Calling Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant a grandstander, political newcomer Morgan Beach today announced her candidacy to run in the newly created District 3, which encompasses Capitol Hill, Madison Park, Broadmore, and much of the Central Area.

“This is not about grandstanding, this is about governing. You can only do much standing on a soap box with one vote. You need to be able to work with other people,” Beach tells Seattle Weekly.

The 28-year-old Beach, who chairs the Economic & Educational Opportunities Committee on the Seattle Women’s Commission, rents an apartment in the Portage Bay neighborhood and has lived in Seattle about 2 ½ years. She also serves as a legislative and public policy advocate with Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest, and as a blood drive coordinator with the Puget Sound Blood Center. She currently works at the American Red Cross.

“She [Sawant] is focused on social justice issues. I will be focused on gender equity and pay,” says Beach. “I’m running to get the five votes necessary to change city policy regarding gender pay inequities, full funding of maternity and parental leave, small business assistance, and housing discrimination, especially against families.”

Beach concedes that Sawant, who she has never met, played a important role in gaining passage of the $15 minimum wage law. “But it was Mayor Murray who got it done because of his collaborative approach.”

Beach is the second candidate to enter the race against the socialist councilmember. Rod Hearne, vice chairman of Equal Rights Washington and a longtime Democratic activist, got into the contest earlier this month.