Please join us for the monthly meeting of Eastside Republican Club on Tuesday, September 8, at 6:30 PM. We’ll meet at the Hilton Garden Inn, 16630 Redmond Way in Redmond. See the Location page for driving directions, a map, and parking information. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu. Please RSVP if you plan to attend! 

Our special guest speakers for September 8 will be Dann Mean Smith of Project 42, who will address us on efforts to repeal the state income tax and upcoming Supreme Court races, and a speaker from the Teacher Freedom Alliance, who will tell us about their mission to help educators exercise their First Amendment rights and pursue excellence in the classroom free of ideological interference. We’ve also invited candidates and initiative sponsors to update us on their campaigns and how we can help.

Dann Mead Smith – Project 42

Dann was President and CEO of Washington Policy Center for 20 years before stepping down in fall 2021 to start his own firm, The Mead Smith Group. His main client is Project 42, a 501c4 advocacy, capacity building, nonprofit organization, that he co-founded in 2020 with the mission to change the course of Washington state to prioritize free markets, personal liberty and an individual’s right to prosper. Some of the nonprofit groups launched or supported by Project 42 include Citizen Action Defense Fund, Change Washington, Future 42, Full Court Press, League of Our Own Washington, The Center Square Washington, and Washington Policy Center.

Teacher Freedom Alliance

The Teacher Freedom Alliance provides educators with liability insurance, professional development opportunities, continuing education credit hours, and access to alternative curricula — all at no cost to teachers who choose to leave their unions. By championing teacher freedom, the Teacher Freedom Alliance seeks to protect educators’ First Amendment rights and ensure that parents — not bureaucrats or union bosses — remain at the center of education. We look forward to hearing from their representative and how we can support their work.

Join ERC!

If you haven’t already done so, you can support ERC and help cover operating expenses by become a member! Membership prices are $25 Basic, $50 Silver, $100 Gold, and $250 Platinum; Platinum members who own businesses are also considered Sponsors of ERC. You can join or renew your membership on the Join page.

It was great seeing so many of you at the ERC Picnic on July 15! Thanks to our special guest moderator Jolie Lansdowne (chair of the King County Republican Party), to everyone who brought desserts and side dishes to share, to our chefs, to our board members and officers who shopped for food and provided the raffle prizes, and to everyone who came early and stayed late for setup and cleanup. We hope you all had a good time hearing from and mingling with the candidates! If you have any suggestions for future improvement, please email them to info@eastsiderepublicanclub.org.

As usual, there’s no ERC meeting in August; our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8. We’re working on confirming availability of speakers, and will have details for you soon.

Don’t forget to vote in the Primary! You should have already received your ballot — be sure to return it by August 4!

Have a great summer!

Please join us for the monthly meeting of Eastside Republican Club on Tuesday, June 9, at 6:30 PM. We’ll meet at the Hilton Garden Inn, 16630 Redmond Way in Redmond. See the Location page for driving directions, a map, and parking information. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu. Please RSVP if you plan to attend! 

Our special guest speakers for June 9 will be Saul Spady of Cre8tive Empowerment and the King County Quality-of-Life Coalition, who will address us on creative ways to solve the problems that plague Seattle and other urban areas of our county, and Jane Jin of the Chinese Democracy & Human Rights Alliance, who will share her story as a survivor of the Tiananmen Square massacre and resistance against the Chinese Communist Party. In addition to Saul and Jane, we’ve invited candidates and initiative sponsors to update us on their campaigns and how we can help.

Saul Spady

Saul Spady is a Seattle-based marketing entrepreneur, political activist, and media figure known for his work at the intersection of communications, public policy, and community advocacy. He is the founder and president of Cre8tive Empowerment, a marketing and digital strategy firm established in 2013 that focuses on social media, live events, and creative campaigns for businesses and nonprofit organizations. Through this work, Spady has led initiatives for clients ranging from local startups to major brands, combining advertising, digital outreach, and storytelling,

In the civic arena, Spady is the founder of the King County Quality of Life Coalition, a grassroots bi-partisan initiative aimed at addressing issues such as homelessness, addiction, and public safety through policy reform and community engagement. His political involvement also includes activism in Seattle, notably participating in efforts to repeal the city’s 2018 head tax and supporting various policy campaigns and candidates.

