(The Center Square) – The Office of the Seattle City Clerk has released a list of 20 diverse candidates who are up for the vacant District 2 seat.
One year into her second term, Tammy Morales resigned from her District 2 position in December – effective on Jan. 6 – citing mental health as the reason for her departure related to what she characterized as a dysfunctional city council and a toxic work environment.
This is the second year in a row that the Seattle City Council has had to appoint a council member. Last year, Tanya Woo was appointed to replace Teresa Mosqueda’s after she resigned to take a seat on the King County Council.
All candidates have to live within District 2, which includes the neighborhoods of Rainier Beach, Beacon Hill, Columbia City and the Chinatown/International District.
The 20 candidates include:
Mark Solomon, a crime prevention coordinator for the Seattle Police Department. He lost to Morales in 2021, and was also a candidate for the vacant district-wide seat last year.Chukundi Salisbury, manager of the Seattle Sustainability and Environmental Engagement Unit. Salisbury ran for the Washington House of Representatives District 37 seat in the 2020 general election, but only collected 33% of votes.Nimco Bulale, founder of South Sound Strategies, which seeks to advance racial equity. Bulale previously ran for the Legislative 37th District position two seat in 2022, but lost in the primaries.Adonis Ducksworth, a transportation adviser to Harrell. Duckworth previously worked as the Seattle Department of Transportation deputy chief of staff.Alex Morrison, a marketing and communications manager for a general contracting company.Henry M. Armas-Amaya, a former microfabrication technician for RJC Enterprises. Edward C. Lin, an assistant city attorney at the Seattle City Attorney’s Office.Randy Engstrom, former head of the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture.Erik L. Nielsen, a contracts negotiator at Boeing.Bishop R. Rogers, executive director of Circle of Love Outreach, a nonprofit that conducts homeless outreach.Steven Sloan, founder of SLOAN Public Relations. Sloan was previously the vice president of two construction magazines.Rachel Ramseur, who is currently a real estate broker. Ramseur was previously a police officer in Edmonds, as well as Eugene, Oregon.Hong Chhuor, a communications officer at the nonprofit Friends of the Children – Seattle. Chhuor has previously worked at other Seattle-based nonprofits, including Plymouth Housing and El Centro de la Raza. Takayo M. Ederer, a commercial and residential real estate investor.Nahom Debessay, senior project manager at The CSI Companies, which focuses on IT healthcare.Thaddaeus J. Gregory, a former associate with Van Ness Feldman. Romain R. Harris, founder of Harris Insurance Services.Nakita Venus, executive director of Seattle’s LGBTQ+ Center.Mark Sztainbok, a software developer who previously worked at Bittrex.Mona Smith, who has run her own law firm since 2004.
The Seattle City Council will hold a special meeting on Friday to select finalists.
