Sara’s Story
Sara Nelson's commitment to Seattle reflects the same determination and pragmatism that guided her through personal challenges and shaped her approach to public service. Through her own battle with alcohol use disorder and journey through recovery, Sara experienced firsthand how access to treatment and a supportive community can transform lives. It's a personal truth that shapes her leadership today - whether she's expanding addiction services, working to make housing more affordable, or bringing neighbors together to tackle public safety challenges.
"My recovery taught me that the hardest problems are never solved alone," Sara says. "It's about showing up every day, doing the work, and believing in better possibilities - not just for ourselves, but for our whole community."
This philosophy guided Sara's earlier career as a small business owner, where she created good jobs while advocating for Seattle's craft brewing industry. Running a business taught her to focus on practical solutions and bring different perspectives together - skills she now applies to Seattle's biggest challenges.
As City Council President, Sara has put these principles into action. When conventional wisdom said Seattle's problems were too big to solve, she dug deeper - bringing together neighborhood leaders, first responders, service providers, and people with lived experience to develop real solutions. Her leadership has delivered concrete results: expanded treatment access, innovative housing programs, strengthened public safety, and renewed investment in the arts and small businesses that make Seattle unique.
Yet Sara knows Seattle's story is still being written. While the city has made meaningful progress, too many families still struggle with rising costs, too many neighborhoods don't feel safe, and too many of our neighbors lack access to housing and essential services they need to thrive.
It's this commitment to bringing people together around practical solutions that defines Sara's leadership. She knows that Seattle's challenges are complex, but she believes in our city's ability to face them with courage, creativity, and shared purpose.
"Seattle is at its best when we reject false choices and focus on what works," Sara says. "We can have a city that's both compassionate and accountable, that supports both public safety and criminal justice reform, that promotes both business growth and worker protections. That's the Seattle I'm fighting for."
"Every day, I see examples of what's possible when Seattle comes together," Sara says. "From neighborhood clean-up projects to innovative housing partnerships to life-saving treatment programs - we're showing that progress is possible when we focus on solutions instead of rhetoric. That's how we'll build a Seattle that truly works for everyone."
