EDITORS NOTE: In an effort to go beyond the information in the voter’s pamphlet, we offered all candidates an opportunity to share more about their background to help voters get a better feel for who they are as a person and how they will impact the City of Everett.

Alan Rubio is running for Everett City Council – District 4

Alan Rubio is running for Everett City Council District 4.

How did you get into politics?

It all started with my desire to be an informed voter. I didn’t want to just check boxes; I wanted to understand who and what I was voting for. That curiosity led me to attend City Council meetings and meet local candidates.

As a family man hoping to become a homeowner, I often found myself frustrated watching policies I disagreed with. One day, after hearing me rant, my wife said, “If you’re just going to complain and do nothing, it would be better to stop watching the news.”

That stuck with me. Soon after, I decided to run for office. I wanted to run for City Council in District 4, but it was 2023 and that seat wasn’t up for election yet, so I ran for the Water District Board instead. It turned out to be a great learning experience where I met many local leaders and built new friendships. That’s why I declared my candidacy for Council District 4 early, I knew years ago that I wanted to be the voice of my district.

What hobby or interest do you have that might surprise people?

I’m passionate about history; you can often catch me reading about the Hellenistic period or the biography of a historical figure.

But I also enjoy filming and editing videos of my adventures and the places I visit with my family. Through my small project called @TravelTura, you can see some of my videos on Instagram and TikTok.

What three endorsements are you most proud of & why?

I’m so proud of all my endorsements that I’m tempted to sneak in one extra. I’m honoured to have the support of our first responders, firefighters, and police officer associations. They know I’ll work hard to help them do their jobs safely and build stronger bridges with District 4 communities.

I’m also proud to be endorsed by IAM 751 Machinists, because our local aerospace industry is vital to Everett’s economy and it’s the same industry that puts food on my table, so our alignment is natural.

And finally, the Longshore Union, who were the first to endorse my campaign. Their early support truly gave me hope and motivation to keep fighting in this race.

What is something about the job many people don’t realize, and why are you a good fit for addressing that aspect of the job?

People often don’t realize how much of this job is about listening. It’s not about partisanship or speeches, it’s about solving real problems. It’s not about saying “I’m the genius, so I’ll solve this.” No, it’s about building bridges and working on plans that bring tangible results for people.

I will be there to listen to my constituents and make sure their voices guide every decision I make.

What criticism have you received from your competitor or other people that is unfair, and why?

I have the best of relationships with Luis, so everything’s great on that. Beyond that, not much to say really.

What are you most excited to work on if voted in?

The key issues we must address include public safety, housing affordability and homelessness but it’s also time to talk about public restrooms in South Everett and anti-littering efforts for a cleaner city. We need to make Everett more attractive for business and investment, changing the reality of our community for the better.

To learn more about Alan Rubio, visit his campaign site.