Mom on a Mission, Meet Christie Malchow

One of our favorite things about publishing Macaroni Kid is the chance to connect with other moms in our community.  Often times these connections inspire us and remind us of the ability of one person to make a difference.  It is with this in mind that we launch a new article series called Mom on a Mission.  Our hope is to introduce you to some amazing moms living right in our communities who not only are doing unique and wonderful things but also deserve to have some attention brought to their mission.

We first met Christie Malchow a year ago when she volunteered to support the Macaroni Kid Do Something Great Day.  As an animal lover, she wanted to bring the community together and collect donations for the Seattle Humane Society.  That idea became an event called Bouncing to Benefit Animals at Kidz Bounce. We raised about $200 and collected cat and dog food to benefit to the Seattle Humane Society.  

During that event, I got the impression that Christie is a mom who follows her passions and considers the impact of her actions on her young daughters.  Since then Christie has embarked on a journey to serve on the Sammamish City Council, a mission not often undertaken by the mom of two small children.  I have followed her campaign and continue to be impressed by her knowledge and dedication.  Christie Malchow is on a mission to make sure the city hears the voices of young families.  Please get to know this local mom a little better by reading her answers to our questions.

What is your MISSION? What do you want to accomplish? What is your big picture goal?

In the short-term, my mission is to be elected to the Sammamish City Council.  The real reason and “mission” comes after the election.  I want to make sure Sammamish, through all the current growth, remains the beautiful, healthy city we know it to be.  Our city is home to a vibrant and diverse community of people, but it is also home to so much more: beautiful landscape, water, and wildlife.  It’s imperative our elected leadership works hard to make decisions and policy that will ensure the future of Sammamish remains as desirable today as will be in the decades to come.  The desirability of our beautiful city is driving our rapid growth, but our schools, and healthy finances are a part of that as well.  Another part of my mission is to makes sure our city makes wise choices with taxpayer dollars to ensure city funds are wisely used.  I also want to make sure our roads can handle all of our new and existing residence. 

I’ve always had an interest in the creation of policies that define a city and I never miss an opportunity to vote to express my opinion.  There was a defining moment that served as the conduit to running for office, and it was an issue in my “backyard” where the city granted approval for a developer to build homes on our designated open space (which is, by name, not developable for homes) and granted a variance on our very substandard roads.  Alongside a few of my neighbors, and a citizen activist, we appealed the city’s approval, and won.  Through the course of this potential development fight (greater than 3 years time), I got an inside look at our city, and I knew I could make Sammamish’s future better.  I wish I could say my “backyard" issue was isolated, but these variances granted to developers happen all over our city, and the cumulative effect of it all could be devastating for Sammamish.

I was always a busy person, as I don’t sit idle for very long.  I was a marathon running, corporate marketing manager, volunteering go-getter before kids.  After kids, your perspective alters and your internal priorities change.  My current mission, Sammamish City Councilmember, is actually all about my kids, and everyone else's.  The decisions made today for our city, will have long-lasting impacts to the future of their lives and the city they are growing up in.  

While the future has yet to be determined on this election, win or lose, I’m still “the best mom ever” (designation thanks to my kids).  I’ve learned (or had reinforced) that it truly takes a village.  Fellow moms (you know who you are!) have assisted in childcare while I’m out campaigning, my husband has stepped up his “Dad-game”, helping to put kids to bed, allowing me to attend Council meetings, events, etc.  I’ve also been blessed to give my children a view into democracy, our process of electing those that represent us, and a true real-life lesson in winning and losing.  But most of all, I’m hoping to show them that you can fulfill a greater purpose in life than living just for yourself.  I welcome the opportunity of contributing to the community where I am placed, because of the joy of service that benefits so much more than just myself.  

I think self-care is imperative to mental and physical health.  I get out and run a few times a week, sometimes pushing my kids in a stroller (with an attached campaign sign of course).  I also try and partake in a barre class once or twice a week.  For me, running is therapeutic.  I find running around our city gives me perspective on everything in my life, and while from a physical standpoint running is great, from a mental standpoint, there’s no better medicine to keep my life balanced.  With my campaign shirt on for a run, I call it multitasking.  

The best support, is to exercise your right to vote.  If you are an active example for your kids in participating in our democratic process, they are more likely to be active, participating citizens and voters later when they are of age.   Sammamish is such a young city (median age is 38), so we’ve got lots of children here, it’s a great opportunity to involve your kids in the process and what an election is!  

Visit my campaign website www.Malchow4Sammamish.com for more information on my issues and platform, follow the campaign on Facebook at www.facebook.com/malchow4sammamish and share it with your friends and neighbors!  If you aren’t registered to vote, there’s a link on my website to do so with King County.