There are many within Seattle’s progressive establishment who want you to believe that things are improving with the city’s crime, drug, and homeless problems.  Yet a resignation letter from yet another departing Seattle police lieutenant (600+ officers have now left the SPD) provides a reality check and asserts that due to city council policies, Seattle is now a “hotbed for crime and anarchy.”

Lieutenant Jessica Taylor wrote a lengthy and impassioned departing message in which she placed much of the blame for the city’s current condition on the Seattle City Council. Taylor wrote that current councilmembers’ “priority seems to be playing politics and pandering to radical ideologies, rather than genuinely serving the best interests of the city and its residents. Their absurd policies have turned Seattle into a playground for anarchists and criminals.”

Lt. Taylor’s statements are the latest warning that change is needed on the Seattle City Council.

There is still plenty of time for you to become active in this year’s council races and be part of the solution to reverse the deteriorating direction of the City of Seattle.

This year the seven council seats are up for election. Four of the seven current councilmembers (Herbold in the 1^st District, Sawant in the 3^rd, Pedersen in the 4^th, and Juarez in the 5^th) all declined to run for re-election (most likely due to voters expressing displeasure with recent council policy decisions).  

With a majority of council seats open, and with strong challengers running against the three incumbents seeking re-election (Morales in the 2^nd District, Strauss in the 6^th, and Lewis in the 7^th), there is a great opportunity to change the makeup of the council.  We have the opportunity to move away from a city council who passed radical anti-police measures and opposed prosecuting those who possessed illegal, lethal drugs. 

Uniquely, in each of the seven general election contests there is a council candidate who received a primary endorsement from the “mainstream” Seattle Times versus a candidate who was endorsed by the “radical” Seattle Stranger.  

Below are the final vote totals and voter turnout percentage in each council race, along with which candidate was endorsed by the Times or The Stranger. Each candidate’s name is linked to their campaign website.

City Council District #1 (West Seattle) – 36.2% Turnout

Maren Costa 33.1% (Stranger)

Rob Saka 24.1% (Times)

City Council District #2 (Southeast Seattle) – 30.6% Turnout

*Tammy Morales 52.3% (Stranger)

Tanya Woo 42.6 (Times)

City Council District #3 (Capitol Hill) – 36.3% Turnout

Joy Hollingsworth 36.9% (Times)

Alex Hudson 36.5% (Stranger)

City Council District #4 (Northeast Seattle) – 37.8% Turnout

Ron Davis 44.8% (Stranger)

Maritza Rivera 31.8% (Times)

City Council District #5 (North Seattle) – 35.3% Turnout

Cathy Moore 30.7% (Times)

ChrisTiana ObeySumner 24.5% (Stranger)

City Council District #6 (Northwest Seattle) – 40.6% Turnout

*Dan Strauss 51.8% (Stranger)

Pete Hanning 29.3% (Times)

City Council District 7 (Downtown and Queen Anne) 32.6% Turnout

*Andrew Lewis 43.5% (Stranger)

Bob Kettle 31.5% (Times)

*Denotes incumbent

Only 30% of Seattle voters participated in the August Primary. That means we have the ability to help an additional 70% of our neighbors understand what’s at stake and how they can make a difference. 

As we have often seen over the years, moderate voters will significantly increase their numbers in the general election. Thus, it appears that the 2023 elections could bring much needed change to the Seattle City Council.

But this change will not happen if those of us who seek an end to extremist policies, sit on our hands while the radicals are campaigning hard to obtain votes.

You can help end the massive exodus of well-trained police officers. You can ensure drug dealers will be prosecuted for possessing and distributing fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine (and stop nearly four people a day from dying from overdoses). And you can end homelessness policies in which more homeless people die than obtain permanent housing.

So, help get those moderates voting this November. Send them this article and resources about the candidates. Help them learn about which candidates want to take Seattle in extreme directions. And let’s stop that from happening.