The race to fill the Seattle City Council empty seat, last held by former Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, is heating up with the selection of eight finalists from a hefty pool of 72 applicants. The city's power brokers have their work cut out for them as these eight candidates sharpen their political resumes and reach out for the community's heartstrings.
Sara Nelson, the Seattle City Council President, dropped the names of the chosen ones in a recent announcement. The roster of Seattleites vying for the hot seat includes Juan J. Cotto, Neha Nariya, Mark Solomon, Vivian Song, Steven K. Strand, Mari Sugiyama, Linh Thai, and Tanya Woo. Walking down an information trail made public on the Council Vacancy webpage last Thursday, January 11, the Councilmembers selected the finalists, said a statement provided by the website.
In a bold move to marry transparency with democracy, the Council has engaged Seattle CityClub to host a community forum. Here, Seattleites will get a first-hand look at the candidates and what they stand for. It's a pivotal moment for the finalists to make their mark on the community before the final selection is made.
Looking ahead, the decisive dates are set. A special meeting where the Council will deliberate over these finalists is slated for January 22 at 9:30 a.m. Following the forum's revelations, they'll get another shot to sway the Council's verdict. Then, in a democratic crescendo, the vote to determine Mosqueda's successor is scheduled for January 23 at 2:00 p.m. According to the Council's website, this marks the calendar's red-letter days.
