Deputy Mayor Chanjolee “Joe” Bushnell

District 5

Joe Bushnell was elected to represent District 5 in November 2021.

Have questions? Email Deputy Mayor Joe Bushnell.

Background

I represent District 5, which encompasses parts of the South End where I now live, South Tacoma, and East Tacoma. A lifelong Tacoma resident and 2008 graduate of Stadium High School, I hold a bachelor’s degree from The Evergreen State College, where I focused on political science and economics. Before my political career, I spent over a decade in the U.S. Marine Corps as an ammunition logistics manager. Throughout my career, I’ve supported local businesses while working with the Washington Hospitality Association in Pierce County and serving on boards, such as Travel Tacoma and the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Food Advisory Board.

I believe service to others is the highest calling a person can make. As a Council member, my work reflects and amplifies the voices of the community, especially those that cannot speak for themselves. To align with the needs of my constituents, I serve as Vice Chair of the City Council’s Government, Performance, and Finance Committee and as a member of the City Council’s Economic Development Committee. I also represent Tacoma regionally, as Chair of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, Chair of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Board of Health, and as a member of the South Sound 911 Board of Directors.

Effective public service and inclusive governance benefits all of Tacoma, the city I proudly call home. Before joining the City Council, I served as Chair of the South Tacoma Neighborhood Council and am now committed to addressing the concerns of residents and businesses across all of District 5. My dedication to community welfare is also evident through my involvement with organizations like the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and my service as a Tacoma Public Utility Board Member. You can often find me out volunteering locally, planting trees or simply picking up litter, and I am a staunch champion of supporting community organizations that bring neighbors together to improve quality of life. If you want to talk to me about an issue facing you, reach my office any time via email or phone at (253) 591-5100.