Former Seattle council member returns to fill seat left by Cathy Moore

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The Seattle City Council on Monday appointed former council peer Debora Juarez replace Cathy Moore, who resigned in June.

The appointment is effective immediately and will last until November 2026, when voters will choose for the remainder of the term through 2027. Juarez has said she serve in a caretaker role until a new council member is elected.

During the longtime Lake City resident's two terms on the council, she chaired the committee that oversaw the redevelopment of the city-owned Seattle Center sports and entertainment venue into Climate Pledge Arena. She also led the effort to open the 130th Street/Pinehurst light rail station, set to open in 2026, years ahead of schedule.

Juarez, the first Native American elected to the council, is a centrist who leveraged her role in the arena project to lobby the Seattle Kraken to build its three-rink Community Iceplex and team practice facility at Northgate Station, the new name of the mall.

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2025/07/28/debora-juarez-seattle-city-council-cathy-moore.html

[LisaM]

1. Not a huge fan. I live in that Northgate neighborhood.

It's unrecognizable, rents have soared, construction is endless, shopping has disappeared, the ice rinks don't serve the neighborhood, and walkability has completely vanished. This is particularly disappointing because she herself has a disability and should prioritize being able to get around in the neighborhood. I used to like living here, there were lots of buses, I could walk to the mall and do most shopping, and I could go through the mall to get to the other end and access the stores over there. Now it's a nightmare and infrastructure is not keeping up with the influx of residents. The Pinehurst station will exacerbate the problem. Trains are full when they get to the Northgate station as it is and 90 percent of trips seem to involve a cumbersome transfer.