Director Vivian Song Maritz Has Some Hard Thinking To Do

Kids, since I left Seattle, I confessed I haven't much kept up with Seattle politics. So I paid no attention to the recent City Council races. But The Stranger Slog this morning had some interesting news, namely, that current City Councilperson Teresa Mosqueda announced that she will be leaving her position in January 2024 to take some other position on the King County Council. 

So who might replace her? Looks like current school board director Vivian Song Maritz is on the list of possibilities.  From The Stranger story:

Mosqueda told The Stranger she will likely resign the first week of January, handing the incoming council the responsibility of appointing a replacement. 

Given the results on election night, when conservative council candidates blew the lukewarm progressive slate out of the water, council hot-shot Sara Nelson will have the numbers to elevate her alleged pick, KING 5 evening news co-host Angela Poe Russell. 

The Process

According to the City Charter, a council member’s resignation triggers a 20-day clock for the council to fill the vacant position. If Mosqueda resigns January 2, then that period would begin January 3 and end January 22. During that window, the City will host a few public forums for the applicants to plead their case before the eight members vote. If the council fails to vote in a new appointee by their 20-day deadline, they must meet every single business day to discuss until they reach a decision. 

From the date of the appointment, the new member will fill the vacancy until King County Elections certifies the results of the next election. Whoever wins that election will take office immediately, unlike in typical general elections where the candidate takes office at the beginning of the calendar year. 

Some of the commenters say that the Council should look to people who came in second to Mosequeda which in this case would be one Ken Wilson. 

As well, it was pointed out if Mosqueda resigned BEFORE the new councilmembers come in, you'd likely get a more left-leaning member rather than AFTER the new councilmembers come in because they are likely to pick a more moderate or right-leaning member.

I did have one person suggest to me that maybe Chandra Hampson might throw her name in the ring. That was a pretty funny suggestion. Can you imagine Hampson on the City Council lecturing all the other councilmembers? 

What does Song Maritz say?

Song said she’s gotten plenty of phone calls asking her to apply, so she’s considering it, but it's a “little early” for her to decide.

Quite the decision. So far the votes don't seem to be there for Ben Gitenstein but turnarounds have happened before. If he wins, will Song Maritz stay put, hoping to change the district's course?

If Gitenstein doesn't make it and it's Evan Briggs, then that leaves Song Maritz still in the minority (and that could just be her and Rivera Smith if Topp hangs with the majority). How much fun could that be for the next two years?

Naturally, it's all a big "if" she even gets onto the City Council. But she's doesn't have the baggage that some of the other names have that are being thrown out there. 

Thoughts?