November 2025: Seattle

Description: Join us for an engaging conversation on how recent political and administrative shifts at the federal and state levels are shaping governance and decision-making at the local level. This event will bring together a panel of experts, including local government scholars, elected officials, and senior administrators from across Washington. Panelists will share their perspectives on how the current administration’s policies are impacting local policy development, public management, and service delivery. The discussion will also explore opportunities for research and the role of evidence-based practices in informing local governance.

Moderator: Jodi Sandfort, UW Evans School Dean

Panelist: Angela Birney, Mayor, Redmond, Washington

Panelist: Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Councilmember, Seattle City Council

Panelist: Christine Rolfes, County Commissioner, Kitsap County, Washington