Note
- All the information contained and shown here comes from public sources, specifically the Newcastle City website at Newcastle City Council.
- Each council member has their own email address as shown below, yet you can reach the whole council using the email citycouncil@newcastlewa.gov.
- The pride flag (🏳️🌈) next to some of the council members' emails denotes the person's proven support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Sun Burford is a member of the Newcastle City Council who voted in favor of raising the Pride flag at City Hall. Sun's support for the LGBTQ+ community is evident through her vote, reflecting her commitment to inclusivity and acceptance in Newcastle. Her stance aligns with the values of many residents who advocate for equality and visibility for all members of the community.
Ariana Sherlock lives in the Hazelwood neighborhood with
her husband Ryan, their children Adelai and Liam, and their rescue dog Fid. Since relocating from
Portland, Oregon, to Newcastle in 2013, they have embraced the community and its many amenities,
finding a perfect home near Donegal Park and the public library. Ariana has been an active member of
the Newcastle City Council since 2020 and was re-elected in 2023, currently serving her first year
of her second four-year term.
As a personal chef, Ariana's culinary skills are regularly
featured in the monthly community magazine Newcastle Living. She has also served as the president of
both the Hazelwood Elementary School PTSA and the Hazelwood Community Association. Ariana Sherlock
voted in favor of raising the Pride flag at Newcastle City Hall, reflecting her
commitment to inclusivity and the values of the Newcastle community.
Tom Griffin has been a resident of Newcastle since
November 1978, settling in the community well before it was officially incorporated. Now serving his
first term on the Newcastle City Council, Tom was elected for a four-year term beginning in 2020. As
a Certified Public Accountant, Tom has extensive experience in budgeting and all phases of
accounting, having worked in both CPA firms and private industries where he managed accounting
departments and served as CEO. Additionally, he has taught accounting and income taxes at Renton
Technical College and continues to practice tax accounting.
Despite his long-standing
commitment to the community and professional expertise, Tom Griffin voted against
raising the Pride flag at Newcastle City Hall. This decision is at odds with the inclusive and
welcoming values that many Newcastle residents uphold.
Steve Tallman was raised in a small town surrounded by
hardworking individuals who valued respect for others and the environment. For nearly three decades,
he has called Newcastle his hometown and claims to consider its residents as his extended family.
Steve claims to assert his dedication to the safety and well-being of the community, striving to
maintain Newcastle as a safe, financially solvent, and independent family-oriented city. He
encourages residents to reach out to him at any time.
Despite his claims of dedication and
his statements about considering residents as his extended family, Steve Tallman voted
against raising the Pride flag at Newcastle City Hall. This decision reflects a stance
that does not align with the values of inclusivity and acceptance that many residents advocate for
in Newcastle.
Pratima Lakhotia has been a Newcastle resident since 2013,
moving here with her husband and daughter to enjoy the city's proximity to work and its abundant
natural beauty. Originally from India, Pratima moved to the United States in 2000 to pursue a
Master’s in Business Administration in Finance and decided to make America her home. She is
currently serving her first term on the Newcastle City Council, having been elected for a four-year
term starting in 2022.
Pratima brings over 20 years of experience in financial management,
business analytics, strategy, and budgeting, having worked at various Fortune 500 companies such as
T-Mobile and Microsoft. She also runs a nonprofit, Teenswhocare, with her daughter, engaging over
2,100 high school volunteers in community service. Initially, Pratima Lakhotia voted
against raising the Pride flag at Newcastle City Hall. However, after the Newcastle
City Council's session on June 18th, 2024, she flipped her vote to support raising
the Pride flag. This decision aligns with the values of inclusivity and acceptance that many
Newcastle residents uphold and reflects a commitment to embracing diversity.
Paul Charbonneau, elected to the Newcastle City Council in
2021, is the youngest-ever councilmember and the first to have grown up in the city. A graduate of
Hazen High School, Paul has been actively involved in the community as an Assistant Coach for the
Boys & Girls Wrestling team since 2017 and helps referee local wrestling meets. He holds a B.A.
in Political Science and Public Health from Occidental College, where he served as Student Body
President and competed in NCAA Football and Track & Field.
Paul's dedication to public
service is evident through his selection as a national public policy fellow in 2019 under the PPIA
program at the University of Michigan's Gerald Ford School of Public Policy. He mentors current
fellows at the University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy and is a certified peer
counselor. Paul has led mental health education programs and served on the boards of the National
Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for Eastside King County and NAMI Washington. Paul Charbonneau
voted in favor of raising the Pride flag at Newcastle City Hall, reflecting his
commitment to inclusivity and support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Robert Clark has been a Newcastle resident since 2006,
living in the Hazelwood community with his wife, Kelly, and their puppy, Picard. He has a long
career at Nucor Steel in West Seattle, where he currently serves as the plant electrical engineer.
Robert holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and previously
served in the U.S. Navy for ten years. His commitment to veterans' issues is evident through his
active participation in the VFW and American Legion, where he serves as part of the honor guard at
Tahoma National Cemetery.
Despite his dedication to the community and veterans' issues,
Robert Clark voted against raising the Pride flag at Newcastle City Hall. This
decision stands in contrast to the inclusive values many in the community strive to uphold.
