Debora Juarez Elected Seattle City Council President, First Indigenous Council President in City History

SEATTLE, WA – Councilmember Debora Juarez (District 5 – North Seattle) was elected Council President by a unanimous vote of her colleagues during the first council meeting of the New Year.

The Council Presidency is a two-year term. The President serves as the presiding officer of the Council, sets the Council agenda, assigns legislation to committees, and is the primary point of contact for external agencies. The Council President also assumes the duties and responsibilities of the Executive if the Mayor is absent from the City or incapacitated.

“It’s time for our city to heal and move forward to address our most pressing issues: restructuring our community safety system; restoring our public spaces; providing services to those experiencing homelessness; building affordable housing; and working with tribal governments to promote economic vitality,” said Juarez. “We do this by refocusing our city on what government does well – a common-sense approach, working in tandem with the Mayor, that will restore trust and confidence in our government.”

Entering 2022, Councilmember Juarez has now worked for 35 years on behalf of the people of Washington state, King County, Seattle, and Coast Salish peoples. 

“I want to build stronger relationships between the city and tribal governments, the original peoples of this land, to generate economic prosperity,” said Juarez. “Tribal investment and a strong partnership will help our city and our region continue to grow.”

Councilmember Juarez has lived in District 5 for over 30 years and resides in the Lake City neighborhood of Pinehurst. She was elected to represent District 5 in 2015 and was at that time the first and only Native American elected to the Seattle City Council. Juarez was re-elected in 2019.