The Journey

I am extremely proud to release this second video.  It showcases 18 beautiful languages each saying “Seattle is my Home.”  It shows the amazing diversity of Seattle.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Hisam Khaled
People for Hisam

City Council Candidate Hisam Khaled Creates Video Series to Resist Hate in Trump’s America
“Seattle is My Home” Highlights Seattle’s Diversity Through 18 Languages

Seattle, Washington, March 7, 2017 –  With the recent shooting of a Sikh man in Kent, the death of Ben Keita in Lake Stevens and Trump’s revised travel ban, Khaled is showcasing Seattle as a progressive city that rejects hate toward immigrants and refugees.

In his second video in a series titled “Seattle is My Home,” Khaled documents the diversity of Seattle through the beautiful languages spoken in the city.  The videos feature mostly first and second generation Seattle residents speaking 18 languages including Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, American Sign Language and Lingala.  It is a reminder of how Seattle gladly welcomes immigrants and embodies the qualities of a sanctuary city.

“These videos are a counter movement to Trump’s presidency,” Khaled said.  “We will not tolerate his hate or incorporate his fear in our city.”

Khaled, a 39-year-old Arab American, is running for Seattle City Council Position 8.  He wants to provide each Seattle resident with a physical, medical and cultural home by expanding health care, housing and other important progressive services in our city.  Khaled produces “Seattle is My Home” monthly and asks Seattle residents interested in participating to email him at Hisam.Khaled@gmail.com. He will focus on love and relationships in his April video.

To learn more about Khaled or donate to his campaign, please visit www.electHisam.com

February 20, 24

Trying to Find Fun in Fundraising

Fundraising is hard.  It is hours of phone calls, electronic messages and texts daily.  It is contacting and recontacting your family, friends and acquaintances with the hopes of raising enough money to be competitive in the election.  It is a grueling upward climb with success measured by increments of $10 to $250.  It is how advisors, media and political consultants measure the reach of your message and ultimately your viability.

When I first decided to run, I was naive to the amount of money needed to win a successful campaign for Seattle City Council.  I never guessed that the average winning campaign across the 9 districts was approximately $215,000.  TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.  I was astonished by this amount of money.  This is almost 4 times the average national household median income of $57,000.

How do you raise this amount of money?  According to the National Democratic Training Committee, you simply ask.  I asked and I asked.  I continued to ask.  I raised $8,000 in $10 to $250 increments over two weeks and I learned several things:

  1. People are generous.  They willingly donate their hard earned wages to show you that they believe you, trust you and love you.  You are happy.
  2. Although $10 is less than the cost of a movie, it is still a significant amount of money for several of your close friends.  You are sad.
  3. A significant number of my friends are living at the poverty line.  They express their support but tell you they are struggling with managing multiple jobs, increasing rents, perpetual debt and fatigue.  You are broken.
  4. Asking for help and money requires humility, gratitude and listening.  You are changed.
  5. Life is challenging.  Your friends are living with homelessness, family deaths, job deadlines, ailing parents and heartache.  You are supportive.

I look at the $8,000 and I feel the weight of this money.  It is the wages from my friends who struggle to make art and financially sustain themselves in an increasingly expensive city.  It is a choice to believe in me and forego themselves.  It is the hope that I will honor my campaign platform and work to create a better Seattle for us.  I must assure this money is not wasted.  I make this promise to myself, my team and to you.

I plan to run a campaign where I value your money and its meaning.  We will not waste money on environmentally expensive mailers which are trashed within moments of entering your home.  We will not spend money hiring political consultants who charge $5000 per month for fundraising and accounting.  We will not buy expensive television advertisements that disparage my opponents.  Despite not running a typical campaign, we will still win.

We will win because we believe that Seattle residents deserve city wide health care and affordable housing.  We will win because we believe that cultural, economic and racial diversity is important to preserve.  We will win because 400 people chose to donate at least $10 and sign the Democracy Voucher Petition to access public funds to support our campaign.  We will win because we came together.  We will win even if we don’t raise $215,000.

February 19, 2024

Democracy Vouchers

I received my first Democracy Vouchers today.  Although these magical pieces of blue and white paper don’t feel like money, they are the key to using public funds for local elections.  It is hard to believe that these innocuous vouchers carry so much amazing power.

Before I get too excited about Democracy Vouchers, there are several steps required to redeem them for real money from the Seattle Ethics and Election Commission.

