LYNNWOOD—Lynnwood City Council candidate Isabel Mata, running for the Position 2 seat currently held by Councilman Patrick Decker who is not seeking re-election, is running to be a voice for the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, refugees, and people of color – to ensure they’re represented at a local level and their voices are heard.
“Over the last couple of years, I have felt increasingly anxious about the state of the world, as many young people probably feel, and I’ve been thinking about how I can make a difference,” Mata told the Lynnwood Times. “Over the last few months, especially, it has felt like our democratic values are being challenged and I believe it’s going to come down to local governments to keep the most vulnerable communities safe.”
Mata’s ultimate vision for the City of Lynnwood is a city that is safe, caring, and inclusive, where no one is left behind. She wants Lynnwood’s residents, especially the BIPOC and queer community, to feel like as if they’re welcome and that their government is looking out for them.
Her priorities are safety (which includes safe and accessible streets, and a robust crises response team), “care that works,” which she explained means affordable basic needs, and inclusion.
“To me it’s not enough to say we welcome all. You actually have to create an environment that allows people of different backgrounds to thrive,” said Mata.
With this, Mata would love to see more LGBTQ+ spaces such as gay bars in the city.
“It’s really important to have spaces where people can feel seen and cared for and connected to their community, but the same goes for people with different religious backgrounds. I want a Muslim person to feel safe walking to their mosque, and to know that they’re not going to be assaulted or targeted, as a Jewish woman I want to feel safe walking to the Habad, same thing for people of Christian backgrounds,” said Mata. “People of all religious should feel free to practice and that means working with local law enforcement to make sure they have policies in place for discrimination.”
Mata believes Lynnwood’s first response network is great but wants to make sure the city has a “co-response” model to make best use of its resources. For example, having the police send a social worker or behavioral health expert to respond to mental health crisis, homelessness, drug abuse, or domestic violence.
As far as Lynnwood’s youth violence Mata wants to ensure parents have access to childcare and the city has a variety of after school programs where kids can get involved in. She also wants to ensure the city has a network of mental and behavioral health options which, she said, will in-term help the city’s substance abuse issue.
With Lynnwood’s population expected to reach 63,000 by 2044, Mata also wants to make sure everyone has access to affordable housing. A way to do this, she said, is to have flexibility with zoning laws and regulations to allow for more diverse buildings, as well as city-owned housing where rent could be stabilized.
“When you have a roof over your head and you feel safe at home you’re going to be a more proactive member of society, you’re going to want to get involved in your community, you’re going to want to make sure your community is safe because you feel safe,” said Mata.
It’s Mata’s belief that big corporations moving into the city and pricing everyone out hurts local mom-and-pop shops and disincentivizes people from calling Lynnwood home. By prioritizing local business owners, through permitting for example, she believes this will keep the local economy strong by keeping the money within the city.
“Elected officials need to prioritize local businesses instead of adding another BMW to 99,” said Mata. “The more we prioritize corporations and big block chains, the further away we get from the vision of a strong, local, economy.”
Mata would also like to see more public forums to ensure government transparency, and the city is making decisions that represent the people’s best interests. By having events where members of the public can attend, learn about what’s going on at the city level, and ask questions, this creates a “co-governing” model, she said, where the people can share their priorities and feel like their needs are being properly represented.
“We need to have a better relationship with our constituents in Lynnwood because right now not a lot of people are actively involved,” said Mata. “Whenever I attend a City Council meeting I’m always so surprised how few people show up. I know that’s because a lot of people in Lynnwood work so there must be another way for them to give their input.”
If elected Mata plans to have frequent “Coffee with a Council Member” events where she can meet with members of the public and explain agenda items in layman’s terms, and hopefully generate interest in local civics.
Mata is originally from Rochester, New York. Her family relocated to Kirkland, Washington nearly a decade ago but she moved to Los Angeles, with her now-husband, Richard, after high school. After the pandemic she moved back to the Seattle area to be closer to family and finally purchased her first home in Lynnwood in 2022.
“I was shocked how beautiful the city was, from its parks, the schools, the community resources. I saw the rec center and I was like we have to be here,” said Mata.
When Mata isn’t getting involved in her community and running for local politics she works as a freelance writer and mindfulness meditation counselor. She likes to say she’s in the business of “connection,” which, according to her, is becoming increasingly more important as of late.
She is also extremely active with the Washington State Jewish Historical Society, having helped with a number of events, and sits on the board for Limmud Seattle – a Jewish learning center.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
One Response
She sounds like a candidate who will move this city forward!