On Tuesday, the eight members of the City Council voted to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, who moved on to the King County Council.
From a list of 72 applicants, a majority of the Council chose Tanya Woo, a businesswoman and activist in the Chinatown community who narrowly lost to incumbent Councilmember Tammy Morales in November. Woo secured five votes (from CMs Rob Saka, Bob Kettle, Cathy Moore, Maritza Rivera, and Council President Sara Nelson), while Mari Sugiyama (CM Morales), Linh Thai (CM Hollingsworth), and Vivian Song (CM Strauss) each collected one vote. Woo was selected from a group of eight finalists.
This is a relatively short appointment because the voters will fill the seat in the 2024 general election to fill the final year of the term. Position 8 will also be on the 2025 ballot to fill a full four-year term.
Councilmember Woo is expected to run to keep the seat. If four or fewer candidates run in the 2024 election, all candidates will be on the general election ballot. The seat will also be on the primary ballot if more than four candidates file.
