It was clear from the beginning, but here's the final tally making it official: I won the race for LWSD School Board Director!

Sign waving to get out the last minute votes with Melissa Stuart was a blast! There are a few more hours left until the ballot boxes close, so please return your ballot if you haven't already.

Come sign wave and Get Out The Vote with Melissa Stuart and Aspen Richter! Monday 11/3 @ 7:30am-9:30am Meet by Sunrise Espresso & Donuts in Redmond Coffee and Donuts provided! 😋🍩☕ RSVP here: secure.actblue.com/donate/volun... (No donation needed or required.)

Great news: the MLK Labor Council has endorsed me in this race! The Martin Luther King, Jr. County Labor Council is King County, Washington’s central body of labor organizations. Their mission is to unify all labor organizations in King County to build power and strength for all workers.

Come sign wave and Get Out The Vote with Melissa Stuart and Aspen Richter! Monday 11/3 @ 7:30am-9:30am Meet by Sunrise Espresso & Donuts in Redmond Coffee and Donuts provided! 😋🍩☕ RSVP here: secure.actblue.com/donate/volun... (No donation needed or required.)

Great news! @lgbtqvictoryfund.bsky.social announced it is endorsing my race for LWSD School Board Director! It is supporting my candidacy because they know that I will be a strong voice for equality when elected and that, with your support, I'm on-track to win.

I'm proud to announce that WEA-PAC (Washington Education Association's Political Action Committee) has endorsed me for Lake Washington School District board director position 4. 🍎📚

Hey safe streets nerds! Do you work flexible hours? Have a cool retired parent looking to stay active? Become a school crossing guard! Look at all those unfilled positions! Make it easier for your neighborhood kids to walk and bike to school! www.seattleschools.org/news/crossin...

Friday was the official opening of the last phase of the Redmond Central Connector, a strip of bike and pedestrian trail that runs from one side of Redmond to the another.

It was great to spend some time with these amazing human beings at the 41st Legislative Dems picnic. While board directors are always working first for their own school district, it's also important that they are collaborating beyond that, both across the state and at different levels of government.

Thank you, voters of Lake Washington School District! With the early primary results in, I've received 61.42% of the election night votes. You spoke with your ballots, and it's a resounding endorsement!

Ballot-procrastinators, I know you're out there .... because I am one too! But I've gotten mine into a drop box, and I know you can as well. Remember, ballots are due back by August 5. That's only 6 days. A little over 144 hours. Set aside time this week or weekend and get it done!

Unexpected perks of canvassing this morning: pets and purrs!

Today was another great day of canvassing and speaking to voters about their experiences in LWSD!

"51% of public school K-12 teachers said they were not too or not at all satisfied with how much they were paid...Americans overall generally think teachers should earn more...74% of U.S. adults said teachers should be paid more, including 39% who said they should be paid a lot more."

Solving complex problems takes collaboration and community. That's why I attended an Intergenerational Strategy Session with Sustainability Ambassadors yesterday at Kirkland City Hall. Also present were Kirkland city leadership and staff, parent advocates, and community advocacy groups.

And now, a thread about local housing policy. 🧵 This may seem like a surprisingly specific topic, but I’m posting in response to a question I was asked in DMs. I want to share my answer for the benefit of others who may be wondering the same thing.

Just want to say, my campaign team is amazing! I couldn't do this without them, and I am grateful every day that they've chosen to put their skills and time behind this campaign. Also know as, I'm so happy about nailing the timing of this mailer to arrive with the ballot. :')

Life hack for putting out campaign signs: cargo e-bike! Stop nearly anywhere, turn on a dime, carry all your supplies, burn no fuel. 💪🌍 #AspenForSchoolBoard

Putting out signs can be tedious, but you also get to see some incredible early-morning views! #AspenForSchoolBoard

Aspen is recommended by the Progressive Voters Guide! "In addition to their thoughtful campaign platform, Richter has earned impressive support from local elected officials and community leaders. We enthusiastically recommend Aspen Richter for the Lake Washington School Board from District 4."

What a great picture of the entire group. Thank you for sharing it and being there! What a beautiful day to celebrate independence and our country!

Happy 4th of July! I had a great time walking in Kirkland's parade with the @45thdemocrats.bsky.social and 48th District Democrats, other endorsed candidates like @vandanaslatter.bsky.social, Naren Briar, Osman Salahuddin, and so many more, and our US congresswoman @suzandelbene.bsky.social.

