Who should lead Seattle?
Meet the candidates running for City Council in 2019
All seven of the Seattle City Council’s district seats are up for grabs in 2019, and four races are for open seats, with no incumbents running. Two candidates in each district advanced past August’s crowded primary election to compete in the Nov. 5 general election.
Click here for complete coverage of the 2019 Seattle City Council elections
Choose your district to learn about who's running.
- District 1
West Seattle, South Park - District 2
Southeast Seattle, Georgetown - District 3
Central Seattle - District 4
Northeast Seattle - District 5
North Seattle - District 6
Northwest Seattle - District 7
Pioneer Square to Magnolia
Reporting by Dan Beekman. This information was last updated on November 1, 2019
District 1
Lisa Herbold, 52
Seattle City Council member
Lisa Herbold is the District 1 incumbent. First elected in 2015, Herbold has focused on renter and worker rights.
What’s the city’s most important problem? Affordability/homelessness
What committee would you like to chair? Public safety
Voucher status: Participating
Contributions (cash and redeemed vouchers): $191,666
Contributors (cash and redeemed vouchers): 2396
Where do you live? Highland Park
Own or rent? Own
Are Seattle’s largest businesses paying the city enough in taxes? No
Does Seattle have enough tax revenue to address homelessness? No
Should Seattle toll downtown streets? No
Should Seattle allow duplexes and triplexes on more blocks? Yes
Does Seattle need a larger police force? Yes
Should Seattle be building a First Avenue streetcar line? No
Would Seattle benefit from a safe drug-consumption site? Yes
Could Seattle benefit from rent control? Maybe
District 1
Phillip Tavel, 48
Attorney
Phillip Tavel is an attorney and former video-game developer. He ran for the District 1 seat in 2015 but didn't advance past the primary election.
What’s the city’s most important problem? Not effectively and equitably delivering services to address housing, mental-health, public-safety and substance-disorder issues
What committee would you like to chair? Gender Equity, Safe Communities, New Americans and Education
Voucher status: Participating
Contributions (cash and redeemed vouchers): $187,097
Contributors (cash and redeemed vouchers): 1741
Where do you live? Arbor Heights
Own or rent? Rent
Are Seattle’s largest businesses paying the city enough in taxes? Maybe
Does Seattle have enough tax revenue to address homelessness? Maybe
Should Seattle toll downtown streets? No
Should Seattle allow duplexes and triplexes on more blocks? Yes
Does Seattle need a larger police force? Yes
Should Seattle be building a First Avenue streetcar line? Maybe
Would Seattle benefit from a safe drug-consumption site? No
Could Seattle benefit from rent control? No
District 2
Mark Solomon, 59
Seattle Police Department crime-prevention coordinator
Mark Solomon is a longtime crime-prevention coordinator with the Seattle Police Department with deep roots on Beacon Hill.
What’s the city’s most important problem? Affordable livability
What committee would you like to chair? Gender Equity, Safe Communities, New Americans and Education
Voucher status: Participating
Contributions (cash and redeemed vouchers): $173,141
Contributors (cash and redeemed vouchers): 2029
Where do you live? North Beacon Hill
Own or rent? Own
Are Seattle’s largest businesses paying the city enough in taxes? Yes
Does Seattle have enough tax revenue to address homelessness? Yes
Should Seattle toll downtown streets? No
Should Seattle allow duplexes and triplexes on more blocks? Yes
Does Seattle need a larger police force? Yes
Should Seattle be building a First Avenue streetcar line? Maybe
Would Seattle benefit from a safe drug-consumption site? No
Could Seattle benefit from rent control? Maybe
District 2
Tammy Morales, 50
Community organizer
Tammy Morales was was narrowly defeated in District 2 in 2015. A Rainier Beach community organizer, she previously worked as a consultant on healthful food access.
What’s the city’s most important problem? Inequality and racial disparities in wealth, housing, education, health care and justice
What committee would you like to chair? Planning, Land Use and Zoning
Voucher status: Participating
Contributions (cash and redeemed vouchers): $187,672
Contributors (cash and redeemed vouchers): 2411
Where do you live? Lakewood
Own or rent? Own
Are Seattle’s largest businesses paying the city enough in taxes? No
Does Seattle have enough tax revenue to address homelessness? No
Should Seattle toll downtown streets? No
Should Seattle allow duplexes and triplexes on more blocks? Yes
Does Seattle need a larger police force? No
Should Seattle be building a First Avenue streetcar line? Maybe
Would Seattle benefit from a safe drug-consumption site? Yes
Could Seattle benefit from rent control? Yes
District 3
Egan Orion, 48
Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce executive director
Egan Orion is the executive director of the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce. He also manages PrideFest Seattle Center and PrideFest Capitol Hill.
