SEATTLE — As the Seattle City Council race that could reshape city politics heats up, KING 5 is airing four debates in October.
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 Nov. 7.
The upcoming debates will focus on the districts that don’t have incumbent candidates. The debates are presented by Seattle CityClub, GSBA, and media partners.
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 and 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:
The debate was moderated by KING 5's Natalie Swaby and journalists from KIRO Radio and The Seattle Times.
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.
The debate was moderated by KING 5's Greg Copeland, Converge Media's Angela Poe Russell, and Fox 13's Hana Kim.
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.
The debate was moderated by journalists from KIRO Radio, Fox 13, and Crosscut.
You can watch the debate in its entirety here:
District 5
The final debate for District 5 wasbetween 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.
The debate was moderated by KING 5's Jake Whittenberg and journalists from KUOW and Fox 13.
You can watch the debate in its entirety here:
