Debora Juarez, a two-term Seattle City Councilmember who represented District 5, is once more in the spotlight as a frontrunner for a potential appointment to fill a vacancy in the council.
Her previous experience and reputation as a veteran lawmaker have made her a favored choice in a council currently facing instability.
The council’s recent reshuffling comes after the resignations of both Juarez and District 2 Councilmember Tammy Morales this year.
A gathering of councilmembers convened on Thursday to narrow down 22 applicants to a final group of six candidates.
Councilmember Bob Kettle was instrumental in nominating Juarez as a top candidate for the position.
The council is expected to hold a final vote on the appointment on July 28, the deadline for making a decision.
Prior to that, there will be two public forums featuring the finalists, aimed at allowing community members to engage with the candidates.
The first forum is scheduled for July 21 at North Seattle College, followed by another on July 22 during a special council meeting at city hall.
Although there are five other contenders, most insiders suggest that Juarez is the clear favorite.
In her application, Juarez has positioned herself as an experienced elder who can immediately contribute, pledging to use her wisdom and vision for the role.
“I was called to serve,” Juarez remarked in her application. “I would be honored to bring my ‘Elder Auntie’ experience, wisdom gained with no regrets, and vision to this important role once again, this time as a caretaker of the seat until a new councilmember can be elected.”
If appointed, Juarez would not only reclaim a seat on the council but would also become its longest-tenured member, having previously served as council president in 2022 and 2023.
Her wealth of experience is expected to be critical if Council President Sara Nelson does not secure reelection in the upcoming fall.
Another finalist, Nilu Jenks, is also noteworthy; she previously ran for the District 5 council seat in 2023, where she finished third in the primary.
Jenks, who has endorsements from influential progressive groups, currently serves as the political director for FairVote Washington.
Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, who is part of the council’s progressive minority, nominated Jenks as a finalist.
The recent council shifts were prompted initially by the resignation of former Councilmember Cathy Moore, who officially stepped down on July 7.
Moore’s resignation sparked the current appointment process despite her citing health and personal reasons as driving factors.
Her departure came as a significant change, considering that she had won her last election by a substantial 64% of the vote.
Unfortunately, Moore appeared to struggle with the demands of council life, lacking the authority inherent to her former role as a judge; dissenting opinions and protests challenged her in new ways.
Simultaneously, public dissatisfaction with the council’s performance has been noteworthy, as illustrated by a recent poll from the Northwest Progressive Institute (NPI).
Moore’s approval rating plummeted to -23%, one of the lowest on the council, while Councilmember Rob Saka fared even worse with a -27% rating.
According to NPI executive director Andrew Villeneuve, these negative perceptions stem from a lack of substantial policy advancements and a focus on undoing previous councils’ work.
“The Council has wasted a lot of time and energy pondering whether to roll back the work of previous Councils rather than tackling the problems that Seattle faces,” Villeneuve commented.
Despite having two years left on her term, early signs indicated that Moore might have faced a challenging reelection battle.
To circumvent a difficult election, she resigned after the filing deadline for the 2025 election, ensuring her temporary replacement would serve an extended term of 16 months until the next general election.
In comparison, Morales’s resignation in January has led to a more active race for her seat, with appointments made to fill the vacancy until elections finalize in November.
The six finalists for the appointment to District 5 include:
1. James M. Bourey, executive director of the Seattle Architecture Foundation and former city manager.
2. Katy Haima, community planning manager for the City of Seattle.
3. Nilu Jenks, who previously ran for the D5 seat.
4. Debora Juarez, former councilmember.
5. Julie Kang, director of professional and continuing education at Seattle University.
6. Robert D. Wilson, Amazon senior product manager and former Navy service member.
Juarez’s reference to herself as a “caretaker” indicates her intention to avoid running for a full term in 2026; however, such statements are not binding.
Council President Nelson has indicated a preference for a candidate willing to seek election for the office.
This mirrors an earlier strategy when they appointed Tanya Woo in 2024, although that plan backfired when Woo lost her subsequent election bid.
Before her departure in 2023, Juarez exhibited signs of frustration with the role, expressing discomfort with the critiques from the public and protests.
In 2020, demonstrators protesting police brutality targeted her home, an event that her allies described as intimidation.
As a council member with a more centrist orientation, Juarez frequently found herself on the losing side of votes, especially after the progressives shifted the council’s dynamics during her second term.
Now that centrists possess a majority, she might find the job less contentious.
Representing a diverse city of over 816,600 residents remains a challenge for anyone.
Juarez’s application for the position emphasized her contributions toward enhancing civic infrastructure throughout her tenure.
“I championed efforts to improve our City’s infrastructure, foster economic mobility, and increase our stock of affordable housing,” she outlined in her submission.
Her support for the Seattle Center arena renovation led to what is now the Climate Pledge Arena, an achievement that has received positive public feedback.
Despite facing criticism for her vote on an alley vacation in SoDo tied to an arena proposal, her focus on the city-owned site proved beneficial in retrospect, as citizens now enjoy a modern sports arena.
Additionally, she played a pivotal role in establishing the Kraken Community Iceplex in District 5, which has been hailed as a source of economic development and job creation.
In terms of women’s sports, Juarez contributed to the Seattle Storm’s first dedicated practice facility in the U.S., demonstrating her commitment to supporting professional women’s athletics.
Her leadership on the Sound Transit Board has been influential as well, particularly in advocating for an accelerated timeline to open the 130th Street/Pinehurst Station.
Initially slated for 2031, her efforts have successfully pushed that timeline forward, allowing for the station’s opening in 2026.
To enhance connectivity between Northgate Station, North Seattle College, and other areas, Juarez was instrumental in securing funding for the John Lewis Memorial Bridge, which debuted in 2021.
Her approach to housing has exemplified a commitment to inclusivity as well, as she has championed land use modifications that permit diverse housing types to accommodate residents of varying income levels.
Juarez voted in favor of the Mandatory Housing Affordability upzones enacted in 2019, a policy aimed at increasing affordable housing citywide.
However, she expressed reluctance regarding taxation policies targeting wealthy corporations, notably voting against the Jumpstart corporate payroll tax in 2020.
While the city relied on this tax revenue amid the pandemic, Juarez’s vote distinguishes her stance from a majority of her colleagues.
The coming weeks will determine whether Juarez returns to the council, where her past experience could prove pivotal in guiding the council during its ongoing struggles.
image source from：theurbanist
