By Matt Kite
Tacoma Weekly
December 17, 2025

Mayor-elect Anders Ibsen, a lifelong Tacoman, is no stranger to politics. He served as a member of the City Council for eight years, from 2011 to 2019. Having won nearly 57 percent of the citywide mayoral vote on November 4, he will be sworn in next month as Tacoma’s next mayor. He will bring with him a passion for the community and the work that awaits him.

“What I love most about Tacoma is the people,” Ibsen said in an email during a recent interview. “We are a city of doers and straight-talkers. We look out for our neighbors, we show up for each other in hard times, and we do not shy away from big challenges. Growing up here, I learned early on that Tacoma is full of everyday excellence: artists, workers, families, small-business owners, tribal partners, educators, organizers, people who genuinely care about the direction of this city. But we are also at a turning point. Too many long-time residents are priced out of the neighborhoods they built. Too many families are one setback away from not having enough food on the table. And too many people feel unsafe or disconnected from the systems that are supposed to support them.”

Ibsen listed four issues as Tacoma’s most pressing: “housing that people can actually afford, neighborhood safety grounded in community strength, food and economic security, and a city government that is easier to navigate and more accountable to the people it serves.” He hopes to bridge the gap between current reality and the city’s potential by leading with “bold action, grounded solutions, and a belief that every Tacoma resident deserves to thrive here.”

Ibsen, who graduated from The Evergreen State College in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, has pursued an active career in real estate since his stint in the City Council. He is a managing broker at Windermere Real Estate and a certified residential appraiser. Given his background, it is no surprise that he has an informed opinion about the Home in Tacoma Zoning and Standards package that was approved in 2024 and enacted earlier this year.

“I support the core idea behind Home in Tacoma,” he said. “We need more homes, in more shapes and sizes, so people can afford to live here. Tacoma should be a place where families can stay, young people can put down roots, and seniors can age in the neighborhoods they love. But I also believe we can improve how the plan is implemented.”

Ibsen said he would pursue several changes, including “a comprehensive review of the gaps in the policy, now that we have had a year of the policy in practice; a concurrent review of the building code for any extra efficiencies, as well as permitting efficiencies in general; and exploring accessible financing tools so that regular Tacomans can more readily take advantage of this policy and create more affordable units at a faster pace to meet the current need.”

He would also invest more in infrastructure like streets, sidewalks, trees, and transit so that the added density strengthens, rather than weakens, neighborhoods.

“The goal is not simply more units,” he said. “The goal is homes that real Tacoma residents can live in, at prices they can realistically afford. That is the standard I will lead with.”

Of course, with the city forecasting a budget deficit of 15 million dollars for 2027 to 2028, getting anything done will pose a challenge.

“A budget is a statement of values,” Ibsen said. “My approach is simple: fix what is broken, protect what works, invest in what matters. We cannot cut our way into prosperity, and we cannot tax our way out of inefficiency. Instead, I would focus on three things: modernize city operations, prioritize essential services, and aggressively pursue state and federal funds and build strategic partnerships.”

The first two pursuits, Ibsen explained, entail making local bureaucracy less cumbersome and more efficient and prioritizing housing, safety, food access, and public health programs that achieve measurable outcomes. The third pursuit involves making Tacoma a regional leader in “bringing home resources for housing, infrastructure, climate resilience, and behavioral health.”

Many locals rate safety as their top priority, which is no surprise, given the fact that Tacoma has the second highest violent crime rate in the state, with nearby Fife and Ruston placing first and third, respectively.

“People deserve to feel safe where they live, work, and raise their kids,” Ibsen said. “The key to safety is stability, and stability comes from strong neighborhoods. My approach is both and, not either or.”

Indeed, Ibsen wants to address crime in multiple ways, ranging from fully staffing Tacoma’s police and fire departments and expanding youth programs to increasing behavioral health and crisis-response capacity and investing in better street lighting.

“My administration will focus on the underlying drivers of crime while ensuring a swift, fair response to violence,” he said. “Both matter, and Tacoma deserves both.”

Another issue that worries locals is Tacoma’s increase in homelessness. Washington state has the third highest homeless population in the country, with Pierce County’s numbers growing by 11 percent to nearly 3,000 in 2025. What can the city do to address the crisis?

“First, we have to be honest,” Ibsen said. “Homelessness is not one issue. Youth, families, seniors, and people living with complex behavioral health needs require different solutions. A one-size-fits-all approach guarantees failure.”

Instead, Ibsen plans to pursue five interdependent objectives: building affordable housing, creating “real pathways out of homelessness,” strengthening food security, pursuing policies that prevent homelessness in the first place, and coordinating with other jurisdictions across the region. The second objective, creating pathways out of homelessness, would require the city to “expand 24 hour stabilization centers, increase case management, and ensure people have access to bathrooms, showers, healthcare, and consistent support while they transition into permanent housing.”

Added Ibsen, “Tacoma can promote housing stability with compassion and competence, and that is the approach I will bring.”