(The Center Square) – The Seattle City Council has winnowed down its list of 72 qualified applicants for the vacant seat on the council to eight people, ranging from Seattle Police Department employees to a runner-up in the 2023 Seattle City Council District 2 race.
The eight finalists are up for the open citywide position that has been left vacant by Teresa Mosqueda, who is now on the King County Council.
Community activist Tanya Woo headlines the list of finalists as she recently lost a close race to incumbent District 2 City Councilmember Tammy Morales in the 2023 general election.
Despite 51% of District 2 voters appointing Morales to the Seattle City Council, Woo remains a consideration for the Seattle City Council. Woo touted her civic involvement in the Chinatown-International District in her cover letter to the city council.
Seattle Police West Precinct Commander Steven Strand is another notable finalist for the city council seat. Since joining the force in 1991, Strand has embraced police reform, civilian oversight, accountability and alternatives to policing, according to his cover letter.
Strand added that he is directly involved in the deployment of the department’s latest public safety department, the Community Assisted Response and Engagement Department.
Another Seattle Police Department employee joining the list of finalists is Seattle Police Department Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Soloman, who has served in his role for the past 33 years.
The other finalists for the city council seat include:
Seattle Public Schools District 4 School Board Director Vivian Song, who believes gun violence, housing instability, insufficient access to physical and mental health services, food insecurity, and pedestrian safety are key issues facing the city;Juan Cotto, chief lobbyist for the state’s blood industry, who touted his work to developed strategies for community engagement with the LGBTQ community to expand inclusivity for blood donation;Neha Nariya, Civic Hotel co-founder, who has previously partnered with the city to promote tourism; andSeattle Human Services Department Community Safety Investments Manager Mari Sugiyama, who is prioritizing overall safety concerns of Seattle businesses and residents.Linh Thai, a former regional operations manager at the nonprofit organization The Mission Continues, who touted his work in community outreach that led to the development of the MLK Business Association and the East African Business Association in South Seattle.
A public forum for the vacancy will be held on Thursday. A special city council meeting is set to be held on Jan. 22, in which the finalists who participated in the community forum will address the council.