Testing some new button designs tonight on the button maker. This way I can do a little beta testing before committing to an order with a union print shop. What do you think?

Want to be in a parade with me and other awesome and interesting candidates and Local Democrats 45 and 48? Two opportunities exist!

Thank you, Fuse Washington, for the work you do informing voters with the Progressive Voters Guide! I’m honored to have your recommendation (sneak peak version).

Hi friends. Here are three quick opportunities related to the campaign. 1. Campaign launch party 🥳 2. Ice cream social 🍧🍨🍦 3. Be in a parade with Aspen 🎆🚶‍♂️👩‍🦽

Please join me on June 20 at 6:30pm to kickoff our campaign. ElectAspen.com/kickoff for more details and to donate and RSVP. Spread the word to friends, teachers, and anyone interested in our schools!

I had a fantastic day today chaperoning middle school band students at the Wild Waves "Music in the Park" festival. These students have such talent, dedication, and spirit ... and took home a trophy with the highest ranking in all the categories in which they competed!🏆🎺🎻

Recently I spent a productive and informative weekend with Vote Run Lead and National Women's Political Caucus of WA at "Run As You Are 2025". The current Emerge Washington cohort also joined us for part of the weekend. (1/2)

I'm honored to share that all four current Lake Washington school board members who are not in this race have endorsed my campaign. Their trust is deeply moving, and I intend to live up to it. I'm going to continue acting to strengthen Lake Washington School District for our kids and our community!

Last week was filing week. I'm officially on the King County primary ballot for August 5. (Make sure your voter registration is updated and vote all the way to the end of the ballot--that's where you'll find me!)

I'm looking forward to attending this! The Kiwanis do so much good work in our community.

Current and former Redmond parents and teens, this info is for you! 🧵1/6 Redmond moved teen programs from the Old Redmond Firehouse to the Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village. Many community members are upset by this and want to speak out. Others want more information.

Look, if this doesn't make you smile and tug at your heartstrings and make you want better things for our communities and kids, I don't know what to say.

Here's our #LWSD Green Team and Eastlake Sustainability Committee in action. Our elementary students hatched salmon eggs, raised them, and today they released them. I had a personal interest as well: as the school's PTSA sustainability chair last year, we helped purchase required aquarium equipment.

Once again, Sustainability Ambassador's #LWSD students have shown their passion for making our cities and schools more environmentally sustainable places. Thank you for the fun and informative presentation on recent #Kirkland projects encouraging smart student transportation choices!

We're living out this story in Washington state too. The points made in the article are applicable in LWSD as well: fluctuations in enrollment can be traced to declining birth rates, unpredictable immigration and emigration, and students who "disappear" from the public schools. 1/3

We need fresh, healthy food in schools, not cuts. "The Local Food for Schools program, a federal program that funneled $8.8 million to Washington, played a crucial role in helping 160 districts [...] boost the amount of fresh produce and locally grown meat, poultry and seafood they served [...]"

On Trans Day of Visibility—and every day—we recognize and support our trans children, siblings, friends, and neighbors. You deserve safety, respect, and the freedom to live as you are. We see you, we support you, and we will never stop fighting for you. 🏳️‍⚧️

It was great to connect with so many inspiring community and volunteer leaders and students at the LWSF Be the Bridge spring event. I always forget to take photos of myself, but Jennie Jaeger (@jennie-jaeger.bsky.social) and Amy Falcone (@amyfalcone.bsky.social) remembered! Thank you both!

Belated update: I attended the 48th Legislative District townhall on March 23. I appreciate all our legislators coming to the Together Center in Redmond to give this update. I spoke to them and to community members about education funding and the impacts of shortfalls on public schools.

Nearly 50% of Washington students rely on the meals provided by their schools. Trump and Musk SNAP cuts threaten their access to food. You can’t learn on an empty stomach. This isn’t putting America first or “Making America Healthy Again.” This is putting our students’ future on the line.

Monday (3/24) is the next LWSD study session (5pm) and school board meeting (7pm). The study session will have updates on high school schedules and the 6-period day. The board meeting begins with public comments. You can stream both meetings. #LWSD

Alright, people. We're doing this! www.electaspen.com