John Wilson was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where his father worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad while his mother stayed home to raise John as their only child. Growing up with parents who lived through the Great Depression, John learned the values of hard work, compassion, and looking out for others. His dad, who lost both his parents before he was 20, even put his younger brother through college before serving in World War II. These lessons have shaped John’s approach to both life and public service.
John’s path into public service started with a passion for journalism. After graduating from the University of Washington with degrees in Editorial Journalism and Political Science, he dove into investigative reporting, exposing public corruption and dangerous extremists on both sides of the political spectrum. His journalism career taught him to ask tough questions, listen carefully, and always aim for fairness—values that have stayed with him in his work.
Before running for office, John spent nearly 20 years advising elected officials and improving government operations. His experience includes serving as Chief of Staff to King County Executive Ron Sims, which provided him with essential insights into the complexities of local government and regional governance. In his role, John was crucial in advancing regional initiatives in transportation, environmental policy, and public services. He helped drive forward significant projects on freight mobility, expanded parks and open space, and fostered greater collaboration between local governments on transportation and environmental protection.
John served as Chief Deputy Assessor for King County for four years. During his tenure, John transformed the Department of Assessments into a high-performing, nationally recognized agency. He focused on modernizing operations to ensure accurate, fair property valuations and improve overall efficiency. Under his leadership, the department launched the state’s first Taxpayer Transparency Tool, enabling residents to see the real dollar impacts of ballot measures on their property taxes.
Committed to equity, John also implemented policies to help low-income and senior homeowners manage their tax burden. His role as Chief Deputy also involved building relationships across government and community groups to ensure transparency and responsiveness in the department’s work, ultimately setting a solid foundation for his time serving as King County Assessor.
In 2015, after being encouraged by Executive Dow Constantine, John ran for King County Assessor. He won, defeating the incumbent in all 17 legislative districts, including his opponent’s own. Since then, he has been re-elected twice and is now in his third term.
Throughout his time as Assessor, John has prioritized staying connected with the community. He travels across the county, talking with residents and listening to their concerns. No matter where he goes, people tell him their top issues are safety, affordable housing, and the need for tax relief. John is committed to transparency and accessibility and is always looking for ways to make government work better for everyone. He’s successfully led the fight twice to index and raise the economic threshold for the Senior Property Tax Exemption from $40,000 to today’s $84,000 level, giving thousands of older homeowners a chance to save up to 80% on their property taxes.
John is focused on three key issues for this campaign: public safety, affordable housing, and tax relief. He believes a thriving community requires safety, affordable housing, and a tax system that doesn’t burden working families. His vision is for a King County where everyone feels safe, has a place to call home, and can succeed in a growing, prosperous community.
When he’s not working, John enjoys exploring local markets to find fresh ingredients for cooking, a favorite pastime that lets him unwind and connect with his community. He also loves quiet moments at home, reading or listening to jazz. John is a proud father to four adult children, including two adopted from South Korea, and has two college-age grandchildren. His children and fiancé, Lee Keller, have supported his public service throughout his career.