2024 Candidate Endorsements
The WMFHA Board of Directors makes endorsements based on the recommendations of WMFHA PAC through their candidate selection process. WMFHA believes these candidates are best equipped to deal with the current housing crisis and to support solutions that will encourage more development, rather than harm it.
Endorsements are listed by jurisdiction. (i) indicates an incumbent.
Governor - Mark Mullet
Senator Mullett earned the support of the multi-family development and property management industry because of his consistent and unwavering support for our industry, housing development and property management, and his pragmatic approach to finding solutions for Washington’s housing crisis.
As a Washington State Senator, Mullet has led the effort to have a balanced approach between the needs of tenants and the needs of housing providers. Mark created the Landlord Mitigation Fund in the Department of Commerce, and played a leading role in phasing out the eviction moratorium during the 2022 Legislative session. Mark has also been the champion in Olympia when it comes to explaining why rent control legislation leads to less housing and is not the solution to our affordability challenge.
Mark’s candidacy is a real opportunity to impact meaningful change in Olympia for the next decade. New, collaborative leadership in the Governor’s office would mean a reset of industry relationships with Department of Revenue, Department of Commerce, Labor and Industries, etc.“Tenant protections do not get to the root cause of housing insecurity, which is a lack of available housing. We need more housing in our community, and increasing tenant protections, while it may help who are currently in homes for the short term, it will not help the countless people in need of housing. I think our efforts should be focused on creating more housing in our region."
District 26, Position 1 - Jim Henderson
Jim Henderson is a housing provider and has worked in the industry for 24 years. As owner of Landlord Solutions, he has helped our industry navigate the ever-changing laws you must abide by and knows our issues intimately. He understands what works and doesn't, especially when addressing our housing crisis. In his day-to-day business he helps industry members comply with the ever-changing regulations as well as the complicated, costly, and low unlawful detainer process in the greater Puget Sound region.
In his capacity as a lobbyist for the multi-family and real estate industries he has developed a strong working relationship with elected officials on both sides of the aisle at the state and local level and will be able to use his experience to push pragmatic solutions to the housing crisis. He understands the reality that the housing crisis is a supply issue and that until that is addressed, the short-term solution offered will not fix the problem but will in fact make it worse.
District 49 - Senator Annette Cleveland (i)
Senator Annette Cleveland is a pragmatic legislator who does her research on the issues before her. Although her emphasis during her time in the legislature has been on healthcare, she understands that housing and access to, is an important part of positive outcomes. Rather than accepting the premise that rent control and other regulations on housing are the panacea to address our housing crisis, she has done her due diligence, reaching out to economists and others to gain insight into the issue.
She believes that lack of supply is the root cause of our housing crisis, and that the legislature should be looking for ways to encourage more housing, not curtail its creation. As the torchbearer for the Jackson Legacy Fund, she understands that housing providers and the business community are an important part of the Washington economy and our housing crisis solution.
You are encouraged to research these candidates and vote for them by returning your mail in ballot by August 6th.