SEATTLE — As the Seattle City Council race that could reshape city politics heads into its final weekend, here's what you should know about each candidate.
This year’s election is only for the seven district seats and does not include the two citywide seats held by Councilmember Sara Nelson and Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda.
The council members trying to keep their seats this year are Tammy Morales (District 2), Dan Strauss (District 6) and Andrew Lewis (District 7). Councilmembers Kshama Sawant (District 3), Alex Pedersen (District 4), Debora Juarez (District 5), and Lisa Herbold (District 1) are all not seeking reelection.
This will also be the first city council election since the recent redistricting. The general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 7.
Here’s what you should know:
District 1
Maren Costa, a former design leader for Adobe, Amazon and Microsoft, and Rob Saka, an attorney, justice reform advocate and Air Force veteran debated in the race for District 1 on Oct. 3.
Costa received 33% of the vote during the August primary while Saka received 24% in the August primary.
Costa is a climate activist and advisor for startups Power Bloom Solar, Carbon Zero, and Impact Karma. Costa said she was illegally fired from Amazon in April 2020 for "standing up for climate justice and for warehouse workers’ safety." Her priorities include public safety, housing and green economic policies.
Saka has served on the King County Charter Review Commission and Mayor Bruce Harrell's Seattle Police Chief Search Committee. Saka's priorities include public safety, homelessness and housing.
The debate began with a focus on homelessness.
Saka said a lack of affordable housing is a key issue. Beyond that, however, the city needs to reform zoning laws and make it easier to build housing. Saka said he isn't against studying the idea of prohibiting camping in certain public spaces.
Costa, who also said housing is a key issue, said the city needs more tailored solutions to get people into homes. She pointed out that sweeps and deciding where people will be moved from one outside location to another is not the solution.
You can watch the debate in its entirety here:
District 2
Tammy Morales is one of the three current city council members seeking reelection. Her priorities for another term include community safety, affordable housing, environmental issues and healthcare.
Morales was elected to the Seattle City Council in 2019.
Tanya Woo, who grew up in Beacon Hill and lives in Rainier Beach, said she wants to change "bad city policies." Woo's family owns the Louisa Hotel in the Chinatown International District and leads the Chinatown International District Community Watch.
Woo's priorities include homelessness and housing, public safety and transportation.
Morales received 52% of the vote in the August primary while Woo received 42%.
District 3
Joy Hollingsworth, co-owner of her family's cannabis farm, and Alex Hudson, executive director of the Transportation Choices Coalition, debated to sway voters in District 3 on Oct. 10.
Hollingsworth was born and raised in the Central District and is a part of the Food Access Network team at Northwest Harvest. Her grandmother is Seattle civil rights leader Dorothy Hollingsworth. Her priorities include reducing property and violent crimes, expanding mental health services, housing, small business support, youth enrichment and environmental issues.
Prior to leading a transit and transportation advocacy nonprofit, Hudson led the First Hill Improvement Association. Her priorities include housing and homelessness, transportation, small business support and a municipal capital gains tax.
Hollingsworth and Hudson both received 30% of the vote in the August primary.
You can watch the debate in its entirety here:
District 4
The District 4 debate was between Ron Davis, a tech entrepreneur, and Maritza Rivera, the city's deputy director of the Department of Arts & Culture.
Davis is also a transit advocate and environmental activist who serves on the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association board. His priorities include public safety, housing and homelessness, transportation, education and worker's rights.
Rivera has also served in the White House as President Clinton’s Hispanic liaison and later as a vice president of the National Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Rivera's top priority is public safety.
Davis received 45% of the vote and Rivera received 32% in the August primary.
You can watch the debate in its entirety here:
District 5
The final debate for District 5 was between Cathy Moore, a former King County Superior Court judge, and ChrisTiana Obeysumner, a social justice advocate and CEO of Epiphanies of Equity, a social equity consulting firm.
Moore is also a former Seattle public defender and former chair of the Seattle Human Rights Commission. Her priorities include public safety, ending cycles of addiction and affordable housing.
Obeysumner is a former co-chair of the Seattle Disabilities Commission and former co-chair of the Seattle Renters' Commission and has served on more than three other boards. Priorities include affordable housing, health and human services, and infrastructure gaps.
Moore received 31% of the vote and Obeysumner received 24% in the August primary.
You can watch the debate in its entirety here:
District 6
Dan Strauss currently represents District 6 and is running for reelection.
Strauss highlights his support of the Seattle Police Department, like an amendment to fund a recruitment media plan, and creating a public safety coordinator position in Ballard, connecting unhoused people at Ballard Commons and Woodland Park with shelter and his efforts on passing housing legislation as his first-term accomplishments.
Strauss' priorities include public safety and homeless and housing.
Pete Hanning is the former owner of Fremont's Red Door and has served on the Fremont Neighborhood Council, the North Precinct Advisory Council, the Washington Restaurant/Hospitality Association and more. Hanning is currently the executive director of the Fremont Chamber of Commerce.
Hanning's priorities include homelessness and housing, public safety, infrastructure and small business support.
Strauss received 51% of the vote in the August primary while Hanning received 29%.
District 7
Andrew Lewis currently represents District 7 and is running for reelection. Lewis lists cutting the red tape to build supportive housing, homelessness outreach, turning community centers into climate-resilient hubs, Vision Zero funding and small business relief during the COVID-19 pandemic as his first-term accomplishments.
Lewis' priorities include housing and homelessness, public safety and climate change.
Robert Kettle is a former Naval officer and serves on the Queen Anne Community Council board.
Kettle's priorities include public safety, homelessness, universal pre-k and expanding community colleges.
Lewis received 43% of the vote in the August primary while Kettle received 31%.