NEWCASTLE — This Eastside Seattle suburb has a quiet, tucked-away vibe, with wooded roads, cul-de-sac homes and a mountain view golf course. There isn’t usually much going on in Newcastle, so it’s not necessarily the sort of place where you might expect to run across a culture war.

But as political battles rage nationally over diversity and inclusion and as vulnerable groups come under attack, similar debates are roiling this Puget Sound community — and hate is bubbling up, as well.

Early last month, City Councilmember Ariana Sherlock received an anonymous letter at home that referred to one of her children as “disgusting” for being transgender and concluded, “You are not welcome here!”

The next day, council candidate Andy Jacobs, who is Jewish and recently appeared on the cover of a lo

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