Brad Wong, Patch Staff

<strong>Email: </strong>brad.wong&#64;patch.com<strong><br></strong>

<strong>Phone: </strong>425-440-1796<strong><br></strong>

<strong>Hometown: </strong>Sunnyvale, Calif.<strong><br></strong>

<strong>Age: </strong>42<strong><br></strong>

<strong>Bio: </strong>

Brad Wong started his journalism career riding a knobby-tired bike and tossing newspapers on subscribers&#39; porches. These days, he disseminates news through keyboard touches to computers and smart phones. Wireless devices are always nearby. He&#39;s convinced the world changes.

From 2002 to 2009, he worked as a reporter at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, where he covered breaking news, business and the suburbs. Over his career, he has investigated human trafficking and smuggling, interviewed the Dalai Lama, chronicled presidential visits and written about people falling in love at cemeteries. 

He studied American Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz and international affairs at Columbia University. He graduated from both universities. In China, he completed a 1,200-mile solo mountain bike trek. In his garage, he has an old red metal P-I newspaper box to remind him of when bulky, industrial-strength containers once held the news of the moment. He enjoys tofu, especially when used in Chinese cooking, and playing ping pong.

He and his family live on the Eastside.<br><br><b>Your Beliefs</b><br>At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. <br><br><b>Politics </b><br>How would you describe your political beliefs?<br>Are you registered with a certain party?

I believe that a community&#39;s strength relies on the participation and awareness of the people who live in it. That is one definition of democracy and it is a major force in guiding my political beliefs. I recognize that representative and participatory models of democracy have pluses and minuses. I certainly appreciate the freedoms afforded to us in the United States. 

I am registered with a political party. But I believe in nonpartisan journalism and that partisanship is just one part of life. I&#39;m also a bit of an old-school journalist. I try and follow the adage of understanding an idea that might be the opposite of what I believe or know. One benefit: I get to learn something new.

<br><b>Religion</b><br>How religious would you consider yourself? (casual, observant, devout, non religious)

I am not religious. But I am interested in religion. I have to be. Part of my job is to understand the world around me. In 1994, a friend and I were traveling in a Tibetan area of China. We met a young Tibetan Buddhist monk who talked about his beliefs and ideas floating in his mind. I still remember that conversation to this day.<br><b><br>Local Hot-Button Issues</b><br>What do you think are the most important issues facing the community? Where do you stand on each of these issues?<br><br>It&#39;s actually a good time to observe and ask questions about Sammamish. Development will remain a big issue in the coming years, as will open space and how a community deals with its rural past and its suburban environment.

The economy will remain a hot topic. It is not only a local issue. It touches just about every place in the country.

I try to stand in the middle on issues and talk with as many people as possible who have points of view about them. Why? I&#39;m able to learn something new.