Commission Staff

Tara Long has over a decade of experience in the public sector fostering meaningful communication between decision makers and those they serve. She has led communication and engagement efforts on high-profile projects including ballot measures for Washington school districts, strategic plan updates for Sound Transit, contentious land use issues, and many other local-level initiatives that have a direct impact on how people experience their community. Through this work, she developed a deep commitment to creating transparent, inclusive, and flexible human-centered strategies and processes to drive collaboration, enthusiasm, and efficiency.

She holds a Bachelors in Meteorology from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Masters in Strategic Communication from Washington State University. For fun, Tara likes to hike, paddleboard, garden, and spend time with her family that includes two young adult children, two border collies, and a couple of dozen houseplants.