# Dan Strauss
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{{short description|American politician (born 1986)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Dan Strauss
| image = Strauss-Council-Swearing-In-Ceremony (cropped).jpg
| caption =
| office = Member of the [Seattle City Council](/source/Seattle_City_Council)
from District 6
| term_start = {{Start date|2020|01|06}}
| predecessor = [Mike O'Brien](/source/Mike_O'Brien_(Seattle_politician))
| office1 =
| term_start1 =
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 =
| birth_name = Daniel Aaron Strauss
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|4|12}}
| birth_place = [Seattle](/source/Seattle), Washington, U.S.
| party = [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States))
| spouse =
| children =
| alma_mater = [Whittier College](/source/Whittier_College) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts))
[University of Oregon](/source/University_of_Oregon) ([MPA](/source/Master_of_Public_Administration))
| profession =
| allegiance =
| website =
}}
'''Daniel Aaron Strauss''' (born April 12, 1986) is an American politician who serves on the [Seattle City Council](/source/Seattle_City_Council) from District 6. A native of Seattle's [Ballard](/source/Ballard%2C_Seattle) neighborhood, he previously worked as an aide to local politicians, including Seattle councilmember [Sally Bagshaw](/source/Sally_Bagshaw).
==Early life and career==
Strauss was born in the [Ballard](/source/Ballard%2C_Seattle) neighborhood of Seattle to a Jewish family of [social worker](/source/social_worker)s and graduated from [Nathan Hale High School](/source/Nathan_Hale_High_School_(Seattle)).[{{cite news |last=Vandraiss |first=Karin |date=July 16, 2019 |title=Meet the Jewish Candidates Vying for a Seat on the Seattle City Council (Part One) |url=https://mag.jewishinseattle.org/community/2019/07/four-city-council-candidates-from-the-jewish-community-want-to-change-the-world-or-at-least-seattle |work=Jewish in Seattle Magazine |publisher=[Sagacity Media](/source/Sagacity_Media) |accessdate=January 9, 2020 |archive-date=September 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920003045/https://mag.jewishinseattle.org/community/2019/07/four-city-council-candidates-from-the-jewish-community-want-to-change-the-world-or-at-least-seattle |url-status=dead }}][{{cite news |last=Gutman |first=David |date=September 21, 2019 |title=Strauss, Wills clash over homelessness sweeps in District 6 Seattle City Council debate |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/strauss-wills-clash-over-homelessness-sweeps-in-district-6-seattle-city-council-debate/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 9, 2020}}] After high school, he joined the [National Civilian Community Corps](/source/National_Civilian_Community_Corps).[{{cite news |last1=Archibald |first1=Ashley |last2=Edge |first2=Lisa |title=Vying for Votes: Interview with City Council District 6 candidate Dan Strauss |url=https://www.realchangenews.org/news/2019/10/02/vying-votes-interview-city-council-district-6-candidate-dan-strauss |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=Real Change News |date=October 2, 2019}}] Strauss graduated with a degree in [political science](/source/political_science) from [Whittier College](/source/Whittier_College), where he was elected student body president.[{{cite web |last1=Horton |first1=Ariel |title=Alumnus Emerges in Seattle City Council Race |url=https://www.whittier.edu/news/mon-10282019-1023-am/alumnus-emerges-seattle-city-council-race |publisher=Whittier College |access-date=14 December 2024 |date=October 28, 2019}}] He then attended the [University of Oregon](/source/University_of_Oregon), where he also worked as a policy intern for Oregon state representative [Nancy Nathanson](/source/Nancy_Nathanson), graduating in 2012 with a [Master of Public Administration](/source/Master_of_Public_Administration).[{{cite news |last=Gutman |first=David |date=October 19, 2019 |title=Seattle City Council candidates Strauss and Wills locked in polite battle over District 6 seat |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-city-council-candidates-strauss-and-wills-locked-in-polite-battle-over-district-6-seat/ |work=[The Seattle Times](/source/The_Seattle_Times) |accessdate=January 9, 2020}}][{{cite news |date=November 14, 2019 |title=PPPM Alum Wins Seattle City Council Seat |url=https://pppm.uoregon.edu/pppm-alum-wins-seattle-city-council-seat |publisher=[University of Oregon School of Planning, Public Policy and Management](/source/University_of_Oregon) |accessdate=January 9, 2020}}]
