“I serve as your Port Commissioner because I have the values and experience to address the urgent challenges of our time. I believe that promoting a thriving economy, a healthy environment, and equitable policies go hand-in-hand. We can compete for market share in container cargo imports, build a sustainable blue economy, support workers and families, and address mobility and livability issues around the Port — but it requires strengthened connections.
The Port is uniquely positioned to lead the way in uniting industry, business, workers, and communities to build a port of the future, for the future. I bring a sense of urgency to ensure the Port responds effectively to the new challenges ahead.”
TOSHIKO HASEGAWA, PORT COMMISSIONER POSITION 4
Toshiko Hasegawa: A Voice for Community, Justice, and Seattle’s Future
Toshiko Hasegawa is a fourth-generation Japanese American and lifelong Seattleite whose life has been profoundly shaped by the community that raised her. For four generations, the Hasegawa family has called Beacon Hill home. The very halls where her father grew up became the same place where her own children took their first steps, creating an unbroken legacy of love and resilience. Her childhood was steeped in the rich, natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest—walking along the piers, buying fresh salmon at the docks of the Duwamish River, and marveling at whales in the sound.
Lil’ Teamsters Toshiko holding the picket line with her father.
Raised in a home alive with the spirit of solidarity and activism, Toshiko learned early that progress comes through collective action. As the daughter of a labor leader who served as Secretary of the Teamsters Local 174 and a mother who devoted her career to mental health advocacy, she grew up surrounded by the power of community organizing and the importance of compassion. Whether it was neighbors gathering around the family dining table to plan the next picket line or marching alongside her mother at a Take Back the Night rally, these moments instilled in her a deep sense of civic duty and a lifelong commitment to social justice.
Toshiko’s educational journey further reflects her dedication to service. She earned both her B.A. and M.A. in Criminal Justice from Seattle University, equipping herself with the tools to tackle systemic inequities and build a future where all voices are heard.
A Career Rooted in Advocacy & Leadership
Throughout her career, Toshiko has been a champion for marginalized communities and an architect of meaningful policy change. As the founder and owner of Yonsei Consulting, a certified minority/woman-owned business, she specializes in environmental justice, HEAL Act compliance, and creating lasting institutional change. Her work is driven by the belief that equity is not a buzzword—it is a commitment to justice that must be woven into the fabric of our systems.
Toshiko speaking on behalf of King County’s Office of Law Enforcement Oversight.
In 2018, Toshiko was appointed Executive Director of the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA), making history as the youngest member of Governor Jay Inslee’s cabinet. Under her leadership, CAPAA became a powerful force for advocacy, advising the Governor, Legislature, and state agencies on issues affecting marginalized communities. Her efforts extended across geographies, cultures, and barriers to ensure that every voice was amplified and every need addressed. Among her many achievements, she collaborated with the Port of Seattle to expand opportunities for WMBE and disadvantaged businesses and played a critical role in raising awareness about human trafficking.
Toshiko’s experience also includes working with prominent leaders and organizations at every level of government. From Senator Patty Murray’s office to the King County Office of Law Enforcement Oversight, her work reflects a steadfast commitment to bridging divides and building coalitions for meaningful change.
A Vision for the Future
Toshiko envisions a future where everyone has access to economic opportunities and lives in a healthy, clean environment. At the Port, she’s helped facilitate the transition to a clean energy future.
Under Toshiko’s leadership, the Port has launched the Teal New Deal to position the Port of Seattle as a global leader in transforming the maritime industry.
By making continued, substantial investments into state of the art infrastructure and innovative programming that support a blue economy by sea, and leading conversations around our clean energy future on land, Toshiko’s leadership is helping promote economic opportunities in sustainability that will support our regional economy for the next century.
This groundbreaking approach, blending the green and blue economies for a coherent strategy and vision for the future, will promote a thriving economy, healthy economy, and opportunities for our community members.
Motherhood has deepened Toshiko’s perspective. As the mother for two small children, the urgency of addressing climate change, economic inequities, and social justice are even more personal. She envisions a future where her children—and all children—can enjoy the natural beauty of the region, thrive in safe and inclusive communities, and inherit a world defined by hope and opportunity.
A Champion for Seattle’s Future
Toshiko Hasegawa’s roots in Seattle run deep, and her commitment to its future is unwavering. She believes the Port of Seattle is not just a gateway to the world but a cornerstone of the region’s identity and potential. As a hub for jobs, tourism, and innovation, the Port has the power to lead by example—advocating for environmental sustainability, equitable economic growth, and inclusivity.
For Toshiko, this is more than a professional mission—it is a personal calling. Her journey is one of courage, conviction, and a deep love for the community that shaped her. She fights not just for the present but for the future, ensuring that the values of justice, equity, and solidarity remain the foundation of Seattle’s progress.