AXIOS —

We skipped some of the obvious choices — like the mayor, the governor and county executive — to highlight people who are shaping the city in more subtle but powerful ways.

A note on methodology: Axios Local’s power players are influential people who’ve made an impact in their community in 2022. Our reporters made selections based on their own expertise and through a reader poll and interviews with influential people. The unscientific list is produced entirely by the Axios Local editorial team and is not influenced by advertising in any way.

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Kamau Chege

Kamau Chege, executive director of Washington Community Alliance, doesn’t often take credit for major policy wins, instead citing others who help make change happen.

• Yes, but: He’s established himself as one of the state’s leading advocates for progressive policies — a reputation he’s been building since high school, when he helped push Washington lawmakers to extend state financial aid to undocumented immigrant students.

Biggest moves of 2022: This year, Chege was a leader in the effort to put ranked-choice voting on Seattle’s ballot — a measure that narrowly passed, changing the future of voting in the city.

What we’re watching: Whether the Legislature will allow more local jurisdictions to adopt ranked-choice voting, a change Chege and his allies are seeking…