SEATTLE — Mayor Bruce Harrell sat down with KING 5 to discuss the incoming Seattle City Council after preliminary results of November’s general election show that two-thirds of the Seattle City Council will be filled with new members.
“I think you're going to have a council that is listening and more aligned with the people, a little more focused on the basics,” Harrell said.
All five people the mayor endorsed in the general election appear to have won their races. KING 5 asked the mayor how he thinks that will help him to pass policy next year and what types of policies he wants support in enacting.
“I think they’re in there with me to help recruit officers and do that kind of work. I think in terms of our housing strategy, I mean what got lost, sort of the lead was buried, is we passed the biggest housing levy in our history, almost $1 billion. So, I think working with the housing developers, the community, there's going to be some exciting work.”
What does he hope to see in the first 100 days of the new council taking office?
“So first of all, I think that this council will be aligned with me on public safety strategies, that they're willing to try new things, such as technology. I think our old council, quite frankly, were sort of coming along with the things that I want to try.”
Seattle is on track to have the most homicides ever in one year. Harrell said he and the city council will try to solve issues related to violence.
“Well, the homicide rate in our city and nationwide is alarming. And, you know, for me, it's not necessarily do I take responsibility, it's my job to make sure people are safe. So, of course, whenever I hear of anyone that is murdered, it saddens me. I probably attended more funeral services and talked to more grieving widows and partners probably than anyone around,” said Harrell.
“This council and I will look at new ways to solve these issues,” said Harrell of the high homicide rate. “Whether it's better gun laws that the city can enact, right now we can enact any, we're preemptive through state law. Whether it's working with our state legislators to come up with better, more effective laws, then they need to understand that that's what we need as a city.”
Mayor Harrell pointed out that this new council is very diverse and he believes they will uphold the needs of minority groups in the city.
“They elected a very diverse group. We have two African-Americans serving on the council, we have LGBTQ+ members serving on council, we have a person I think identifies as Puerto Rican heritage,” said Harrell. “I mean, we have a diverse set of leaders here with diverse experiences.”
In January, the new Seattle City Council will be tasked with selecting someone to fill Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda's seat, who appears to have won her race for King County Council. Some community members have said they want Tanya Woo to fill the spot. Woo looks to have lost in a very tight District 2 Seattle City Council race.
“Tanya ran a phenomenal race. She's an outstanding community leader. It's the council's decision,” said Harrell. “So, they will, I'm sure, they'll get dozens and dozens, maybe hundreds of people come out. And again, I'm just looking for a person that is much aligned with, I think, where the voters want us to go.”