Woodinville should be a place where people can live, work, play and retire with dignity.

But right now, for too many families—our teachers, our seniors, our first responders, our graduates and young professionals—that dream is slipping further out of reach.

Housing affordability isn’t just a headline. It’s a human issue. And it’s one I take personally.

That’s why I led the charge to create Woodinville’s Housing Action Plan, a major step forward for our city. For the first time in that plan, affordability was front and center—just as it should be given our regional housing crisis. We created a roadmap to plan smart, protect what we love, and ensure housing is attainable for the people who make this city a vibrant community.

But here's the twist: Some of the same folks who sat out the hard work are now trying to weaponize my leadership. They’re using bad-faith, performative policymaking to attack the very plan they never helped shape. They talk about affordability in public, demanding extreme levels be mandated through the city, then block the tools that would actually deliver it.

Let’s be honest: That’s not leadership. That’s sabotage.

Real Solutions Require Real Work

Unlike the soundbite politics some are playing, I believe in solutions that work. Housing is complex—there’s no one-size-fits-all fix. That’s why I’ve been pushing for a wide range of strategies, including:

Creating a Permit-ready program for Accessory Dwelling Units to give property owners more flexibility and adding to our housing supply (here’s a great program Renton has successfully created) State law mandates that we update our zoning to include extensive affordable housing
Offering targeted incentives to builders who prioritize affordability like the Woodinville Multi Family Tax Exemption program
Passing tenant protections—like the 2024 rule that gives renters more notice before major rent hikes

This isn’t about changing who we are. It’s about protecting what we value most: a community where everyone has a place.

We Deserve Better Than Political Theater

We deserve leaders who show up for the work—not people who complain from the sidelines. Leaders who prioritize people over politics. Leaders who roll up their sleeves, especially when the issues at hand are hard.

If we want Woodinville to remain a thriving, inclusive, and connected city, we need more than empty promises and fear-inducing headlines. We need courage, compassion, and common sense.

I'm Michelle Evans, and I'm running for Woodinville City Council to make sure that Woodinville remains a place where everyone has a place.

Let’s shape that future—together.

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