On Friday, July 11, a list of 22 qualified applicants with completed application materials was released on the Council Vacancy webpage. The District 5 seat was vacated by Councilmember Cathy Moore. From this pool, council members selected six finalists under the guidance of the City Clerk.
To facilitate community engagement, the Council has appointed Unified Outreach to organize a public forum featuring the finalists. This event will allow residents to hear from the candidates prior to the final selection. Participation in the public forum and a Special Council Meeting on July 22 is mandatory for all finalists as part of the process to fill the Council vacancy.
The public forum is set for Monday, July 21, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Auditorium, Room LB 1207, located on the first floor of the Library Building at North Seattle College, 9600 College Way North, Seattle. Moderators for the event will be Ed Dumas, Executive Director of Unified Outreach, and April Goode, Operations Manager.
Community members wishing to attend the forum can request interpretation services, translations, or disability accommodations as needed. The event will also be streamed live on the Seattle Channel.
The vacancy was created by the resignation of Councilmember Cathy Moore, effective July 7, 2025. According to the City Charter, the Council has a deadline of 20 calendar days to fill the vacant position, which expires on July 28. The newly appointed council member will serve until the certification of the 2026 General Election results and the swearing-in of a successful candidate.
The Council plans to interview the finalists on July 22, with a vote on the final appointment anticipated to occur on July 28. The chosen candidate must secure a simple majority of five votes from the Council to be appointed.
