan’s number one priority is housing, followed closely by reducing inflation and improving the cost of living in general. Thirdly, Khan’s platform focuses on improving public safety. He informed the Lynnwood Times he believes the Democratic party is to blame for rising crime rates and increasing drug use both state- and nation-wide.

As far as housing, while serving on the Mukilteo City Council, Khan was one of just three votes not in favor of adopting a housing action plan in Mukilteo which many residents feared would bring “high-density living” to a town they cherished for having a “small town” feel.  The other votes not in favor came from then council members Bob Champion and, now Mukilteo Mayor, Joe Marine.

“The public wanted no [for the Housing Action Plan] so I listened to the public because I wanted what was best for the residents,” Khan told the Lynnwood Times.

Khan continued that every city’s housing issues are different, but it shouldn’t fall on the state to determine how to solve them.

In the 2021 General Election, Mukilteans overwhelmingly voted, 81.85%, on an advisory measure against encouraging more high-density housing to be built in Mukilteo.

In February of 2020, 78% of respondents to an Edmonds Citizens’ Housing Commission Survey of approximately 900 residents stated, “it is important to me that single-family neighborhoods remained zoned as single family.”

Khan believes he could represent the 21st Legislative District better than Peterson because he is more embedded with and involved in the community, he said.

“Strom never visits Mukilteo, so I feel I could do a better job than him,” said Khan.

“I welcome Riaz Khan to the Republican Party assuming he will follow Republican values and the platform,” Bill Cooper, Chair of the Snohomish County Republican Party, told the Lynnwood Times. “We recognize Riaz’s strengths, platform, and abilities, and look forward to his campaign as he moves forward to a win this November.

“His assessment of the problems in Washington state and Snohomish County as being caused by Democrats is spot on. Republicans have not been in power for almost 40 years leaving the cause of voters concerns solely in the hands of Democrats locally and statewide.

“We welcome into the Republican party, anyone who believes in good government of the people, for the people, and by the people. The problems we face today represent what we believe Democrats are doing ‘to the people’ rather than what Republican solutions will do ‘for the people.'”

Now that Khan has officially joined the race for state representative, his next steps are to put together a campaign team with plans to door knock and engage in speaking tours in the near future.

“I’m going to do every possible thing to win this election,” said Khan.

Riaz Khan is a manufacturing engineer at the Boeing Company and well-known Mukilteo activist. He has more than 25 years of experience in aviation and leadership. He also manages a successful company as a managing director and was a delegate for the Snohomish County Labor Council and Washington State Labor Council. Khan was a Boeing-SPEEA council representative where he managed labor relations and negotiations for employee contracts.

Khan was elected to his first term on the Mukilteo City Council in November 2019 and was the first Muslim to be elected for a city council position in Snohomish County. He served on the Mukilteo City Council for four years where he voted to increase the amount of police officers in the city to bolster public safety efforts.

While serving on the Mukilteo City Council Khan also focused on the city’s Waterfront Redevelopment Project, Senior Center, and annexation. He informed the Lynnwood Times he visited Olympia on several occasions to champion for more funding for these projects.

Prior to relocating to Snohomish County, Khan’s career in politics dates back to when he was living in Texas “helping politicians” and watching how they operate. When he and his family moved to Mukilteo he thought: “now is my time.”

As a community leader and lobbyist, Khan serves as the president and lead fundraiser for the Islamic Center of Mukilteo (ICOM).

Khan also cares extremely about the well-being of the community and forwarding its growth. He appreciates the assistance and support of the community.

“It’s beautiful to see people of different faiths, cultures, and beliefs working together,” he told the Lynnwood Times.

Khan grew up in San Antonio, Texas. He is a certified public manager and received his master’s degree in business administration from Webster University, Saint Louis, Missouri. Khan is married to Ayesha Khan, their one daughter is in college pursuing an aeronautical business degree, one sone is studying in the Mukilteo School District and his other son is attending the University of Washington with hopes of being a physician.