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Sara Nelson

Data last updated: F-1 statements filed through Oct 13, 2026 · contributions through Oct 14, 2026 · lobbyist reports through Sep 30, 2026 (read Oct 14, 2026)

City Council Member, City of Seattle, Position 9

Statements of financial affairs (F-1)

PeriodFiledWhat it lists
2025-01-01 – 2025-12-31
City Council Member, City of Seattle		2026-04-242 income, 5 accounts, 1 businesses, 2 real estate, 3 creditors
2024-01-01 – 2024-12-31
City Council Member, City of Seattle		2025-04-15 (2 versions)2 income, 5 accounts, 1 businesses, 2 real estate, 3 creditors, 1 gifts

Findings

Context Late or missing · the statement

Filed the 2025 statement 9 days after the April 15 deadline

The statement for 2025 was first submitted on April 24, 2026; it was due before April 15, 2026.

What to check
  • Whether the PDC granted an extension or modification for this statement.
  • Whether the official's term began or ended in 2025 (the statement then covers the part of the year served, and is still due by April 15).
Rule: Annual statement filed after April 15
“After January 1st and before April 15th of each year, every elected official and every executive state officer who served for any portion of the preceding year shall electronically file with the commission a statement of financial affairs for the preceding calendar year or for that portion of the year served.”RCW 29B.55.010(1) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works

Context Gifts and meals · the statement

Listed $4,000 in meals, travel or seminars from 1 source

The statement lists 1 item; the largest source is Bloomberg CityLab ($4,000). These are the kinds of gifts the F-1 asks for: meals over $100, and travel or seminar costs paid by an organization, which the $100 gift limit doesn't cover.

What to check
  • Who the sources are, and whether any has business before the official's agency or body.
  • For state officials: whether a source also appears on lobbyist reports.
Rule: Meals, travel and seminars accepted
“(l) A list of each occasion, specifying date, donor, and amount, at which food and beverage in excess of $100 was accepted under RCW 42.52.150 (7); (m) A list of each occasion, specifying date, donor, and amount, at which items specified in RCW 42.52.150 (1)(c) (iv) and (vi) were accepted;”RCW 29B.55.030(1)(l), (m) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works

Campaign money: City Council Member, 2025

$622,420raised, 1,864 contributions
$2,915their own money
$628,958spent
$276,741 / $153,416outside spending for / against

Individuals $556,490 · Other (incl. small contributions) $50,115 · Businesses $6,150 · PACs $5,400 · Their own money $2,915 · Unions $1,000 · Parties $350

How it was spent

Management and consulting services$169,475
Broadcast/cable TV advertising$112,672
Postage costs, mail permits, purchase of stamps$108,147
Wages, salaries, benefits, payroll taxes$66,481
Digital advertising$42,807
Printing literature, fliers, postcards, etc.$40,932
Bank and payment processing charges$18,290
Design/graphic art, etc.$16,679
Contribution Refunds$14,810
Accounting, legal, regulatory compliance, etc.$12,671
Top contributorsTypeTotal
Sara Nelson
Their own money$2,914.59
Whittinghill Joseph
Prickly Pear Unlimited · Seattle		Individuals$1,650
Ketcham Sam
Ketcham Capital Partners · Seattle		Individuals$1,350
Podany Frank
JJAF Co inc · Seattle		Individuals$1,300
Walker Maggie
Retired · Seattle		Individuals$1,300
Aslanian Joel
Retired · Seattle		Individuals$1,300
Smith Greg
Urban Visions · Seattle		Individuals$1,300
Nesholm Laurel
Retired · Seattle		Individuals$1,300
Houtchens Mark
Vance Corporation · Seattle		Individuals$1,300
Wood Geoff
Windermere Services Company · Seattle		Individuals$1,300
Temkin Daniel
Daniel Temkin · Medina		Individuals$1,250
Anderson Howard
Howard Anderson & Assoc · Seattle		Individuals$1,250
Anderson Roberta
Retired · Seattle		Individuals$1,250
Smith Douglas
Retired · Seattle		Individuals$1,150
Blair Jane
CBRE · Shoreline		Individuals$1,100

Raised and spent are the PDC's totals for this candidacy; the breakdowns are from its itemized contributions and expenditures · the PDC's page