Wotton pledges to be an independent voice in bid to flip King County Council seat
If one phrase could encapsulate Snoqualmie Councilmember Rob Wotton’s philosophy, it would be “majority does not always rule.”
That belief shapes his next political move. On Dec. 19, Wotton announced his candidacy for the District 3 seat on King County Council. He is challenging what he sees as incumbent Councilmember Sarah Perry’s biggest flaw: consistently siding with the majority.
“Perry votes 99% of the time with the majority,” Wotton said in an interview with the Sammamish Independent. “That’s why I’m running in this race – I’m an independent voice. I’m not looking to others for how to vote, I’m going to vote for what’s best for our district.”
As vice president of Umpqua Bank and a Snoqualmie city council member, he believes he has both the business acumen and leadership skills needed to guide District 3 in the right direction.
He said one of his key accomplishments was advancing the renovation of Highway 18 near Snoqualmie Valley. When he joined the Economic Development Commission in 2014, he was surprised to find highway improvements ranked 11th on the list of priorities for the commission. Throughout his term, he worked closely with the Chamber of Commerce to elevate the project, ultimately moving it to a top priority and setting it in motion.
If elected, Wotton aims to build on his previous projects while also addressing what he sees as Perry’s shortcomings, particularly on affordable housing and transportation.
“In Snoqualmie and North Bend, we have over 10,000 employees, and 8,000 of them commute in every day. It’s putting a lot of pressure on roadways like Highway 18. I’ve been advocating for metro service, but my opponent has resisted addressing it,” Wotton said.
Affordable housing is another top priority for Wotton, driven by personal experience.
“My sons are 19 and 23. I have this motivation to make sure that they can live outside of my house,” Wotton said. “It’s becoming so unaffordable that so many kids, once they graduate from college, have to move outside the area. I want to change that.”
Another area where he disagrees with Perry’s approach is budget management. He argues that the county’s upcoming $150 million shortfall in 2026 and 2027 should be addressed by maximizing existing revenue rather than raising additional taxes.
“In the city of Snoqualmie where I’m on the Chair of Public Safety, we were able to hire three new firefighters with the same budget,” Wotton said. “I can make the tax dollars go farther rather than to simply ask for more taxes.”
In response to Perry’s critiques that his views may not always align with the district’s broader priorities, Wotton emphasizes his commitment to finding common ground.
“I’ve always taken the approach that it’s healthy to have competing visions. At the end of the day, we still like and respect each other because the real winners are the entire population,” Wotton said.
