Area voters got a jolt in their mailboxes this week — a campaign flyer from Rep. Edwin Obras (D-33rd District) accusing Burien Mayor Kevin Schilling of being “the worst mayor in the state on police staffing,” marking one of the most pointed disputes yet in the hotly contested 33rd District race.
Schilling – who has served as Burien Mayor since 2024 – is running against Rep. Edwin Obras and Darryl Jones for the 33rd Legislative District seat, which includes parts of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac, Kent, and Tukwila. Obras, a political newcomer, was appointed earlier this year after Rep. Tina Orwall resigned to replace retiring Sen. Karen Keiser in the state Senate.
Now, just months into his tenure, Obras faces his first election as Schilling and Jones seek to unseat him in what is shaping up to be one of South King County’s most closely watched legislative races.
The mailer has become a flashpoint in a primary race where public safety policy is taking center stage.
About the Mailer
The direct mail piece asserts that Burien ranks last in King County for police staffing, with just 0.88 commissioned officers per 1,000 residents – a figure the mailer contrasts sharply with broader benchmarks. According to the data cited, that rate falls significantly below both the Washington state average of approximately 1.35 officers per 1,000 people and the national average of around 2.3 officers per 1,000.
The mailer presents this statistic as evidence of what it calls a failure in local leadership (i.e.: Schilling), framing the staffing gap as a public safety issue and a central argument for change. The mailer also includes citations for the figures from previous B-Town Blog news articles.
Burien contracts with the King County Sheriff’s Office for police services, meaning the city does not directly hire officers but instead funds staffing levels through its agreement with the Sheriff’s Office.
Obras told The B-Town Blog that the mailer was created by his campaign team “that includes myself, my campaign manager and my consultants. We work collaboratively to get our message out.”
When asked if he thought Schilling personally caused or failed to improve Burien’s police staffing levels, Obras said:
“Yes or I wouldn’t have sent the mailer. Mayor Schilling was elected in 2019. Nothing happened to improve police staffing in 2020, in 2021, in 2022, and in 2023. That’s not leadership.”
Schilling Responds
Schilling strongly rejected the mailer’s premise, responding to The B‑Town Blog with the following statement:
“Public safety isn’t a slogan—it’s a responsibility I’ve delivered on as Mayor of Burien and one I’ll continue to prioritize as your next State Representative. Since January 2024, police staffing has only gone up—from 72% to 85%—matching every other city that contracts with the King County Sheriff’s Office. But Burien isn’t just any city—we’re the busiest contract city in the county, and I’ve led the fight to ensure our real needs aren’t ignored. We can’t trust the same old out of touch politicians making ideological decisions on public safety.
“While Olympia passed HB 2015 allowing cities to raise local sales tax for public safety, it gives Burien just $12,800 a year—barely enough to make a dent. My opponent thinks that’s sufficient. I don’t. I know cities need real resources, not empty gestures. That’s why I’ve consistently called for more tools to keep our communities safe—not more unfunded mandates from the state.
“That record is why I’m the only candidate in this race endorsed by the Law Enforcement Administrators of Washington and the King County Police Officers Guild. I’m also backed by mayors across South King County and The Seattle Times, which praised my push for a co-responder model that pairs police with mental health professionals. Public safety requires serious leadership. I’ve delivered it—and I’ll do the same in Olympia.”
Now running to keep the seat he was appointed to earlier this year, Obras told The B-Town Blog that the mailer is meant to highlight what he sees as a multi-year failure in public safety leadership under Burien Mayor Schilling.
Obras also highlighted his role supporting House Bill 2015, which created a $100 million grant fund over two years to help local governments hire and retain officers.
The mailer drew swift condemnation from Schilling’s allies and pro-law enforcement groups.
Normandy Park Mayor Chimes In
Normandy Park Mayor Eric Zimmerman, a supporter of Schilling, sharply criticized the mailer from Obras’ campaign, calling it “intentionally misleading.”