Spady has been active in radio broadcasting, hosting and contributing to talk radio programs in Seattle, including time on KTTH and appearances on stations such as KVI. His media work often focuses on political commentary and public affairs, reflecting his broader engagement in regional and national political discourse, including a congressional campaign.

Jane Jin

Jane Jin, also known as Jin Yang, is a survivor of the Tiananmen Square Massacre and a former Japanese language interpreter for the People’s Liberation Army’s propaganda apparatus — a background that gives her activism against the Chinese Communist Party unmatched moral authority and firsthand insight. As a young woman working inside the PLA’s political messaging system, she witnessed the inner machinery of state control, censorship, and psychological manipulation. Her life changed irrevocably in 1989, when she survived the Tiananmen Square Massacre — an experience that exposed the full brutality of the regime and set her on a lifelong path of truth telling. After escaping China, Jane transformed her trauma into purpose, becoming a fearless advocate who exposes CCP human rights abuses, educates Western audiences about authoritarian influence operations, and amplifies the voices of those silenced behind the Great Firewall. Her work is defined by moral clarity, personal courage, and an unwavering commitment to freedom.

Please RSVP!

If you plan to attend the meeting, please click RSVP to register, and pay online in advance. The cost is $20 per person, but if you pay online in advance you get a 10% discount (just $18). College Republicans and Young Republicans can attend for half price (just $10). These funds go toward covering the cost of our meeting space, including free underground parking. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu.

Save the Date for the Annual ERC Picnic!

Please update your calendar with the new date of our annual picnic with the candidates. Unfortunately, all the picnic facilities were booked for our usual second-Tuesday meeting night, so we had to change the date of the picnic this year to Wednesday, July 15th. We will be at Perrigo Park Picnic Shelter and the east side of Redmond, at 9011 196th Ave NE. King County GOP Chair Jolie Lansdowne will be emceeing the picnic, and there will be raffles for great prizes. The club will provide the hamburgers and hotdogs (with a vegan option as well) and the condiments. We are encouraging everyone to bring either a side or a dessert. More information will be posted and registration for the picnic opened after the June meeting.

Join ERC!

If you haven’t already done so, you can support ERC and help cover operating expenses by become a member! Membership prices are $25 Basic, $50 Silver, $100 Gold, and $250 Platinum; Platinum members who own businesses are also considered Sponsors of ERC. You can join or renew your membership on the Join page.

Please join us for the monthly meeting of Eastside Republican Club on Tuesday, May 12, at 6:30 PM. We’ll meet at the Hilton Garden Inn, 16630 Redmond Way in Redmond. See the Location page for driving directions, a map, and parking information. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu. Please RSVP if you plan to attend! 

Our special guest speakers for May 12 will be Neet Grewal (political consultant, grassroots organizer, former candidate for Kent City Council, and chair of the King County Young Republicans) and Jaskaran Singh Sarao (activist and former candidate for State Senator for the 41st District), who will address us on activism, grassroots organizing, and reaching diverse communities. You can read more about them below.

Please help us get the word out about the meeting by copying the graphic below and pasting it onto your social media profile, or share the link to this page.

Neet Grewal

Neet Grewal is a lifelong resident of Western Washington and committed activist. Currently serving as chair of the King County Young Republicans, she ran for Kent City Council in 2025 under the bold slogan “Clean Up Kent.” Born and raised locally, she’s the proud daughter of two Boeing engineers, with her passion for public service inspired early on by her late father’s deep community political involvement, which remains her greatest motivation to this day. A graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in Political Science, she wasted no time putting her education into action, working tirelessly on countless local, state, and national initiatives to bring meaningful change to the people she serves. She’s worked on more than 100 campaigns nationwide including for President Trump in all seven swing states.

