Seattle City Councilmember Sara Nelson (Position 9 – Citywide) was elected Council President by a unanimous vote of her colleagues during Tuesday’s first council meeting of the new year.
“I thank my colleagues for entrusting me with the duties of Council President. Good governance is the foundation of good policy and we’ll work together, collaboratively and deliberatively, to deliver results for the people of Seattle,” said Council President Nelson.
The Council Presidency is a two-year term. The President serves as the presiding officer of the Council, sets the Council agenda, assigns legislation to committees, and is the primary point of contact for external agencies. The Council President also assumes the duties and responsibilities of the Executive if the Mayor is absent from the City or incapacitated.
Council President Nelson brings a long history and proven track record of success to her work at City Hall. Selected highlights from her service on the Council to-date include:
- Moved Seattle forward on banning drug possession and public use
- Established the Seattle Film Commission
- Sponsored legislation to institute hiring incentives to attract more police officers
- Expanded options and funding for drug treatment
- Extended the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID), the Seattle Tourism Improvement Area (STIA), and the Ballard Improvement Area (BIA)
- Established the framework of the Future of Seattle Economy (FSE) to support the Downtown Activation Plan in the Council Budget
Council President Nelson has lived in Seattle for over 30 years She was elected to represent the City in 2021 and was at that time the only small business owner elected to the Seattle City Council. She is profoundly honored to continue to serve in a leadership role as Council President.