County

Pierce County Council

District 5

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The seven-member county council, one member elected by each district, adopts Pierce County's budget and laws and sets county land-use policy.

Candidates Compare by issue

Bryan Yambe

Prefers Democratic Party

Pierce County Council member, District 5

The gist

Supports faster permitting to increase housing supply.
Secured $12.2 million for 646 affordable homes.
Supports expanding property tax relief for seniors and low-income families.
Supports the county Justice Fund he helped pass.
Supports expanded crisis care and addiction treatment.
Supports expanding transit service across the county.
Supports expanded job training and apprenticeship programs.

More about Bryan

View sources (2)

Supports faster permitting to increase housing supply.
Priorities
Campaign website · Friends of Bryan Yambe · bryanyambe.com
“Increasing housing supply by streamlining permitting and supporting smart development.”
Secured $12.2 million for 646 affordable homes.
Candidate statement, Online Voters' Guide, November 3, 2026 General Election
Provided by the campaign · Washington Secretary of State (statement written by the candidate) · voter.votewa.gov
“I helped secure $12.2 million creating or preserving 646 affordable homes”
Supports expanding property tax relief for seniors and low-income families.
Priorities
Campaign website · Friends of Bryan Yambe · bryanyambe.com
“Protecting renters and homeowners by expanding property tax relief programs for seniors and low-income families.”
Supports the county Justice Fund he helped pass.
Candidate statement, Online Voters' Guide, November 3, 2026 General Election
Provided by the campaign · Washington Secretary of State (statement written by the candidate) · voter.votewa.gov
“passed the Justice Fund to advance safer communities and a fairer justice system”
Supports expanded crisis care and addiction treatment.
Priorities
Campaign website · Friends of Bryan Yambe · bryanyambe.com
“Expanding access to crisis care, behavioral health support, and addiction treatment on demand.”
Supports expanding transit service across the county.
Priorities
Campaign website · Friends of Bryan Yambe · bryanyambe.com
“Expanding transit services to ensure more residents can get to work, school, and essential services.”
Supports expanded job training and apprenticeship programs.
Priorities
Campaign website · Friends of Bryan Yambe · bryanyambe.com
“Expanding job training and apprenticeship programs to prepare workers for family wage jobs in in-demand careers.”

Bettina Gese

Prefers Republican Party

Commercial geoduck diver; real estate agent; small business owner

The gist

Pledges more pathways to long-term addiction recovery.
Supports protecting single-family neighborhoods while adding housing choices.
Pledges to streamline permitting and lower housing costs.
Pledges to cut wasteful spending while protecting essential programs.
Pledges to cut red tape for small businesses.
Supports finishing Canyon Road and the War Memorial Bridge.

More about Bettina

View sources (2)

Pledges more pathways to long-term addiction recovery.
Candidate statement, Online Voters' Guide, November 3, 2026 General Election
Provided by the campaign · Washington Secretary of State (statement written by the candidate) · voter.votewa.gov
“On Public Safety, I’ll expand pathways to long-term recovery and help end the revolving door.”
Supports protecting single-family neighborhoods while adding housing choices.
Bettina Gese for Pierce County Council District #5 (home page)
Campaign website · Back Bettina · backbettina.com
“I believe we should protect single-family homes while expanding housing choices responsibly”
Pledges to streamline permitting and lower housing costs.
Bettina Gese for Pierce County Council District #5 (home page)
Campaign website · Back Bettina · backbettina.com
“lower unnecessary costs, streamline permitting, increase housing supply where it makes sense”
Pledges to cut wasteful spending while protecting essential programs.
Bettina Gese for Pierce County Council District #5 (home page)
Campaign website · Back Bettina · backbettina.com
“I will protect essential programs that serve our communities while identifying wasteful and unnecessary spending.”
Pledges to cut red tape for small businesses.
Candidate statement, Online Voters' Guide, November 3, 2026 General Election
Provided by the campaign · Washington Secretary of State (statement written by the candidate) · voter.votewa.gov
“I’ll remove unnecessary red tape so local entrepreneurs have the same opportunity to succeed as larger, well-resourced companies.”
Supports finishing Canyon Road and the War Memorial Bridge.
Bettina Gese for Pierce County Council District #5 (home page)
Campaign website · Back Bettina · backbettina.com
“Finish Canyon Road and the War Memorial Bridge, cut congestion on the 509 and 512 corridors”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 6 issues covered in this race.