Another candidate is running for the 43rd legislative district seat, in the hope of representing Capitol Hill, South Lake Union, Wallingford and part of the University District in the state legislature in Olympia. Marcus Courtney, a labor leader, announced his candidacy yesterday, The Stranger reports. Courtney tried to unionize workers at Microsoft when he worked there in the late '90s. He founded the union WashTech to represent contract workers in the tech industry. WashTech never managed to succeed at Microsoft, or at Amazon when it tried to mobilize workers in 2000. Courtney told The Stranger that he sees his efforts to advocate for workers while facing off against Seattle’s tech giants as one of his strengths.
Courtney currently works for the AFL-CIO, a federation of labor unions. If elected, Courtney said he plans to push for legislation requiring new buildings to be made compatible with electric cars, try to ensure more leadership positions for women and people of color, and advocate for rent control.
Five other candidates are seeking the seat, which Brady Walkinshaw is leaving to run for Congress. Last week, transgender activist Danni Askini was the latest to join the race.
