For Seattle
City Council DISTRICT 2
TAKAYO EDERER
“I’m not a politician who talks about challenges—I’m someone who has overcome them. My lived experience shapes how I will fight for our community every day."
Priorities And Values
Public
Safety
Safe communities provide strong foundations for families to thrive; safe communities foster thriving businesses; safe communities strengthen trust, connection, and opportunity for all.
Addiction &
Mental Health
Takayo is committed to breaking the cycle of addiction and supporting recovery by building a system that treats addiction as a health issue, not a moral failure.
Housing &
Homelessness
Seattle has the third largest homeless rate in the nation (U.S. HUD Report 2024). It is Seattle’s most urgent crisis and I am dedicated to delivering compassionate effective solutions.
Economic
Development
Our downtown and neighborhood business districts need bold solutions, practical incentives, and strong revitalization efforts.
“Somebody has to stand when other people are sitting. Somebody has to speak when other people are quiet.”
Bryan Stevenson
Policy & Values
Public Safety
Takayo’s personal and family experience in teaching self-defense and growing up with a Seattle Police department family member give her a deep understanding of the work it takes to build safer, stronger neighborhoods and the challenges faced by both officers and community members.
Crime disproportionately impacts underserved and minority communities. That’s why we must prioritize improving public safety for everyone. Safe communities provide strong foundations for families to thrive; safe communities foster thriving businesses; safe communities strengthen trust, connection, and opportunity for all.
Takayo believes public safety is about more than just the enforcement of laws. It is about fostering trust, accountability, and collaboration between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Her personal experiences provide her with a unique perspective on how to create solutions that keep everyone safe and ensure that our police department meets the highest standards of professionalism for our diverse community.
Takayo’s commitment to addressing addiction and mental health stems from personal experience and empathy for all of our most vulnerable neighbors. Her mother battled addiction and mental health challenges for much of her life, struggles that deeply impacted Takayo’s family. These experiences shaped her understanding of how critical access to treatment, care, and support services are for individuals and families facing similar battles.
Takayo believes that truly compassionate policy must prioritize treating addiction and getting people off the street and into recovery and housing. She believes in an evidence-based plan that includes expanding access to drug treatment programs, increasing mental health resources, and ensuring those in need can find help before reaching a crisis point. She is committed to breaking the cycle of addiction and supporting long-term recovery by building a system that treats addiction as a health issue, not a moral failure.
Addiction And Mental Health
Housing & Homelessness
Takayo knows the reality of housing insecurity, having spent her younger years uncertain if rent would be paid or where she would live. She believes homelessness is Seattle’s most urgent crisis and is committed to providing compassionate, effective solutions.
She supports expanding shelters, transitional housing, and supportive housing alongside services for addiction treatment, mental health care, and job training. Takayo will fight for innovative partnerships that deliver real pathways to stability, while ensuring public spaces are safe and accessible for everyone.
Economic Development
Our city is struggling from a business climate and downtown that have made it too difficult for employers to grow and create both the well-paying jobs and the tax base that we all depend on. We must reignite our economy to build a stronger, more inclusive Seattle for all.
Takayo believes we need to support small businesses in our neighborhoods. Too many are shuttering due to crime, unsafe conditions and economic challenges. These are more than storefronts; they represent dreams, livelihoods, and generational aspirations. They are part of what make our community a wonderful, vibrant place to live. It’s vital to foster opportunity and create an environment where businesses, large and small, can thrive.
My Story
Born and raised in Seattle, my story embodies the resilience, diversity, and strength of our community.
