Kat Layton's journey in the world of community advocacy and leadership began long before considering the formal role in politics as a Democratic candidate for District 6 Washtenaw County Commission. Within the last seven years of living as a neighbor in Ypsilanti and working as a social worker in Washtenaw County, Kat witnessed firsthand the challenges left unaddressed by traditional systems and bureaucratic processes. Not wanting to settle for society's answers to why things are the way they are, Kat's determination to question the status quo is driven by her innate curiosity to better understand her community and the people living in it.

Kat's run for Washtenaw County Commission stems from personal and professional experiences shaping her perspective and fueling her passion for change. Growing up with a father battling alcoholism and facing incarceration due to unresolved traumas, Kat saw the shortcomings of punitive and criminalizing approaches to behavioral health. These experiences underscored the need for compassionate solutions, fostering her lifelong commitment to service and advocacy. Everyone deserves to be heard, valued, and supported.

After moving to Ypsilanti for education in 2016, Kat quickly recognized the unique meaning of community that Ypsilanti and Washtenaw County holds. In the heart of the community, she has been deeply involved, volunteering with and leading mutual aid efforts aimed at addressing root issues of society’s visible symptoms.

Kat has a proven track record of follow-through in both her professional and personal life. A social worker can not truly show up for their clients without being dependable and doing the things they say they’ll do. Kat carries this same belief into her county work. With a heart nourished by compassion and a spirit fortified by perseverance, Kat is ready to stand with and for the City of Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township, and Superior Township, standing as a platform to amplify many unaddressed priorities and the voices of our Washtenaw County residents.