Ryan shows up, tells the truth, and follows through. What you see is what you get. He believes in being honest, transparent, and consistent, even when it is hard or unpopular. After nearly a decade on the Renton City Council, he has stayed true to these principles, even when it meant making difficult or unpopular decisions. True leadership requires courage, not just to challenge opponents, but to challenge friends and allies when necessary. Ryan puts the well-being of the community first and works every day to earn its trust.

Kindness and care are at the heart of how Ryan leads. As an Eagle Scout, a father, and a public servant, he knows leadership begins with listening. He is committed to understanding the lived experiences of the people he serves and ensuring that public policy reflects real community needs, not just politics. Ryan believes empathy is not a soft skill but a strength, and it is the foundation for creating policies that truly serve.

Ryan believes the best solutions come when we build bridges, not walls. He is a “Yes, and” leader — someone who respects multiple perspectives, holds space for different truths, and works across divides to get things done. Whether on complex zoning reforms, regional transportation, or housing policy, Ryan brings people together to create meaningful progress. He is always ready to collaborate with anyone willing to roll up their sleeves and work toward solutions.

Ryan believes that outcomes matter more than ideology. His focus is on solving problems, not scoring political points. He breaks down challenges into their core pieces, uses data and evidence to guide decisions, and keeps working until he finds what works. As a councilmember, he has fought to deliver affordable housing, expanded transit, safer neighborhoods, and stronger small businesses — not because these solutions were politically convenient, but because they were what our communities needed. Ryan brings a relentless commitment to problem-solving and a belief that government should deliver real results.

The people closest to the challenge should help shape the solution. Whether we are addressing housing, healthcare, public safety, or climate resilience, Ryan believes the voices of those most affected need to be at the center of policymaking. Throughout his public service, he has worked alongside frontline workers, tenants, advocates, and community members to make sure their experiences shape the policies passed. Ryan knows that when we elevate these voices, we craft policies that are not only more just, but also more effective.

Ryan knows firsthand that when workers thrive, entire communities thrive. Throughout his time on the Renton City Council, he has stood shoulder to shoulder with labor to support fair wages, safe working conditions, apprenticeship opportunities, and union contracts that open the door to strong careers. He believes public investments should strengthen the middle class, not undermine it. Ryan is committed to making sure King County’s public dollars create good, family-supporting jobs that build long-term opportunity for everyone.

The climate crisis demands urgent, local action. Through his work on regional transit and infrastructure, Ryan has seen how environmental decisions ripple across communities and how the most vulnerable often bear the greatest burden. He believes in bold investments in clean energy, salmon recovery, green infrastructure, and sustainable transportation, all designed with environmental justice at the core. Our climate solutions must prioritize the frontline communities most impacted by pollution, displacement, and climate risk, ensuring they are first in line for investment, resilience, and opportunity.

Government should meet people where they are. Ryan believes every program, service, and initiative should be clear, accessible, and designed to deliver real benefits to the people it is meant to serve. Too often, government systems are shaped for insiders, leaving everyday residents behind. Ryan is committed to cutting through bureaucracy, simplifying processes, and ensuring that King County’s work is grounded in the lived experiences of the people we serve. His goal is to make government a tool for good in people’s daily lives, not just an institution on paper.