(Image: City of Seattle)

Debora Juarez was elected to the Seattle City Council twice.

Tuesday, she began her third term after the council appointed her to represent North Seattle and complete the open term through November 2026.

“Representing District 5 was a great honor when I was elected twice and for some reason this feels much more emotional,” Juarez said after taking the Oath of Office following Tuesday’s appointment. “For that I thank you. I raise my hands.”

Juarez joined the first district-based council after election in 2016. Six years later, she was part of a ripple of council incumbents opting not to run to keep their seats after a contentious term that included COVID-19, the 2020 protests, and withering attacks from District 3 representative Kshama Sawant.

CHS reported here on this summer’s selection process as the experienced Juarez emerged as the obvious choice to represent District 5 following the resignation of Cathy Moore.

Juarez will take up Moore’s committee assignments including serving as chair of the House and Human Services Committee and vice chair positions on the Select Committee on Federal Administration and Policy Changes, and Sustainability, City Light, Arts & Culture.

She is also likely to hold similar takes as Moore on legislation as the council heads into what will be a challenging fall budget season facing ongoing shortfalls, economic uncertainty, and new proposals for revenue including a proposed overhaul of the city’s B&O tax encompassing a proposed four-year tax break for small businesses coupled with a boost in the tax on the city’s largest companies. Proposals to boost the city’s sales tax to help pay for public safety are also likely to be on the table.

Seattle City Hall is preparing for planned 8% cuts to departments supported by the city’s General Fund and payroll tax on its largest employers. The Seattle Police Department and all “public safety related” departments are preparing for a 2% slash. The city’s spending on homelessness could also be similarly cut.

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