Citizen Tacoma

Latest Episodes:

Jessica Johnston, candidate for City Council of Tacoma Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

There’s an “open” seat on the City Council, which means the incumbent isn’t running. Position 6 is a “city-wide” position, which serves all of Tacoma.

Both candidates for this seat sat down with Citizen Tacoma.

For this episode, we are joined by Jessica Johnston. We talk about the big issues that voters are thinking about this year and some of the big decisions facing the council next year. Check it out!

A note from the host

Hello! I’m Erik Hanberg! I’ve hosted the Citizen Tacoma podcast for the last four years. Before this, I served in elected office as a parks commissioner for 12 years and I was the executive director of City Club of Tacoma, where I also helped put on civic events and moderated debates. I deeply enjoy this work.

I think of these candidate interviews as a public service to the community. I don’t get paid for this. I’m curious about these candidates as much as you are. Forums and debates are great. But this kind of conversation gives you a different sense of the candidates. I think it’s so interesting to hear candidates speak without a timer.

Ok, quick overview of my rules:

When I choose a race to cover, I email an invitation to every candidate in the race.
I ask every candidate the same set of questions, though sometimes I asked some clarification questions depending on their answers.
No one gets the questions in advance and since I air them all at once, no one is able to listen ahead.

If you enjoy this interview, please check out the interviews with the other candidates at citizentacoma.com or in your podcast app.

And don’t forget to vote! Ballots are mailed in mid-October and the primary is November 4.

Latasha Palmer, candidate for City Council of Tacoma Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

There’s an “open” seat on the City Council, which means the incumbent isn’t running. Position 6 is a “city-wide” position, which serves all of Tacoma.

Both candidates for this seat sat down with Citizen Tacoma.

For this episode, we are joined by Latasha Palmer. We talk about the big issues that voters are thinking about this year and some of the big decisions facing the council next year. Check it out!

A note from the host

Ok, quick overview of my rules:

When I choose a race to cover, I email an invitation to every candidate in the race.
I ask every candidate the same set of questions, though sometimes I asked some clarification questions depending on their answers.
No one gets the questions in advance and since I air them all at once, no one is able to listen ahead.

If you enjoy this interview, please check out the interviews with the other candidates at citizentacoma.com or in your podcast app.

And don’t forget to vote! Ballots are mailed in mid-October and the primary is November 4.

Whitney Stevens, candidate for Mayor of Tacoma Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

The people of Tacoma are electing a new mayor this year! Six candidates have filed to run for office… and every one of them sat down for an interview on the Citizen Tacoma podcast!

For this episode, we are joined by Whitney Steves. On the podcast, we talk about the big issues that voters are thinking about this year and some of the big decisions facing the council next year. Check it out!

A note from the host

I think of these candidate interviews as a public service to the community. I don’t get paid for this. I’m curious about these candidates as much as you are.

Forums and debates are great. But this kind of conversation gives you a different sense of the candidates. I think it’s so interesting to hear candidates speak without a timer.

Ok, quick overview of my rules:

I emailed an invitation to every candidate.
I asked every candidate the same set questions, though sometimes I asked some clarification questions depending on their answers.
No one got the questions in advance and since I’m airing them all at once, no one was able to listen ahead.
I did ask each candidate to suggest a question, which was gives it an interesting spin.

If you enjoy this interview, please check out the interviews with the other candidates at citizentacoma.com or in your podcast app.

And don’t forget to vote! Ballots are mailed in mid-July and the primary is August 5.

Tony Ginn, candidate for Mayor of Tacoma Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

The people of Tacoma are electing a new mayor this year! Six candidates have filed to run for office… and every one of them sat down for an interview on the Citizen Tacoma podcast!

For this episode, we are joined by Anthony “Tony” Ginn. On the podcast, we talk about the big issues that voters are thinking about this year and some of the big decisions facing the council next year. Check it out!

A note from the host

I think of these candidate interviews as a public service to the community. I don’t get paid for this. I’m curious about these candidates as much as you are.

Forums and debates are great. But this kind of conversation gives you a different sense of the candidates. I think it’s so interesting to hear candidates speak without a timer.

Ok, quick overview of my rules:

I emailed an invitation to every candidate.
I asked every candidate the same set questions, though sometimes I asked some clarification questions depending on their answers.
No one got the questions in advance and since I’m airing them all at once, no one was able to listen ahead.
I did ask each candidate to suggest a question, which was gives it an interesting spin.

If you enjoy this interview, please check out the interviews with the other candidates at citizentacoma.com or in your podcast app.

And don’t forget to vote! Ballots are mailed in mid-July and the primary is August 5.

Anders Ibsen, candidate for Mayor of Tacoma Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

The people of Tacoma are electing a new mayor this year! Six candidates have filed to run for office… and every one of them sat down for an interview on the Citizen Tacoma podcast!

For this episode, we are joined by Anders Ibsen. On the podcast, we talk about the big issues that voters are thinking about this year and some of the big decisions facing the council next year. Check it out!