During her city council campaign, her platform was driven by five key priorities: public safety, solving homelessness and drug abuse, boosting the local economy, strengthening democratic representation, and protecting family values. Neet proved her dedication to fairness by helping lead the successful effort to create single-member districts in Kent so every neighborhood has a voice. She’s consistently out in the community, hosting forums, surveying residents, listening to concerns, and taking action to improve people’s lives. 

Beyond politics, Neet enjoys walking her chocolate lab, swimming in Lake Washington or saltwater oceans when on vacation, exploring the outdoors on ATVs, composing music as a first soprano, and supporting the theater arts, embodying the balance between hard work and creative spirit.

Jaskaran Singh Sarao

Jaskaran Singh Sarao is a dedicated community leader with 20 years of experience in technology and community services. He is a loving husband and father of two teenage boys attending Bellevue public schools, and he has been happily married to his high school sweetheart, Manpeert Sarao, for 17 years. Jaskaran became a proud naturalized U.S. citizen in 2023 and deeply values this privilege. He ran for 41st District state senator in 2024.

Jaskaran has a strong commitment to serving his community. He served on the Bellevue Human Services Commission since 2019 (including a term as chair), coached Let Me Run from 2019 to 2021, and initiated 5K runs and July 4th celebrations as the Northwood Village President from 2016 to 2019. Additionally, Jaskaran has been a dedicated Scout leader since 2018, a swim team official at Norwood Pool since 2016, and has actively served meals at the Congregations for the Homeless shelter through the Sikh Center of Seattle since 2016. He has also been advocating for Mom-and-Pop landlords who are struggling to collect rent from squatters to pay their bills and property taxes.

Please RSVP!

If you plan to attend the meeting, please click RSVP to register, and pay online in advance. The cost is $20 per person, but if you pay online in advance you get a 10% discount (just $18). College Republicans and Young Republicans can attend for half price (just $10). These funds go toward covering the cost of our meeting space, including free underground parking. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu.

Join ERC!

If you haven’t already done so, you can support ERC and help cover operating expenses by become a member! Membership prices are $25 Basic, $50 Silver, $100 Gold, and $250 Platinum; Platinum members who own businesses are also considered Sponsors of ERC. You can join or renew your membership on the Join page.

Please join us for the monthly meeting of Eastside Republican Club on Tuesday, April 14, at 6:30 PM. We’ll meet at the Hilton Garden Inn, 16630 Redmond Way in Redmond. See the Location page for driving directions, a map, and parking information. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu. Please RSVP if you plan to attend! 

Our special guest speakers for April will be WAGOP Chair Rep. Jim Walsh and Rep. Matt Marshall providing an update on the outcome of the 2026 Legislative session.

WAGOP Chair Rep. Jim Walsh

Jim has represented the 19th Legislative District in the Washington State House since 2016, when he stunned state politics by becoming the first Republican that LD19 had sent to Olympia in decades. While some media outlets focused on him breaking a “Blue Wall” in a traditionally Democrat district, Jim explains his election—and subsequent re-elections—in nonpartisan terms: “The people of LD19 don’t care so much about Republican or Democrat. They just want someone who will represent them and their values with passion and energy.”

In 2020, 2022, and 2024, Jim was re-elected with more than 60 percent of the vote and, more importantly, helped turned his region “Red” by organizing and supporting a wave election of conservative legislators, county commissioners and local officials. Jim has served in leadership positions on various policy and budget committees in the WA House: Ranking Member on the State Government and Tribal Relations Committee, Assistant Ranking Member on the Transportation Committee and—most recently— Ranking Member on the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee. He has also served on the House Education, Capital Budget, Human Services and Rural Development, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committees.

