My name is Andy Song, and I’m running for Kent City Council because I’ve spent my entire life in public service. I’ve worked to stand up for working families, ask the hard questions, and make sure no one gets left behind.
I grew up in a military family, raised by a single mom who worked multiple jobs to keep us afloat. She never relied on public benefits, even when times were tough, and that work ethic shaped everything I do. My mother’s story as an adoptee brought to the U.S. at 16 also taught me early on what resilience looks like and why community matters.
To put myself through college, I worked multiple jobs and earned degrees in psychology, counseling, and special education from Seattle University, Johns Hopkins, and Seattle Pacific University. My career began in crisis response, where I worked directly with individuals cycling through jails, emergency rooms, and shelters. I know firsthand how broken systems affect real people, especially after losing a loved one to a fentanyl overdose.
For years, I’ve served Washington communities. I started by working at the Department of Developmental Disabilities and later became the first behavior analyst in the emergency department and psychiatric unit at Seattle Children’s Hospital. I helped build their first developmental disabilities unit because I believe that people with the highest needs deserve the highest quality care.
Today, I run a small business and serve as the COO of a mental health company. I’ve built these organizations from the ground up and was honored to be named one of Puget Sound Business Journal’s 2024 “40 Under 40” for my strategic and ethical leadership.
I’m a licensed mental health therapist, board-certified behavior analyst, and certified substance use counselor. These roles have taught me how to listen deeply, analyze complex situations, and approach problems with both compassion and evidence-based thinking. I’ve spent years helping people navigate trauma, addiction, disability, and systemic barriers, which gives me a strong sense of what real support looks like and what it doesn’t. My background keeps me grounded in the idea that good policy is people-centered, data-informed, and built to meet people where they are.
It also means I don’t just guess at solutions. I know how to look at the root of an issue, ask the right questions, and work toward meaningful, lasting change. Despite running a business, I will never financially benefit from serving on City Council, as my work involves Medicaid recipients and is fully separate from local governance.
In 2021, the voters of Kent elected me to the Kent School Board. Since then, I’ve earned a reputation as “the voice of reason.” I don’t rubber-stamp decisions. I listen to every voice, even when we disagree, and I’ve consistently advocated for transparency, accountability, and inclusion. I’m the only current board member who hasn’t been involved in a lawsuit or recall effort.
This work isn’t new to me. I’ve been doing it my entire career. Now, I’m stepping up to bring that same experience, vision, and grit to Kent City Council. I believe in solutions backed by evidence, not politics. I’ve built programs that work, and I’m ready to help build a city that works for everyone.
