Small business owner, PTA president, football booster, and mother of three sons. Bettina Gese is running for County Council to make Pierce County safer, more affordable, and easier to get around.
Heritage & Endorsement
This is our ancestral land.As a Native American and granddaughter of a former Tribal Chief, representation is deeply personal to me. This isn't just a district on a map — this is our ancestral land. My people have called this home for centuries, yet our voices have often been absent from rooms where decisions about our communities are made. If elected, I would be the first Indigenous woman to represent our land in this office. I'm honored to be endorsed by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians.
Before deciding based on a party label, I ask you to hear my message. The challenges facing Pierce County aren't Republican or Democratic — they affect all of us. I'm not a career politician. I'm a hands-on community leader, small business owner, and real estate agent.
PTA President Football Booster President Youth league volunteer Thunderbird Trading Post operator Negotiated with Washington State
— Bettina Gese
From Bettina's family archive
What she'll fight for
Five things Pierce County families feel every day — and five places the County Council can actually move the needle.
Recently, my home was broken into. I found out who did it, but my belongings were never recovered and the crime was never prosecuted. Unfortunately, my experience is not unique.
No one should feel unsafe in their own home or forgotten by the system that is supposed to protect them. Yet too many in our community feel exactly that way — taxpayers and law-abiding families unheard while repeat crime, addiction, and disorder continue without meaningful intervention.
I have witnessed firsthand how untreated addiction can fuel crime and destroy lives. People struggling with addiction need real help and a pathway to recovery — but enabling destructive behavior under the guise of compassion helps no one.
Compassion and accountability are not opposites. We can help people get back on their feet while still protecting the families who call District 5 home.
— Bettina Gese
Housing costs have continued to rise under my opponent's leadership, while policies coming out of local government make it harder for families to afford the communities they already call home. My opponent has supported policies that erode traditional single-family neighborhoods. I believe we should protect single-family homes while expanding housing choices responsibly — not force one-size-fits-all development onto established neighborhoods.
Local government has an enormous impact on what we pay for housing through property taxes, permitting costs, regulations, zoning, and infrastructure. On the County Council, I'll work to lower unnecessary costs, streamline permitting, increase housing supply where it makes sense, and protect the ability of families to own a home and build a future in Pierce County.
Taxpayers deserve to know their hard-earned money is being treated with respect. District 5 deserves transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of every tax dollar.
On the Pierce County Council, I will protect essential programs that serve our communities while identifying wasteful and unnecessary spending. Fiscal responsibility doesn't mean abandoning the people who need government to work — it means making sure their tax dollars actually reach the services they were intended to fund.
As a business owner responsible for more than 75 employees, I understand what it means to balance a budget, make difficult financial decisions, and be accountable for every dollar spent. I'll bring that same discipline and accountability to Pierce County.
We don't have a money problem — we have a spending problem.
— Bettina Gese
Cut red tape, push back on burdensome regulations, and create an environment where local businesses can grow and thrive.
Finish Canyon Road and the War Memorial Bridge, cut congestion on the 509 and 512 corridors, and stop letting the Milroy Bridge crumble into the Puyallup River.
Rooted in Community. Ready to Lead.
Pierce County residents are tired of sitting in traffic, tired of rising costs, and tired of feeling like their voices aren't heard. We need leadership that focuses on results, not politics. That's exactly what I will bring.
— Bettina Gese
About Bettina
As someone who has worked tough jobs, built businesses, and raised a family here, I know what Pierce County families are facing every day. This campaign is about making our communities safer, more affordable, and making sure local government actually works for the people again.
— Bettina Gese
Mark your calendar
Nov 3General Election
Every contribution — no matter the size — helps put this campaign in front of District 5 voters before ballots go out.
Contact
Have a question, concern, or idea to share? Bettina wants to hear from you. Whether you're looking to get involved, share what matters in your community, or learn more about the campaign, don't hesitate to reach out.
We'll do our best to get back to you as soon as possible.