What’s the city’s most important problem? Without a doubt the homelessness crisis and all its parts — the shelter crisis, mental-health and substance-abuse crisis and the affordability crisis — is the most pressing issue in the daily lives of citizens, both sheltered and unsheltered.
What committee would you like to chair? Human Services, Equitable Development and Renter Rights
Voucher status: Participating
Contributions (cash and redeemed vouchers): $394,939
Contributors (cash and redeemed vouchers): 2657
Where do you live? Central District
Own or rent? Own
Are Seattle’s largest businesses paying the city enough in taxes? No
Does Seattle have enough tax revenue to address homelessness? Maybe
Should Seattle toll downtown streets? Maybe
Should Seattle allow duplexes and triplexes on more blocks? Yes
Does Seattle need a larger police force? Yes
Should Seattle be building a First Avenue streetcar line? Yes
Would Seattle benefit from a safe drug-consumption site? Maybe
Could Seattle benefit from rent control? No
District 3
Kshama Sawant, 46
Seattle City Council member
Kshama Sawant is the District 3 incumbent and an activist with the Socialist Alternative Party. First elected in 2013, Sawant has focused on economic and social-justice issues.
What’s the city’s most important problem? We need to make Seattle a city that is affordable for all.
What committee would you like to chair? Human Services, Equitable Development and Renter Rights
Voucher status: Not participating
Contributions (cash and redeemed vouchers): $510,803
Contributors (cash and redeemed vouchers): 7039
Where do you live? Leschi
Own or rent? Own
Are Seattle’s largest businesses paying the city enough in taxes? No
Does Seattle have enough tax revenue to address homelessness? No
Should Seattle toll downtown streets? No
Should Seattle allow duplexes and triplexes on more blocks? Yes
Does Seattle need a larger police force? No
Should Seattle be building a First Avenue streetcar line? Yes
Would Seattle benefit from a safe drug-consumption site? Yes
Could Seattle benefit from rent control? Yes
District 4
Alex Pedersen, 50
City Council candidate
Alex Pedersen was most recently a manager at a company that helps to preserve affordable housing. He previously worked for former Councilmember Tim Burgess.
What’s the city’s most important problem? Residents and local businesses want and deserve more accountability from their City Council.
What committee would you like to chair? Utilities, Housing or Budget
Voucher status: Participating
Contributions (cash and redeemed vouchers): $194,027
Contributors (cash and redeemed vouchers): 1630
Where do you live? Ravenna
Own or rent? Own
Are Seattle’s largest businesses paying the city enough in taxes? Maybe
Does Seattle have enough tax revenue to address homelessness? Maybe
Should Seattle toll downtown streets? No
Should Seattle allow duplexes and triplexes on more blocks? Yes
Does Seattle need a larger police force? Yes
Should Seattle be building a First Avenue streetcar line? No
Would Seattle benefit from a safe drug-consumption site? No
Could Seattle benefit from rent control? No
District 4
Shaun Scott, 34
Journalist, author and caretaker
Shaun Scott is a writer and an organizer with the Democratic Socialists of America. He says Seattle should tax the rich and allow denser housing.
What’s the city’s most important problem? A regressive tax climate that balances budgets on the backs of working people, students and vulnerable homeowners
What committee would you like to chair? Planning, Land Use and Zoning
Voucher status: Participating
Contributions (cash and redeemed vouchers): $212,236
Contributors (cash and redeemed vouchers): 2425
Where do you live? Eastlake
Own or rent? Rent
Are Seattle’s largest businesses paying the city enough in taxes? No
Does Seattle have enough tax revenue to address homelessness? No
Should Seattle toll downtown streets? Yes
Should Seattle allow duplexes and triplexes on more blocks? Yes
Does Seattle need a larger police force? No
Should Seattle be building a First Avenue streetcar line? Yes
Would Seattle benefit from a safe drug-consumption site? Yes
Could Seattle benefit from rent control? Yes
District 5
Ann Davison Sattler, 50
Attorney
Ann Davison Sattler is an attorney who once worked for the Seattle SuperSonics. She says the city should further subsidize recreational activities for low-income children.
What’s the city’s most important problem? Homelessness combined with an opioid epidemic
What committee would you like to chair? Housing, Health and Workers' Rights
Voucher status: Not participating
Contributions (cash and redeemed vouchers): $71,825
Contributors (cash and redeemed vouchers): 402
Where do you live? Wedgwood
Own or rent? Own
Are Seattle’s largest businesses paying the city enough in taxes? No
Does Seattle have enough tax revenue to address homelessness? Yes
Should Seattle toll downtown streets? No
Should Seattle allow duplexes and triplexes on more blocks? No
Does Seattle need a larger police force? Yes
Should Seattle be building a First Avenue streetcar line? No
Would Seattle benefit from a safe drug-consumption site? No
Could Seattle benefit from rent control? No
District 5
Debora Juarez, 59
Seattle City Council member
Debora Juarez is the District 5 incumbent. She's overseen deals to renovate KeyArena and the downtown waterfront.
