Seattle City Council Expected To Coronate Conservative Former Council Member Debora Juarez For District 5 Appointment

If you live in North Seattle, you’re about to get a new City Council Member! And guess what? You have no say in it!

Council Member Cathy Moore served her last day on the Seattle City Council, just a year and a half into her term, on July 7, after a shock resignation last month following her very unpopular (and failed) effort to lower ethical standards to give her long awaited renters rights rollbacks a better shot of passing. She leaves her council colleagues to appoint a new member for the third time since the new pro-business majority took over in 2023.

On Friday, the City released the 22 applicants submitted for the vacant seat in District 5, which includes Crown Hill, Maple Leaf, Northgate, Pinehurst, Lake City, Bitter Lake and other northern neighborhoods. And, as The Burner predicted hours before Moore even announced her resignation, former Council Member Debora Juarez put her name in the hat.

Her application surprised some. Juarez openly hated her job during the two terms she sat on the council. The long, drawn out thank yous, the virtue signaling resolutions, the rowdy public commenters, the obligation to speak with media, the constituent services — she wasn't too into any of it. But Juarez addresses her unexpected return in her application.

“The question I am sure many are asking is, ‘why return?’” Juarez wrote. “It's simple: I was called to serve. I understand the challenges our city currently faces -from housing affordability to public safety to protecting residents from the harms of the Trump Administration and federal funding cuts. I am ready to step in immediately and work alongside my fellow Councilmembers to ensure that our city remains a vibrant, welcoming, and innovative place for all residents.”

But she wouldn't hang around for too long. Juarez wrote that she wants to bring her “Elder Auntie” experience to the position as a temporary caretaker until the City elects a new council member.

Apparently Juarez has the gig locked up, according to City Hall insiders. Enough council members have seemingly lined up behind her to secure her the appointment. Makes sense — she shares the current majority's obsession with “civility” and their conservative bent.

Still, the council will have to go through the song and dance of the appointment process. In that process they will also bet 21 other applicants including failed City Council candidates Nilu Jenks and Shane Macomber and Brandon Monson, whose already printed stickers to run for the seat in the next election.

Juarez's appointment, while it won't lead to better, more progressive policy outcomes, could result in some lawls and memes. Juarez “adult in the room” attitude will certainly threaten Council President Sara Nelson's authority (she's already so incompetent and hard to take seriously), which could lead to some internally tense and externally hilarious moments on the dais. And hey, maybe we will get a Nelson crashout to use against her during her reelection bid! Trying to find the bright side!