A note from the host

I think of these candidate interviews as a public service to the community. I don’t get paid for this. I’m curious about these candidates as much as you are.

Forums and debates are great. But this kind of conversation gives you a different sense of the candidates. I think it’s so interesting to hear candidates speak without a timer.

Ok, quick overview of my rules:

I emailed an invitation to every candidate.
I asked every candidate the same set questions, though sometimes I asked some clarification questions depending on their answers.
No one got the questions in advance and since I’m airing them all at once, no one was able to listen ahead.
I did ask each candidate to suggest a question, which was gives it an interesting spin.

If you enjoy this interview, please check out the interviews with the other candidates at citizentacoma.com or in your podcast app.

And don’t forget to vote! Ballots are mailed in mid-July and the primary is August 5.

Steve Haverly, candidate for Mayor of Tacoma Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

The people of Tacoma are electing a new mayor this year! Six candidates have filed to run for office… and every one of them sat down for an interview on the Citizen Tacoma podcast!

For this episode, we are joined by Steve Haverly. On the podcast, we talk about the big issues that voters are thinking about this year and some of the big decisions facing the council next year. Check it out!

A note from the host

I think of these candidate interviews as a public service to the community. I don’t get paid for this. I’m curious about these candidates as much as you are.

Forums and debates are great. But this kind of conversation gives you a different sense of the candidates. I think it’s so interesting to hear candidates speak without a timer.

Ok, quick overview of my rules:

I emailed an invitation to every candidate.
I asked every candidate the same set questions, though sometimes I asked some clarification questions depending on their answers.
No one got the questions in advance and since I’m airing them all at once, no one was able to listen ahead.
I did ask each candidate to suggest a question, which was gives it an interesting spin.

If you enjoy this interview, please check out the interviews with the other candidates at citizentacoma.com or in your podcast app.

And don’t forget to vote! Ballots are mailed in mid-July and the primary is August 5.

Jesse Carlos, candidate for Mayor of Tacoma Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

The people of Tacoma are electing a new mayor this year! Six candidates have filed to run for office… and every one of them sat down for an interview on the Citizen Tacoma podcast!

For this episode, we are joined by Jesse Carlos. On the podcast, we talk about the big issues that voters are thinking about this year and some of the big decisions facing the council next year. Check it out!

A note from the host

I think of these candidate interviews as a public service to the community. I don’t get paid for this. I’m curious about these candidates as much as you are.

Forums and debates are great. But this kind of conversation gives you a different sense of the candidates. I think it’s so interesting to hear candidates speak without a timer.

Ok, quick overview of my rules:

I emailed an invitation to every candidate.
I asked every candidate the same set questions, though sometimes I asked some clarification questions depending on their answers.
No one got the questions in advance and since I’m airing them all at once, no one was able to listen ahead.
I did ask each candidate to suggest a question, which was gives it an interesting spin.

If you enjoy this interview, please check out the interviews with the other candidates at citizentacoma.com or in your podcast app.

And don’t forget to vote! Ballots are mailed in mid-July and the primary is August 5.

John Hines, candidate for Mayor of Tacoma Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

The people of Tacoma are electing a new mayor this year! Six candidates have filed to run for office… and every one of them sat down for an interview on the Citizen Tacoma podcast!

For this episode, we are joined by Councilmember John Hines. On the podcast, we talk about the big issues that voters are thinking about this year and some of the big decisions facing the council next year. Check it out!

A note from the host

I think of these candidate interviews as a public service to the community. I don’t get paid for this. I’m curious about these candidates as much as you are.

Forums and debates are great. But this kind of conversation gives you a different sense of the candidates. I think it’s so interesting to hear candidates speak without a timer.

Ok, quick overview of my rules:

I emailed an invitation to every candidate.
I asked every candidate the same set questions, though sometimes I asked some clarification questions depending on their answers.
No one got the questions in advance and since I’m airing them all at once, no one was able to listen ahead.
I did ask each candidate to suggest a question, which was gives it an interesting spin.

If you enjoy this interview, please check out the interviews with the other candidates at citizentacoma.com or in your podcast app.

And don’t forget to vote! Ballots are mailed in mid-July and the primary is August 5.

Tacoma Streets Initiative with Councilmember Kristina Walker Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

What’s happening with Tacoma’s streets? An initiative would help fund continued street improvements. What happened with the last one? How are our streets doing? And what will it cost?

Whenever we have transportation questions, we turn to Tacoma City Councilmember Kristina Walker. Tune in.

Links

Kristina Walker

Yes to Prop 1

Channel 253 membership

Lowell Wyse, Tacoma Tree Foundation Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Citizen Tacoma, we sit down with Lowell Wyse, executive director of the Tacoma Tree Foundation. We talk about Tacoma’s urban forest, the canopy, protections for heritage trees, “Home in Tacoma,” making 2025 the year of the tree, and much more.