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Seattle City Council announces process to fill Council vacancy

January 4, 2024January 4, 2024By City Council News Releases
Seattle City Council name plate in Council Chambers reads "vacant."

If you are interested in applying, visit the Council Vacancy webpage for more information.

Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson (Position 9 – Citywide) announced the formal process to fill the vacancy left by now-former City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda (Position 8 – Citywide). Mosqueda resigned her seat on the Seattle City Council, effective January 2, 2024, to take a seat on the King County Council, leaving a vacancy on the Seattle City Council starting January 3, 2024. 

The Council conducted a ceremonial oath of office on Tuesday, and five of the seven individuals sworn in are new Councilmembers. With an additional member appointed to the vacant at-large Position 8 seat later this month, the newly-minted Council will have more new members – six out of nine – than any cohort since 1911. 

The City Charter gives the City Council 20 calendar days to fill a vacant Council position. This 20-day period begins January 3, 2024, the first day of the position vacancy, and ends on January 23, 2024.  From the date of the appointment, the newly appointed Councilmember will serve until the 2024 General Election results are certified by King County Elections and the newly elected Councilmember representing Position 8 (At-large) takes the oath of office. 

From the date of the appointment, the newly appointed Councilmember who will be filling the vacancy will serve until the election results are certified by King County Elections in late November, and the newly elected Councilmember representing Pos. 8 takes the oath of office.  

The public and interested parties are encouraged to access all information related to the vacancy, including the application process, online: http://www.seattle.gov/cityclerk/council-vacancy.  The Council will follow the process outlined below: 

Applications and Qualifications: 

What is noted below are the minimum requirements for filling the Council Vacancy, as determined by the City Charter and Ordinance No. 125479. 

Application Period: 

  • Opens Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. 
  • Closes Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. 

Applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, and financial interest statement form, as well as their residential address to the City Clerk. The City Charter requires applicants be a citizen of the United States, able to read and write the English language, a qualified elector of the State of Washington and a registered voter of the City of Seattle at least 120 days prior to filing the declaration of candidacy.  

By submitting your application, you are agreeing that you understand that the information you provided is subject to public records request unless it is specifically exempt from the Washington State Public Records Act. 

Public Forum Hosted by a Community Organization: 

Seattle Municipal Code 3.93.010 A provides an opportunity for community entities (such as groups listed in Section 15.52.005’s definition of “special event type,” subsection 4.c, as organizing a community event) to participate in the public forum development process  

The public forum is anticipated to occur on either January 17 or 18, 2024.   

Community Organization Participation and Input Submission Period: 

  • Opens: Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. 
  • Closes: Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. 

Community entities interested in submitting feedback and participating in the public forum development process are encouraged to submit their feedback via the Council Vacancy webpage during the submission period, which will run from Wednesday, January 3, 2024, to Tuesday, January 9, 2024. Community entities interested in hosting the public forum in which candidates are interviewed should email a letter of interest describing their capacity and prior relevant experience to councilvacancy@seattle.gov by Tuesday, January 9, 2024, 5:00 pm. 

Anticipated meetings

  • Anticipated Special Public Meeting for Public Comment:   Special City Council Meeting, Monday, January 22, 2024 
  • Anticipated City Council Vote on Appointment:  City Council Meeting, Tuesday, January 23, 2024, 2:00 p.m. 

In the event the Council fails to fill the vacant position by the end of that 20-day period (January 23, 2024), the Council must meet every business day, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, thereafter and beginning on January 24, 2024 until the vacancy is filled (Charter Article XIX, Section 6).