Eleven candidates are in the running for public office in Auburn, according to King County Elections. The candidates for mayor are listed first. The Aug. 5 primary election will pare the candidates for each position to two, and those two will face each other in the general election Nov. 4.

Mayor

• Incumbent Nancy Backus: first elected mayor in 2014.

• Yolanda Trout Manuel: First elected to council in 2014.

• Ronnie Morgan: Limited information available on this candidate.

Council Position No. 2

• Incumbent Kate Baldwin. First elected in 2022.

• Adib Altallal

Council Position No. 4

• Erica Tomas

• Brian Lott

• Yuval Fleming.

Council Position No. 6

• Lisa M. Stirgus: Appointed to the council in April 2025, she is seeking a full term.

• James Jeyaraj: Former councilmember.

• Cobi Clark.

The Reporter will contact all candidates to determine where they stand on important issues facing the City of Auburn. Their responses will published in the coming weeks to inform voters ahead of the primary election.

King County Council

Candidates for District 7 are:

• Pahaliyah Brown

• Maya Vengadasalam

• Pete von Reichbauer (incumbent)

Pete von Reichbauer has been on the council since 1994 and has raised $207,775 so far, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Vengadasalam is a former Kent School Board member.

Candidates for District 9 are:

• Jude Anthony

• Reagan Dunn (incumbent)

Dunn was first elected to the council in 2005. He has raised $225,949 for his campaign, according to the Public Disclosure Commission.

Candidates for King County Executive are:

• Claudia Balducci

• John Wilson

• Bill Hirt

• Girmay Zahilay

• Amiya Ingram

• Rebecca Williamson

• Don L Rivers

• Derek Chartrand

Balducci and Zahilay are current members of the King County Council. Wilson is the King County tax assessor.

Auburn Position No. 2 Councilmember Kate Baldwin. Photo courtesy.

Photo courtesy of Yolanda Trout-Manuel

Brian Lott

James Jeyaraj