After graduating from college, Strauss returned to Seattle and worked as an aide to several local politicians. He was part of the campaign team for [Snohomish County councilman](/source/Snohomish_County_Council) [Dave Somers](/source/Dave_Somers) during his 2013 reelection. He then worked as a legislative assistant for State Senator [David Frockt](/source/David_Frockt) before working for the [Alliance for Gun Responsibility](/source/Alliance_for_Gun_Responsibility).[{{cite news |last=Beekman |first=Daniel |date=February 13, 2019 |title=Mike O'Brien is fourth Seattle City Council incumbent who won't run for re-election |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/mike-obrien-is-fourth-seattle-city-council-incumbent-who-wont-run-for-re-election/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 9, 2020}}] He finished first out of 13 candidates in the primary election, with 34 percent of the vote, and advanced to the general election alongside former city councilmember [Heidi Wills](/source/Heidi_Wills).[{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Gene |title=Amazon's spending in Seattle Council races doesn't deliver |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ |work=The Washington Post |access-date=August 25, 2024 |date=November 6, 2019 |archive-date=February 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216022246/https://www.washingtonpost.com/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}][{{cite news |title=Seattle council candidate Heidi Wills to officially concede |url=https://komonews.com/news/local/seattle-council-candidate-heidi-wills-to-officially-concede |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=KOMO |date=November 10, 2019}}]
Strauss won with 55.65% of the vote and was sworn in on December 22, 2019, at a [Ballard Centennial Bell Tower](/source/Ballard_Centennial_Bell_Tower) ceremony.[{{cite web |date=November 25, 2019 |title=November 05, 2019 Official Final Election Results |page=33 |url=https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/elections/2019/nov-general/results.pdf |publisher=King County Elections |accessdate=January 9, 2020}}][{{cite web |date=December 22, 2019 |title=Councilmember-elect Dan Strauss takes oath in Ballard |url=https://www.seattlechannel.org/mayor-and-council/city-council/city-council-all-videos-index?videoid=x109744 |publisher=[Seattle Channel](/source/Seattle_Channel) |accessdate=January 9, 2020}}]
===2023 election===
In February 2023, Strauss announced he would seek a second term in office.[{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Sarah Grace |title=Strauss will seek reelection to Seattle's District 6 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/strauss-will-seek-reelection-to-seattles-district-6/ |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=The Seattle Times |date=February 22, 2023}}] In the August primary, he face five challengers and came in first with 51.76% of the vote and Pete Hanning, executive director for the Fremont Chamber of Commerce, came in second with 29.34%.[{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Sarah Grace |title=Seattle City Council elections 2023: Meet District 6 candidates |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/meet-the-candidates-for-seattles-district-6-city-council-race/ |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=The Seattle Times |date=May 26, 2023}}][{{cite web |title=Election Results |url=https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/elections/2023/aug-primary/results.pdf |publisher=King County Elections |access-date=15 December 2024 |date=August 14, 2023}}] In the general election, Strauss and Hanning disagreed on most issues, with Hanning running as more of a moderate compared to Strauss.[{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Josh |title=Seattle City Council District 6: Dan Strauss vs. Pete Hanning |url=https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2023/10/seattle-city-council-district-6-dan-strauss-vs-pete-hanning |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=Cascade PBS |date=October 13, 2023}}] Hanning criticized Strauss' for his support of defunding the Seattle Police Department budget by 50%, and for "flip-flopping" to then supporting SPD.[{{cite news |last1=Hyde |first1=David |last2=Denkmann |first2=Libby |last3=Anderson |first3=Hans |title=With Seattle homicides at record high, defund 'flip-flop' haunts City Council incumbent Dan Strauss |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/with-seattle-homicides-at-record-high-defund-flip-flop-haunts-city-council-incumbent |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=KUOW |date=October 24, 2023}}] Strauss distanced himself from defund rhetoric, and called his support "a mistake."[{{cite news |title=KUOW's District Dash: A Seattle City Council deep dive for busy people |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/kuow-s-district-dash-a-seattle-city-council-deep-dive-for-busy-people |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=KUOW |date=October 18, 2023}}]
In the general election, Strauss defeated Hanning, 52.31% to 47.19%.[{{cite web |title=Election Results |url=https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/elections/2023/nov-general/results.pdf |publisher=King County Elections |access-date=15 December 2024 |date=November 27, 2023}}]
===Tenure===
