Meet Steffanie
“For nearly 15 years, I have been committed to making a difference in people’s lives through my work as a civil litigation, business, and employment attorney and through my community service. In my current legal practice, I help employees and employers navigate complex federal and state laws to create safer, more equitable workplaces.
Giving back to the community is at the heart of everything I do, and I stay deeply connected to our community through my volunteer efforts. I had the privilege of serving for eight years on the board of Trillium Employment Services, a powerful South King County nonprofit that integrates and supports people with intellectual disabilities in the workforce.
As an 18-year breast cancer survivor, I am deeply dedicated to ensuring equitable access to healthcare because I know firsthand how critical it is for individuals and families.
In 2014, I became a founding member of the MultiCare South King Health Foundation. Since 2015, I have proudly represented South King County on the Board of Trustees for Harborview Medical Center. In this role, I have led efforts to reduce barriers to healthcare for King County’s most vulnerable residents and to expand access to essential services.”
King County is the place that provided my family an opportunity to succeed. A second-generation Korean American, I have been a King County resident for most of my life. My mother immigrated to the United States in 1974 with limited English but the courage to embrace the American dream after meeting my dad, who was a military security policeman in the U.S. Army, in South Korea.
My parents worked long hours to provide and care for my siblings and me, yet still found the time (and energy!) to volunteer each week at their local church in Seattle. My parents’ perseverance shaped the foundation of our family, instilling in me the values of hard work and community service.
After graduating from college in Minnesota and unsure of my career path, I worked as a receptionist and a paralegal at a law firm in Seattle. It wasn’t until I received a life-changing breast cancer diagnosis in 2007 that I decided to pursue a career in law.
While recovering from surgery, I applied for law school, driven by a desire to advocate for others. During law school, I also served as a judicial extern at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.
I also serve on the University of Washington Medicine Advisory Board, where I help shape strategies to improve access and integration across the UW healthcare system. Every step of the way, my focus remains on ensuring that our systems work for everyone, no matter their circumstances.
Currently serving my fifth term as President of the Harborview Board, I work tirelessly to ensure that Harborview continues to provide critical services for our region and to support the incredible nurses and healthcare workers who protect our families and our community.
Harborview is a comprehensive healthcare facility dedicated to providing specialized care for a broad spectrum of patients, including the most vulnerable residents of King County. Owned by King County and operated by University of Washington Medicine, Harborview is the county’s public health hospital and is the only Level I adult and pediatric trauma and verified burn center serving Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho.
I enjoy coaching youth basketball at Des Moines Parks & Recreation and baseball through the South Highline National Little League, running long miles throughout South King County (I have completed 55 half-marathons), and helping out at my children’s local public school. I am an active PTSA member, chaperoning field trips, lending a hand in the classrooms, and supporting our incredible teachers however I can.
I live in Normandy Park with my husband, Joe, and our two young boys, Moxon and Lincoln, who are fifth generation Washingtonians. Moxon and Lincoln are fortunate to have both sets of grandparents and their cousins live nearby. Joe’s parents were educators who gave over 80 years of their lives to public education in the Highline and Tukwila School Districts.
South King County needs more than well-intentioned ideas: we need transformative, regional solutions to our issues and that requires some difficult decisions. We need to ensure accountability while still addressing opportunity gaps, racial and financial inequities, and the behavioral health crisis. This requires us to reassess how we address these challenges, ensuring our communities are safe and that everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Together, I firmly believe we can challenge the status quo and make King County a place where everyone can succeed. I’d be honored to have your vote and support in this campaign for King County Council District 5.
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