  1. Register as a candidate.  Completed and cost about $300.
  2. Pledge to follow the rules and keep big business out of politics.  No problem, I agree.
  3. Complete the Democracy Voucher Qualifying Contribution Petition.  Oh no.  Wait.  What?!

Let me explain, the Democracy Voucher Qualifying Contribution Petition is a document that needs to be completed before receiving any public funds.  To jump through this hoop, the candidate must collect 400 signatures AND at least $10 and not exceeding $250 from individuals living in Seattle.  This means that you cannot redeem Democracy Vouchers until this step is completed.  These pieces of paper have no value until you have all of your signatures and donations.  They are the checks you cannot cash.  It is like rain on your wedding day.

I need to collect these signatures and donations.  I need people to help me collect these signatures and donations.  I am asking that 40 people commit to collecting 10 signatures and 10 donations from their family, friends, neighbors or acquaintances to get to the required 400.  I have made it as easy as possible

  1. Tell them to donate at least 10$ to www.electHisam.com/donate.
  2. Have them sign the OFFICIAL Qualifying Contribution Petition
  3. Collect Democracy Vouchers to be redeemed for public funds.
  4. WIN ELECTION AND LIVE UP TO MY CAMPAIGN PROMISES.
Please help me complete this very important step by March 31st.  I will not be competitive in this race without these Democracy Vouchers.  Seattle is my home and you are my family.  Please help me.  I will even come to your house to collect the signatures, donations and vouchers.  I am counting on you.

February 15, 2024

The Journey Begins

I am excited to officially launch my campaign for Seattle City Council Position 8 with my first press release.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Hisam Khaled
People for Hisam

Hisam Khaled Announces Candidacy for Seattle City Council Position 8
A Home For Everyone – Platform focuses on housing, health care

Seattle, Washington, February 15, 2017 – Hisam Khaled, a 39-year-old Arab American Muslim Gerontologist and Geriatric Psychiatrist, will run this year for Seattle City Council Position 8. He wants to provide each Seattle resident with a physical, medical and cultural home by expanding health care, housing and other important progressive services in our city.

Khaled is a practicing doctor at Northwest Hospital who specializes in older adults.  He has worked with underserved, uninsured and vulnerable patients since enrolling in medical school.  He is running for Seattle City Council Position 8 and advocates for a home for every Seattle resident.

Seattle’s rapid growth has brought lots of changes and residents grapple with its future.  Khaled envisions a Seattle that provides city-wide health care coverage, affordable housing for all income levels and artistic outlets for communities while maintaining Seattle’s essence now and into its future.

Khaled looks forward to representing the people of Seattle on City Council.  He will run a positive campaign focused on listening to Seattle residents.  He plans to separate himself from other talented candidates by spending time in people’s homes and commented, “there is no place like home. Everyone deserves a home.”

Khaled believes that homes are fundamental.  They shelter us from the elements, measure our progress and house our memories.  They tell the tales of health, success, laughter, love and friendship.  Homes are where we belong and feel safe.  They collectively build communities and define a city’s culture.  However, thousands of Seattle residents struggle with finding a home in Seattle.

February 7, 2024

Then IT happened.

I love practicing medicine.  I love everything about it.  I love the deep personal connections with patients, the science of human physiology and pathology, the collaboration among health care disciplines and the respect for life and death.   I never anticipated that I would run for a political office.  Then IT happened.

On November 8, 2016, my partner and I went to an election party at Fred Refuge in Capitol Hill.  We planned to celebrate a Democratic victory and watch America elect a woman to the highest political office in The United States of America.  We ate delicious food from a local Seattle company and toasted to progressive ideals.  We stood among our friends and shared our hopes for the upcoming 4 years.  Then IT happened.

Michigan turned red.  Wisconsin turned red.  Pennsylvania turned red.  Ohio turned red.  Florida turned red.  The country littered with red as the room’s energy changed from excitement to disbelief.  The host stopped making jokes.  The bartender stopped pouring drinks.  The people stopped talking.  My partner and I stopped moving.  Then IT happened.

I stopped being motionless.  I expanded my knowledge regarding city, state and federal government.  I met with friends and joined new political groups.  I contacted my representatives to voice my concerns.  I stopped being a passive observer.  With the submission of the prerequisite paperwork to form People for Hisam, the creation of a bank account and the payment of application fees, I am proudly running for Seattle City Council Position 8.  This IS what happened.