Strauss is the chair of the Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee in his first term on the council.[{{cite news |last=Graham |first=Natalie |date=January 7, 2020 |title=New Seattle City Council Sworn in with Calls for New Progressive Taxes |url=https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2020/01/07/42482799/new-seattle-city-council-sworn-in-with-calls-for-new-progressive-taxes |work=[The Stranger](/source/The_Stranger_(newspaper)) |accessdate=January 9, 2020}}] At the beginning of his term, he supported policies that reduced government regulations to help small businesses during the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic), including expanding street cafes and suspending regulations on at-home businesses.[{{cite news |last1=Craighead |first1=Callie |title=Greenwood's Yonder Cider to remain open after Seattle City Council approves microbusiness bill |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/food/article/seattle-city-council-passes-microbusiness-bill-16029931.php |access-date=19 January 2025 |work=Seattle Post Intelligencer |date=March 16, 2021}}][{{cite news |last1=Santos |first1=Melissa |title=Seattle council OKs permanent street cafes |url=https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2022/12/14/street-cafes-permanent-seattle-vote |access-date=19 January 2025 |work=Axios Seattle |date=December 11, 2022}}] During the [George Floyd protests](/source/George_Floyd_protests), Strauss supported cutting the Seattle Police budget by 50%, which he would later reverse, calling his support "a mistake."[{{cite news |last1=Hyde |first1=David |title='Defund the police' is back in the spotlight as Seattle council races heat up |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/defund-the-police-is-back-in-the-spotlight-as-seattle-council-races-heat-up |access-date=19 January 2025 |work=KUOW |date=July 15, 2023}}]
During his second term, Strauss was the budget committee chair and had to oversee a severe budget shortfall.[{{cite news |last1=Daniels |first1=Chris |title=Seattle City Council contemplates $241M budget cut amid escalating spending concerns |url=https://komonews.com/news/local/seattle-city-council-241-million-budget-cut-spending-revenue-jumpstart-tax-downtown-king-county-fiscal-consolidation-transportation-sweetened-beverage-tax-restrictions-jon-scholes-strauss |access-date=19 January 2025 |work=KOMO |date=April 18, 2024}}] He would propose a "balanced package," which passed, sparring cuts to popular programs, like the [Seattle Channel](/source/Seattle_Channel), but relied on pulling funds from the city's [Jumpstart tax](/source/JumpStart_Seattle).[{{cite news |last1=Barnett |first1=Erica C. |title=Council's Budget “Balancing Package” Restores Seattle Channel Programming, Grabs $59 Million More from JumpStart |url=https://publicola.com/2024/11/02/councils-budget-balancing-package-restores-seattle-channel-programming-grabs-59-million-more-from-jumpstart/ |access-date=19 January 2025 |work=Publicola |date=November 2, 2024}}]
== Electoral history ==
=== 2019 election ===
{{Election box begin no change|title=City of Seattle, City Council, District 6, 2019 Primary Election[{{cite web |title=Election Results |url=https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/elections/2019/aug-primary/results.pdf |publisher=King County Elections |access-date=25 August 2024 |date=August 19, 2019}}] }}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = Dan Strauss |votes = 11,328
|percentage = 34.15%
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Heidi Wills
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 7,048
| percentage = 21.25%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Sergio García
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 4,730
| percentage = 14.26%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jay Fathi
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 4,367
| percentage = 13.16%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kate Martin
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 1,137
| percentage = 3.43%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jon Lisbin
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 1,063
| percentage = 3.20%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jeremy Cook
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 829
| percentage = 2.50%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Melissa Hall
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 820
| percentage = 2.47%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ed Pottharst
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 599
| percentage = 1.81%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = John Peeples
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 452
| percentage = 1.36%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Joey Massa
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 299
| percentage = 0.90%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Terry Rice
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 287
| percentage = 0.87%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kara Ceriello
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 146
| percentage = 0.44%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Write-in
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 67
| percentage = 0.20%
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
|votes = 34,207
|percentage =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title=Seattle City Council [District 6](/source/Seattle_City_Council), 2019 General Election