Seattle City Council President Debora Juarez won’t seek reelection

Council spokesperson Dana Robinson-Slote confirmed to Crosscut that Juarez doesn’t intend to run for re-election subsequent yr. Robinson-Slote wrote, “It’s a dialog that has been underway for a while now, and each her time period of service and in a management capability will conclude subsequent yr, 2023.”

Juarez, who represents North Seattle’s fifth District, was first elected to the Metropolis Council in 2015 and re-elected in 2019. She is a member of the Blackfeet Nation and, when chosen by her colleagues to function council president in January 2022, turned the primary Indigenous girl to carry the place.

Juarez has lengthy advocated for tribal rights in her authorized profession and authorities work. She has represented almost each tribe in Washington as an legal professional for Evergreen Authorized Providers’ Native American Mission. She later served as a King County Superior Courtroom and Seattle Municipal Courtroom pro-tem decide earlier than she was appointed in 1996 as the manager director of the Governor’s Workplace of Indian Affairs beneath Mike Lowry. 

As council president, Juarez has urged equanimity amongst colleagues and celebrated when council members have been capable of peacefully work via their variations.