During his ten years in the legislature, Jim has received Legislator of the Year awards from numerous groups—including Citizens Alliance for Property Rights (CAPR), Citizens’ Voice, Gunowners of America, Permanent Offense and Hunters’ Heritage Foundation. In 2022, he received the Washington State Republican Party’s Kemper Freeman Courage Award for his work articulating common-sense, conservative values.

Aside from his work in the legislature, Jim owns and operates Silver Lake Publishing—a technical publisher that specializes in insurance, risk management, cyber security, asset protection and related nonfiction topics.

Rep. Matt Marshall

Matt Marshall represents the 2nd Legislative District which includes Eatonville, Roy, Yelm, and Ranier in Pierce County. He succeeded Rep. J. T. Wilcox after J.T. chose not to run for re-election in 2024. He serves on the Appropriations Committee, the Education Committee, and as Assistant Ranking Member of the Health Care & Wellness Committee. Before entering the legislature, he served as an elected school board member.

Matt is a proud Army veteran who served honorably both enlisted and as an officer. Matt also has over a dozen years of experience as an orthopedic surgery physician assistant specializing in sports medicine and orthopedic urgent care. Alongside his medical career, he has spent more than a decade as a professor of natural sciences, demonstrating his dedication to education and mentorship. He recently completed his Juris Doctor degree. A dedicated father and husband, Matt lives in Eatonville with his wife Jessica and their three daughters.

Please RSVP!

If you plan to attend the meeting, please click RSVP to register, and pay online in advance. The cost is $20 per person, but if you pay online in advance you get a 10% discount (just $18). College Republicans and Young Republicans can attend for half price (just $10). These funds go toward covering the cost of our meeting space, including free underground parking. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu.

Membership Renewal for 2026

In case you haven’t already done so, it’s time to renew your membership for 2026 as well. Membership prices are still only $25 Basic, $50 Silver, $100 Gold, and $250 Platinum. You can join or renew your membership on the Join page.

Please join us for the monthly meeting of Eastside Republican Club on Tuesday, March 10, at 6:30 PM. We’ll meet at the Hilton Garden Inn, 16630 Redmond Way in Redmond. See the Location page for driving directions, a map, and parking information. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu. Please RSVP if you plan to attend! 

Our special guest speakers for March will be Hossein Khorram and Homeira Bakhtiari on a very timely topic — the liberation of Iran.

Homeira Bakhtiari

Since 2017, Homeira Bakhtiari has been actively involved in the United States as a Human Rights advocate, focusing particularly on the quest for freedom in Iran, working alongside fellow advocates who share this vision. She has participated in numerous political and Human Rights organizations, including the Coordinated Front of Fighters and the Fighting Doctors, an organization that operates internationally. She has organized multiple demonstrations in Washington State to protest against oppression by the regime of the Islamic Republic in Iran. She graduated from the Belarusian Dental University in 1998, pursued advanced training in Iran, and is a dentist. 

Hossein Khorram

A longtime friend of ERC, Hossein Khorram is Finance Co-Chair of the Washington State Republican Party and past chair of the KCGOP Finance Committee. He has raised over $2 million for President Trump’s campaigns and worked on many other local and statewide campaigns in Washington. He has been a delegate or alternate to all of the Republican National Conventions from 2012 through 2024. He is co-chair of the American Mideast Coalition for Democracy. 

In addition to his commitment to the Republican Party, Hossein is an outspoken advocate for freedom in Iran. Architect and lead advocate for the proposed U.S. House Middle East Caucus, he has lobbied members of Congress to pass legislation condemning Islamic Republic of Iran’s human right violations. Hossein has appeared on numerous international television and radio programs and in print media since 2002, including Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, BBC, Al Jazeera, NPR, Sonntage Zeitung (Switzerland), KIRO TV, Seattle Times, and Bellevue Reporter, both in Farsi and English, providing analysis of current issues and commentary, condemning terrorism and the Islamic Regime. He is a four-time delegate for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (“AIPAC”).

We are anxious to hear from Hossein and Homeira about their work on restoring freedom to Iran and the current efforts by President Trump and our military to bring that about.

