After almost 10 years of service, Seattle City Council Member Sally Clark says it’s time for her to start a new chapter.
Clark announced she will not seek reelection. Her decision follows similar announcements by council members Tom Rasmussen and Nick Licata.
The city is moving from at-large council seats to having seven of the nine council members represent a specific geographical area, or district. Professor David Domke, who studies political science and communications at the University of Washington, says this shift is attracting a lot of candidates who probably wouldn’t have run in a city-wide race.
“If you’re going to run in a district that represents a portion of the city, then I think you’re somebody who is well-known in a neighborhood, or maybe at your school, maybe at a community organization and you don’t have to have nearly the breadth or depth of engagement with the broader populace. And I think that lends itself to many more people running,” Domke said.
So far, there are more than 30 candidates vying for district seats. A few are incumbents, but most are new names and faces. District 1, which covers West Seattle, is the most crowded race so far with eight people running.
May 15 is the deadline to declare candidacy with King County Elections.
