Lindsay Smolko
Puyallup City Council - District 3, Position 2
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About the Office
The City Legislature is the municipality's governing body, responsible for voting on ordinances and policies, and often is in charge of hiring a city manager.
Term Length
4 years
Election Date
Nov 4, 2025
About Me
Party
Independent
Occupation
Educator
Fun Fact
When I’m not in the classroom teaching over 650 K–5 students each week, I’m probably wrangling my unusual pets (2 dogs, a cat, 4 birds, and a 3-legged lizard), recording a new episode of my paranormal podcast with a fellow teacher, or cheering on local theater performances. I love to paint, travel, banter with funny friends, and I am still a sucker for a "Jurassic Park" film (I know they'e terrible, but I can't help myself.) I have also entered the stage of life where I also track bird sounds on an app. I'm also gardening for the first time in a long time, and I think it's because my children are able to feed, clothe, bathe and drive themselves to their activities. It's a fantastic, exciting phase of life--launching our first to college in the fall, watching baseball games our son plays in, and learning how to do projects around the house by watching YouTube videos.
Past Experience
I’m running because I believe local government should listen first, act with integrity, and always serve the public good. As a longtime Puyallup resident, a public school teacher, and a community advocate, I’ve spent years bringing people together to solve problems creatively and compassionately.
In my role as an elementary STEAM educator, I work every day with diverse families—military, multilingual, and working-class—building trust, advocating for resources, and ensuring every child has a voice. I know how to listen across differences, navigate complex systems, and find real solutions that reflect our shared values.
City Council shouldn’t be about politics as usual—it should be about smart, responsive leadership that puts people first. I’m ready to bring my experience, my energy, and my deep care for this community to the Council table.
My Top Issues
Prioritize safe streets
We need sidewalks on all major streets.
Collaborating with community organizations for inclusivity
Government: DEIB framework, diverse recruitment, language access
Community: Cultural center, heritage events, public art
Youth: Inclusion council, student-led grants, school partnerships
Safety: Bias training, community liaisons
Representation: Storytelling projects, tribal partnerships, business spotlighting
Increasing affordable housing options
Fast-track MFTE awareness via developer outreach and case studies.
Launch infill pilot areas, especially near transit and underutilized lots.
Create a city housing trust fund funded through inclusionary in-lieu fees.
Formalize a regional affordable housing agreement using SSHA³P framework.
Strengthen partnerships with non-profits (e.g., Mi Casa, LIHI) to scale scattered-site models.
Adopt green building standards for all city-funded affordable housing projects.
Who I'm Running Against
Mark Crosby (Republican Party)
Mark is a Puyallup native, but he has run and lost once before. His social media for the campaign suggests he's running on a platform emphasizing:
Community-focused approach: He believes in a common-sense approach focused on the needs of the local community.
Public safety: He is committed to ensuring public safety within the city.
Roads and infrastructure: He wants to address the issue of fixing roads.
Preserving Puyallup's character: He aims to protect the town's unique character and prevent it from being negatively impacted by outside influences.
Local support: His campaign is stated to be powered by local people and not influenced by big money or special interests.
Experience vs. Politics: He suggests his approach is based on experience rather than typical political maneuvering.
He is also known as "MAGA Mark."
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