Please RSVP!

If you plan to attend the meeting, please click RSVP to register, and pay online in advance. The cost is $20 per person, but if you pay online in advance you get a 10% discount (just $18). College Republicans and Young Republicans can attend for half price (just $10). These funds go toward covering the cost of our meeting space, including free underground parking. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu.

Membership Renewal for 2026

In case you haven’t already done so, it’s time to renew your membership for 2026 as well. Membership prices are still only $25 Basic, $50 Silver, $100 Gold, and $250 Platinum. You can join or renew your membership on the Join page.

Please join us for the monthly meeting of Eastside Republican Club on Tuesday, February 10, at 6:30 PM. We’ll meet at the Hilton Garden Inn, 16630 Redmond Way in Redmond. See the Location page for driving directions, a map, and parking information. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu. Please RSVP if you plan to attend! 

Our special guest speakers for February will be Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank, and Tasha Mae of Advocacy Queen.

Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank

Sheriff Keith Swank is a retired Seattle police officer who now serves as the elected Sheriff of Pierce County.

In 2006, as a Sergeant, Swank played a pivotal role in de-escalating a tense hostage situation involving a mass shooter at the Seattle Jewish Federation, using tactical communication to diffuse the threat and secure a peaceful surrender. In 2020, he commanded the SWAT team responsible for clearing and securing the CHOP/CHAZ zone during the Seattle riots. Swank also managed 911 emergency response operations, overseeing a team of more than 100 personnel. As a Captain, he also commanded the Metro Special Response Section, which included SWAT, Harbor Patrol, Canine Unit, and the Arson Bomb Squad.

Keith enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 18 and graduated from Ranger School, Airborne School, and High-Altitude Low Opening (HALO) training. After being honorably discharged from Fort Lewis, he attained a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Washington. Sheriff Swank is a graduate of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission and the Northwest Law Enforcement Command College.

The Sheriff will address the latest legislation affecting sheriffs in our state.

Tasha Mae of Advocacy Queen

Tasha Mae is widely recognized for her influential advocacy work and her mission to support individuals facing systemic barriers. Based in Washington state, she has spent nearly two decades in the nonprofit sector, specializing in housing stability, employment advocacy, and self-sufficiency coaching. Her work is deeply personal, shaped by her own lived experiences and a desire to help others navigate complex systems with confidence and dignity.

Her public profile first grew through pageantry, where she made history as the first Black recipient of a Global Beauty Award—often referred to as the “Oscars” of pageantry. Over the years, she earned multiple national and international titles, including Miss Plus America 2010, Miss American Beauties Plus Elite 2015, and the 2020 world title of Mrs. Curvé Globe. Her modeling and pageant career led to features in major publications such as PEOPLE, Essence, and Seattle Met, and she became a sought-after pageant coach, judge, and show producer.

In 2022, Tasha Mae published her first book, Choose You, Change Your Path, Walk in Your Purpose, chronicling her three-year healing journey from trauma and her path toward personal transformation. She later founded Advocacy Queen, an initiative blending her experiences as a single mother, nonprofit volunteer, and community leader to provide no cost advocacy for individuals struggling to access essential services. Her work has since evolved into a movement centered on empowerment, independence, and breaking cycles of disadvantage.

Today, Tasha Mae continues to inspire through public speaking, community leadership, and digital influence. Her story—highlighted in interviews and media features—reflects a journey from hardship to purpose, marked by resilience, service, and a commitment to lifting others as she rises.

Please RSVP!

If you plan to attend the meeting, please click RSVP to register, and pay online in advance. The cost is $15 per person ($10 for College Republicans and Young Republicans) to cover the cost of the meeting space. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu.

Membership Renewal for 2026

It’s time for everyone to renew your membership for 2026 as well. Membership prices are still only $25 Basic, $50 Silver, and $100 Gold. Please renew today so you don’t forget! You can join or renew your membership on the Join page.