(The Center Square) – Spokane City Councilmember Lili Navarrete announced her resignation on Monday, effective June 30, cutting her term short ahead of an upcoming election this fall.
She announced in March that she wasn’t running for reelection this fall to take care of her health, with two new candidates already campaigning to take Navarrete’s seat on the dais.
The council appointed Navarrete in January 2024 to replace then-incumbent Betsy Wilkerson, who represented District 2 until voters elected her as council president in November 2023. The city now has an opportunity to fill her spot until someone secures the upcoming election.
“Since immigrating from Mexico City, I have lived in Spokane’s East Central neighborhood for 37 years,” Navarrete wrote in a statement that the city published on Tuesday. “This neighborhood has shaped me into a passionate advocate for a safe, clean, and prosperous city for all.”
Navarrete championed immigrant rights and protections for minorities. She passed a language access ordinance, establishing policies to help recruit job applicants fluent in several languages. However, her most notable work was proposing what many called the “Homeless Bill of Rights.”
The ordinance would’ve made “housing status” a protected class, which many people criticized for fear of the impacts on downtown amid a homelessness crisis. The proposal never crossed the finish line, but another version regarding employment protections passed in April.
Last week, Navarrete proposed another ordinance to ban federal immigration authorities from entering certain city properties. Park Board President Jennifer Ogden pushed back on the idea in an email to the council, saying that her peers are focused on improving parks, not restrictions.
“I have strived to bring diversity and inclusion to the workplace, and I hope my efforts have positively impacted the City Council and its employees,” Navarrete wrote. “However, as much as I have enjoyed my role, it is time for me to move on to new challenges and opportunities.”
According to the Public Disclosure Commission, two people have filed to run for Navarrete’s spot this fall. Kate Telis, a former prosecutor endorsed by all five members of the progressive majority, including Navarrete, has already raised nearly $25,000, with $8,100 spent so far.
Alejandro Barrientos, chief operating officer of SCAFCO Steel Stud Company and purchasing director for Stone Group of Companies, also filed to run for Navarrete’s seat. According to the PDC, he has raised almost $6,000 for the campaign, with a little over $200 spent so far.
According to the council rules, Wilkerson has seven days to announce Navarrete’s vacancy so interested candidates can submit applications for an interim appointment through the election.
“Thank you once again for everything,” Navarrete wrote. “My last day on the City Council will be June 30.”
