Meet Connor

My name is Connor Nash, and I have called this beautiful city of Seattle home since 2018. I grew up in a conservative, suburban area of Maryland. Even though I love Maryland (I have the state tattooed on my arm), my hometown was stifling and, like many queer people, I was never able to fully live my life fully, which was difficult for me. My family struggled after my dad unceremoniously lost his job at the railroad due to a significant injury, while my mom worked full time as a social worker for the county health department. I was conscious of my family’s finances, and from a young age, I made sure not to be a financial burden on my family.

I attended community college, then transferred to Towson University, a regional school in Maryland, because my priority in college was to obtain a quality education in the most affordable way possible. I paid for my education working 40 hours a week at various service industry jobs, at an arch fast-food chain for $7.25 an hour, then a local grocery store making $9 an hour ($12 on Sundays), while also doing an internship for a local lawyer and any side job I could take. I graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science in December 2017, carrying minimal student loan debt. 

After graduating from college, I visited my friends in Seattle, whom I had met while interning in DC at George Washington University. From the first moments of that trip, I fell in love with Seattle, which says a lot, considering it was in the middle of January. I saw a beautiful, fun, eclectic city that was weird in the best way. I was in a city where I could be my authentic queer self and not have to worry what people would think of it. I felt the freedom I had never felt before. Three months later, I drove cross-country to live in the Emerald City and have not regretted my decision.

In Seattle, I have worked in various industries, all in the services of this great city and state. I worked with amazing people at a busy downtown sushi restaurant, where I slung rolls. I then worked at the Washington State Attorney General's Office, assisting consumers with their complaints against businesses over potential unfair and deceptive business practices.  I worked at the Washington State Department of Health, processing public records requests and providing transparency in government processes to the community. While working these jobs, I earned my Master’s of Public Administration online from the University of Missouri, again focusing on a quality education at an affordable price.

My latest job was my dream job as an Economist for the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, where I provided training to amazing data collectors nationwide. I was also a proud union member of the American Federation of Government Employees, working to promote labor rights as much as possible. Ultimately, I left that job in April 2025 because I would have had to relocate to DC to keep my job, which I didn’t want to do, as I love Seattle. I also could not stand working for the Trump/Musk administration and did not take the buy-out when I left because I refuse to endorse a terrible policy.

Outside of work, I paint acrylic paintings, write articles (check out my op-eds on South Seattle Emerald), do community clean-ups in Chinatown International District, and go to as many drag shows as possible in Capitol Hill. I have also created or rewritten nearly all of the Wikipedia pages for Seattle City Council members (including Council President Nelson). I also love spending time with my cat, Rocco, in my apartment in Little Saigon, a neighborhood I’ve called home for the past six years.

All the experiences in my life have brought me to this moment, as I run for the Seattle City Council, and have shaped what kind of councilmember I plan to be. I hope this honesty about my life shows that I understand the struggles of working and middle-class people in Seattle and will fight for them in the city council.