Annie Hout
Development Director
Annie (She/Her/Hers) was born and raised in Tacoma, WA. She is passionate about the transformative impact of philanthropy. Annie joins the Bus from Seattle University where she worked with donors and volunteers since 2012 and recently earned a master’s in nonprofit leadership. She currently serves on the board of the Nonprofit Assistance Center, which supports marginalized communities through organizational capacity building, leadership development, and systems change. Away from the office, you can find her enjoying friends, family and food, preferably all at the same time.
Bridget Williams
Community Engagement Coordinator
Bridget (She/Hers) first got involved in GOTV efforts and engaging young people in local politics while in college at Western Washington University. She then continued those efforts as a Washington Bus fellow in summer 2016. After studying abroad in Japan and finishing up her degree in Political Science, she is now back at the Washington Bus as the Community Engagement Coordinator. When not working to help register young people to vote and doing all other things Bus, Bridget likes to hangout with her dog Miranda, watch Bob Ross, and further master her liquid eyeliner skills.
Chris Esh
Program Director
Chris (He/Him/His) got his first real taste of campaign life in 2012 running voter registration drives and GOTV efforts supporting President Obama in battleground states across the country. Since then, he’s moved back to his home state of Washington to help run field programs and raise money for progressive campaigns and candidates, most recently with Governor Jay Inslee’s reelection campaign, before hopping on the Bus in early 2017 as the Program Director. Outside the Bus, you can find Chris rooting for the M’s, out getting lost in the woods, and fetching compliments on behalf of his pup, Jimmy Jazz. Contact Chris regarding political strategy, partnerships, and issue endorsements.
Emilio Garza
Executive Director
Emilio (He/Him/His) got his start at the Bus as a 2012 Summer Fellow. Since then, he’s been a full-time Bus staff member on the programming side, successfully helped elect Seattle’s youngest City Councilmember Rob Johnson as Campaign Manager, and also served as CM Johnson’s Legislative Assistant on issues concerning labor and the economy, public safety and police accountability, and all things transportation. Now, Emilio is back at the Bus serving as resident “fall guy” (read: Executive Director). In his free time he enjoys rooting for the Mariners and Seahawks, advocating for smart urban planning, land use, and transportation investments, and staying active in the local hip hop community. Contact Emilio for all things “fall guy” related, like media requests, new partnerships and strategic direction.
Lily Clifton
Field & Outreach Coordinator
Lily (She/Her) began her journey in public service and civic engagement as a member of the Seattle Youth Commission in 2006. During her time in Boston, MA, Lily worked on state and federal grassroots campaigns, in particular the Massachusetts Dignity 2012 campaign. After completing a BA in Political Science at Boston College, Lily returned to Seattle and worked as an AmeriCorps VISTA to coordinate civil legal needs for homeless youth and young adults. Lily spends her free time enjoying the Pacific Northwest, baking delicious treats, and exploring the fantastic food offerings all over Seattle. Contact Lily regarding high school and campus outreach, volunteer opportunities, and field events.
Maria Zepeda Flores
Development Organizer
Maria (she/her/hers) started at the Washington Bus in the Fall of 2017 as a development intern and now joins our team as a Development Organizer. When not reaching out to donors and sponsors to keep fueling the Bus, Maria drowns in reading and assignments to complete her Master of Public Administration at the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance. In what little free time Maria does have, she enjoys searching for Seattle’s best tacos, frequenting POC-owned businesses, and enjoying the beautiful outdoors.
Michael Padilla
Grants Manager
Michael (He/Him/His) returned to the Bus as our Development Coordinator in 2015, having been a summer Fellow back in 2013. After graduating from the Fellowship, he continued working to raise the living wage in Seatac, organized around food justice issues in South King County, and is currently serving as a commissioner on the Seattle Board of Parks Commissioners. In his free time you can find Michael working on music with the legendary fellows class of 2013 band “Cat Storm”! Contact Michael if you’d like to learn more about our awesome monthly membership program (aka Friends with Benefits).
Raisah Vesteinsdottir
Operations Manager
Raisah (She/Her/Hers) began at the Bus as our Operations Manager in Fall 2017. Before she arrived to the Bus family, Raisah worked on a variety of community driven projects on her college campus focusing on gender equity and support for survivors of sexual violence. After she received her BA in Biology, Raisah returned to Seattle to work a short stint with Seattle Neighborhoods Group before starting at the Bus. In her free time Raisah enjoys finding the best secret Seattle eateries, hanging out by the lake and testing her gluten-free baking skills. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Raisah with any questions about the Bus.
Vote Bot
Official Mascot
Vote Bot is a sophisticated democracy robot sent back in time to change the future for one lucky state. And that lucky winner just so happens to be our very own Evergreen State, Washington. They came to us to break down barriers to voting and take names. Vote Bot comes from a place where voter registration is automatic for all eligible voters, turnout for the most local of elections is always 100%, where there’s a voting drop box in every home, and a young person heading out to get civically involved on every street!
Vote Bot isn’t only the hero we have, but the one we deserve. Helping us engage young people in politics and building the next generation of young leaders in Washington is hard wired into Vote Bot, and with them on board the Bus we’ll keep winning year after year!
