Councilmember Sun Burford

Councilmember Sun Burford Sun Burford is a Newcastle, WA City Councilmember, Pos.1, Official Page.

06/05/2026

🏳️‍🌈✨ **June begins with celebration, community, and color.**

Pride Month 2026 is officially underway — a time filled with stories, creativity, music, friendship, and the spirit of people coming together. From local flag raisings and art spaces to community events and summer gatherings, today marks the beginning of a month centered on visibility, culture, and shared celebration.

Every city, every neighborhood, and every voice adds something meaningful to the moment.

Here’s to a month of connection, expression, and unforgettable memories beneath summer skies. 🌈💫

This Tuesday, June 2nd, as we raised the Pride flag at City Hall and our City Council issued a Pride Month proclamation,...
06/05/2026

This Tuesday, June 2nd, as we raised the Pride flag at City Hall and our City Council issued a Pride Month proclamation, we sent a simple but important message: Newcastle is a city where everyone belongs.

Kudos to the CAC and Newcastle Arts Council for organizing the event, and thank you to everyone who joined us, including Eastside Pride. It was a gorgeous day.

Pride Month is a time to recognize the contributions, resilience, and humanity of our LGBTQ+ neighbors, friends, family, and coworkers. It’s also a reminder that building a safe, respectful, and inclusive community is ongoing work — and it belongs to all of us.

Raising this flag doesn’t ask anyone to change their beliefs. It affirms that in Newcastle, you will be treated with dignity. That you can walk in our parks, start a business, raise a family, and know you are a valued part of this city.

To our LGBTQ+ residents and visitors: you are seen, you are welcome, and you matter here. To our city staff and first responders: thank you for serving all of Newcastle with professionalism and respect.

Happy Pride Month🏳️‍🌈 and thank you!

06/01/2026

May 31 marks the culmination of a month filled with significance. This May, we formally recognized AANHPI Heritage Month, National Police Week, and National Public Works Week through official proclamations. We also acknowledged Jewish American Heritage Month, Older Americans Month, and Mental Health Awareness Month, each of which reflects the diverse cultures, wisdom, and well-being that fortify our communities.

My sincere gratitude is extended to everyone who contributes to building, protecting, healing, creating, and inspiring. Your contributions are valued this month and every month. As May comes to a close, we will carry this gratitude forward. Thank you.

This Memorial Day, we honor all who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Their courage, service, and love of nat...
05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we honor all who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Their courage, service, and love of nation will never be forgotten.

As an elected official, educator, and immigrant, I’m especially grateful to those of every background who gave everything for the freedoms we enjoy. May we pause today to remember them. 🇺🇸

A milestone — the first AANHPI Proclamation in Newcastle history: My motion to issue an AANHPI Heritage Month Proclamati...
05/20/2026

A milestone — the first AANHPI Proclamation in Newcastle history: My motion to issue an AANHPI Heritage Month Proclamation passed 7–0 at our council meeting last night. ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
I’m grateful for unanimous support from council and city staff, and thanks to our community members who came to support the AANHPI Proclamation last night.
Thanks to our Newcastle resident Louise Cassell for capturing the moment!

As an immigrant myself and the first Chinese American Councilmember in the City of Newcastle, this proclamation holds deep personal meaning.
It affirms that Newcastle continues to embrace diversity, inclusion, and representation, and it honors the invaluable contributions of immigrant communities who help shape the vibrant fabric of our city.
The AANHPI community has enriched Newcastle through culture, entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, and community service. I am proud to celebrate our collective heritage and achievements.
I appreciate our Council's continued commitment to making Newcastle a welcoming and inclusive city for all.

05/19/2026

May is AANHPI Heritage Month.

As Newcastle’s first Chinese American city council member, I think about the path from the Chinese Exclusion Act to city hall. From “you don’t belong” to “you represent us.” We went from excluded to elected. From invisible to in office.

Our community’s American story includes the Chinese Exclusion Act, Japanese American incarceration, and decades of invisibility erased from curriculum and policy. It also includes resilience, service, and leadership. We built, served, taught, and led.

Representation is not symbolic. It’s access. It’s policy. It’s making sure the next generation doesn’t learn their history from a footnote.

I’m honored to serve this city and to make sure our stories — all of them — are seen, taught, and valued. Proud to serve. Proud to tell the full story.

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Newcastle, WA

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