Once more, with feeling: Steffanie Fain for King County Council
October 24, 2025
By The Seattle Times Editorial Board
THE SEATTLE TIMES
In this sad era where misleading voters seems to have become a cottage industry, the truth is important.
That’s why The Times editorial board is reiterating its endorsement of Steffanie Fain for King County Council Position 5. As president of the Harborview Medical Center board, her experience helping guide the county-run institution through the pandemic is impressive and appreciated.
The board endorsed Fain July 14 over challengers in a crowded field for the open seat.
However, voters might be confused because one of the challengers, Peter Kwon, has sent election flyers misrepresenting The Times endorsement to suggest he was the recipient — and misappropriating The Times logo.
Kwon’s campaign sent out a flyer using this passage under The Times logo: “Another impressive candidate is Peter Kwon, a scrappy SeaTac Councilmember who is proud of the city’s commitment to human services.”
Even after The Times’ permissions specialist sent a cease-and-desist letter, the campaign sent out another flyer with a misquote.
Not amusing. This happens more often than it should, despite the fact that interviewed candidates receive a copy of our Campaign Use of Content rules. We like to call it out when it is egregious.
While the editorial did describe Kwon as scrappy, the board never wrote, “Another impressive candidate …”
In fact, here is the endorsement’s conclusion, offered once more, with feeling: “Though this field’s quality is impressive, one candidate clearly stands out. Voters should elect Steffanie Fain to represent King County Council District 5.”
Read the endorsement, and all the board’s other recommendations, for yourself at st.news/endorse25.
The Seattle Times editorial board: members are editorial page editor Kate Riley, Frank A. Blethen, Melissa Davis, Josh Farley, Alex Fryer, Claudia Rowe, Carlton Winfrey and William K. Blethen (emeritus).