“The Obras campaign knowingly misrepresents Kevin Schilling’s record, despite his clear leadership on public safety and his role in Burien’s legally upheld efforts to address drug use and encampments in public spaces,” Zimmerman said in a statement to The B-Town Blog. “They also ignore the fact that Kevin is endorsed by the very sheriffs they imply oppose him, along with a majority of South King County mayors.”
Zimmerman pointed to Schilling’s broad support, including an endorsement from The Seattle Times, as evidence of the mayor’s credibility, while noting that Obras has received limited backing from local elected officials.
He further argued that Obras aligns with “activist politicians” who have weakened public safety policy statewide, contributing to Washington’s low police staffing rates. “That makes Rep. Obras and his allies more responsible for the issues raised in his own mailer than Kevin Schilling,” Zimmerman said.
Calling the mailer an example of “cynical” political tactics, Zimmerman urged Obras to “retract and disavow” his claim and commit to what he called more honest campaigning.
“Voters in the 33rd District deserve facts, not spin — and they increasingly want pragmatism over political theater,” he added.
Law Enforcement Group Criticizes Obras’ Record
The Law Enforcement Administrators of Washington (LEAW), a privately funded and operated non-profit association of law enforcement executives, has endorsed Schilling and criticized Obras’ public safety record and campaign messaging in a statement shared with The B-Town Blog.
“Rep. Obras claims to support law enforcement, but his actions in Olympia tell a different story,” the group said. “He voted for nearly every anti-public safety bill in the House Community Safety Committee and never met with our representatives during the 105-day session, despite repeated requests.”
LEAW also pointed to Obras’ support for House Bill 1125, a resentencing bill they say could lead to early release for violent offenders.
“More than 50 percent of those eligible had committed homicide in the first year alone,” the group stated, citing a letter from the Superior Court Judges Association.
On HB 2015, Obras’ signature public safety bill, the group argued that it “allowed $100 million in funding to be used without requiring the hiring of a single new officer.”
“Public safety takes more than slogans and campaign mailers,” the group concluded. “Kevin Schilling has consistently stood up for law enforcement—and that’s why we stand with him.”
Obras Defends His Messaging
In response to criticism from the LEAW, Obras noted that the group has already endorsed Schilling and said their claims should be “taken with a grain of salt.”
Obras defended his legislative record and emphasized his willingness to engage with law enforcement groups.
Obras has secured endorsements from several prominent Democratic leaders and progressive organizations, including Sen. Tina Orwall, House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, and Rep. Mia Gregerson. He is also backed by local officials such as SeaTac Mayor Mohamed Egal, Burien Deputy Mayor Sarah Moore, and King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay. Labor and advocacy groups supporting Obras include the Washington State Labor Council, SEIU Local 925, Washington Conservation Action, and Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates.
“I’ve been in office for seven months and am actively working to meet with all constituent organizations,” he said. “My door is open.”
He also pushed back on LEAW’s criticism of HB 1125, calling their characterization “a gross misrepresentation.”
“HB 1125 allows a narrow group of individuals — such as those who were juveniles at the time of their offense or who are terminally ill — to petition a court for resentencing,” Obras said. “It does not automatically release anyone.”
Obras also disputed LEAW’s claims about House Bill 2015, which he supported.
“The idea that it wouldn’t result in the hiring of officers contradicts the bill’s stated purpose,” he said. “This kind of disingenuous framing is exactly what erodes trust in public safety conversations.”
In defending the sharp tone of his campaign mailer, Obras said his goal is to move beyond what he called “optics and grandstanding” and push for real solutions to issues like crime, homelessness and affordability.
“Voters deserve honesty. Sometimes the truth can be uncomfortable,” he told The B-Town Blog. “But for too long, the Puget Sound has become increasingly unaffordable, the homeless population has spiked and the quality of life has suffered.”
Obras said he stands by calling Schilling “the worst mayor in the state on police staffing,” citing what he called years of inaction since Schilling was first elected in 2019.
As for critics who see his mailer as unfair or overly negative, Obras pointed to what he described as the broader reality of worsening public safety, homelessness, and affordability in the region.
“Elected leaders need to reflect that reality. We can’t let politicians get away with optics and grandstanding when there is real work to be done. The mailer reflects that reality,” he said.