What’s the city’s most important problem? Seattle, especially District 5, is growing at a rapid rate so we need to focus on homelessness, public safety and the need for more transportation options like light rail.
What committee would you like to chair? Civic Development, Public Assets, and Native Communities
Voucher status: Participating
Contributions (cash and redeemed vouchers): $150,000
Contributors (cash and redeemed vouchers): 1652
Where do you live? Lake City
Own or rent? Own
Are Seattle’s largest businesses paying the city enough in taxes? No
Does Seattle have enough tax revenue to address homelessness? No
Should Seattle toll downtown streets? Maybe
Should Seattle allow duplexes and triplexes on more blocks? Yes
Does Seattle need a larger police force? Yes
Should Seattle be building a First Avenue streetcar line? Maybe
Would Seattle benefit from a safe drug-consumption site? Yes
Could Seattle benefit from rent control? Maybe
District 6
Dan Strauss, 33
Seattle City Council policy adviser
Dan Strauss has worked for Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, the Alliance for Gun Responsibility and state Sen. David Frockt.
What’s the city’s most important problem? The city and county need to regionally address homelessness in coordination with the state.
What committee would you like to chair? Transportation
Voucher status: Participating
Contributions (cash and redeemed vouchers): $195,572
Contributors (cash and redeemed vouchers): 2255
Where do you live? Ballard
Own or rent? Rent
Are Seattle’s largest businesses paying the city enough in taxes? Maybe
Does Seattle have enough tax revenue to address homelessness? Maybe
Should Seattle toll downtown streets? Maybe
Should Seattle allow duplexes and triplexes on more blocks? Yes
Does Seattle need a larger police force? Yes
Should Seattle be building a First Avenue streetcar line? Yes
Would Seattle benefit from a safe drug-consumption site? Yes
Could Seattle benefit from rent control? No
District 6
Heidi Wills, 51
Co-owner of a small business
Heidi Wills was a council member from 1999 to 2003. She's run a nonprofit that uses golf to help young people.
What’s the city’s most important problem? Addressing affordable housing and homelessness
What committee would you like to chair? Budget
Voucher status: Participating
Contributions (cash and redeemed vouchers): $246,425
Contributors (cash and redeemed vouchers): 1950
Where do you live? Fremont
Own or rent? Own
Are Seattle’s largest businesses paying the city enough in taxes? Maybe
Does Seattle have enough tax revenue to address homelessness? Yes
Should Seattle toll downtown streets? Yes
Should Seattle allow duplexes and triplexes on more blocks? Yes
Does Seattle need a larger police force? Yes
Should Seattle be building a First Avenue streetcar line? Maybe
Would Seattle benefit from a safe drug-consumption site? No
Could Seattle benefit from rent control? No
District 7
Andrew J. Lewis, 29
Seattle assistant city attorney
Andrew Lewis is a prosecutor in the Seattle City Attorney's Office. He previously worked for former Councilmember Sally Clark.
What’s the city’s most important problem? Homelessness and affordability
What committee would you like to chair? Housing
Voucher status: Participating
Contributions (cash and redeemed vouchers): $180,432
Contributors (cash and redeemed vouchers): 2060
Where do you live? Uptown
Own or rent? Rent
Are Seattle’s largest businesses paying the city enough in taxes? Maybe
Does Seattle have enough tax revenue to address homelessness? Maybe
Should Seattle toll downtown streets? No
Should Seattle allow duplexes and triplexes on more blocks? Yes
Does Seattle need a larger police force? Yes
Should Seattle be building a First Avenue streetcar line? No
Would Seattle benefit from a safe drug-consumption site? Yes
Could Seattle benefit from rent control? No
District 7
Jim Pugel, 60
Retired police leader
Jim Pugel is a former Seattle interim police chief. He most recently served as chief deputy in the King County Sheriff's Office.
What’s the city’s most important problem? Bringing various groups together to prevent future and resolve current homelessness
What committee would you like to chair? Public Safety or Human Services
Voucher status: Participating
Contributions (cash and redeemed vouchers): $225,621
Contributors (cash and redeemed vouchers): 1712
Where do you live? Queen Anne
Own or rent? Own
Are Seattle’s largest businesses paying the city enough in taxes? No
Does Seattle have enough tax revenue to address homelessness? Maybe
Should Seattle toll downtown streets? No
Should Seattle allow duplexes and triplexes on more blocks? Maybe
Does Seattle need a larger police force? Yes
Should Seattle be building a First Avenue streetcar line? Not now
Would Seattle benefit from a safe drug-consumption site? No
Could Seattle benefit from rent control? Maybe