About Councilmember Steffanie Fain

Steffanie Fain is a King County Councilmember representing District 5, which includes SeaTac, Des Moines, Normandy Park, and parts of Kent, Renton, and Tukwila.  She was sworn into office on November 25, 2025, and is the first Korean American to serve on the King County Council and the first Asian American in nearly 40 years.

Before joining the council, Councilmember Fain practiced civil litigation, business, healthcare, and employment law for 15 years.  She has been recognized by her peers as a “Rising Star” from 2017 to 2020 and as a “Super Lawyer” since 2021, honors awarded through a selective, peer-driven process that recognizes professional achievement and leadership in the legal field.

Steffanie earned her J.D. with honors from Seattle University and served as a judicial extern at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

Public Service and Regional Experience

Councilmember Fain has extensive experience in regional governance and public service. She represented South King County on the Harborview Medical Center Board of Trustees for over a decade, including five terms as President, guiding the most critical public hospital in the region and overseeing a $1.7 billion budget for the institution that serves King County’s most vulnerable residents, regardless of income or insurance status.  Her work emphasized fiscal stewardship, reducing barriers to healthcare, and long-term sustainability.  In her role as President, she also served on the UW Medicine Advisory Board, which advises the Board of Regents, UW President, and the CEO of UW Medicine, on all matters relating to UW Medicine, especially with respect to strategy, finance, and sustainability of all entities and affiliates of UW Medicine.  

Steffanie also previously served as a board member for Trillium Employment Services, a nonprofit organization committed to integrating individuals with intellectual disabilities into the workforce, as a founding member of MultiCare’s South King Health Foundation, and as a spokesperson for Under Armour’s nationwide breast cancer awareness campaign in 2009. 

Community and Personal Background

Councilmember Fain is a longtime resident of South King County, a second-generation Korean American, a breast cancer survivor, a youth sports coach, and a parent.  She lives in District 5 with her husband and two sons and remains deeply connected to local schools, small businesses, and community organizations. 

She is honored to serve District 5 and is committed to bringing South King County’s voice to every decision made at the county level.