By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Today, the Seattle City Council appointed Mark A. Solomon to fill the City Council District 2 seat vacated by Tammy Morales, who resigned on January 6, 2025, with two years remaining in her term. After five rounds of voting, Solomon secured the necessary majority of five votes, earning the opportunity to represent one of Seattle’s most diverse districts, encompassing areas from Yesler Terrace to Rainier Beach in Central and Southeast Seattle.
“I’m honored that I was selected by this council to serve beside them,” Solomon said after his appointment. “My commitment to the district has never wavered. And as I said before, I am all about getting the work done, then speechifying it, so let’s get to work.”
Solomon, who serves as a Precinct Crime-Prevention Coordinator in the South Precinct, has a long-standing record of civic engagement. Known for his leadership in addressing gun violence and public safety, Solomon has spearheaded initiatives that improved safety and reduced crime in neighborhoods like Rainier Beach and Columbia City. This appointment marks a significant milestone for Solomon, who had previously run for the District 2 seat in 2019 but lost to Morales.
“I’m really all about serving this community, getting things done, and working with the Council to make life better for the City of Seattle and the residents of District 2,” Solomon said.
Seattle City Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1), who supported Solomon throughout the voting process, says that he is eager to start working with him on the Council.
“I want to thank each of the six finalists who stepped forward to serve District 2 and beyond. All were exceptionally well-qualified. I look forward to working with Mark Solomon, who will be a strong, collaborative, and compassionate leader, as we tackle hugely important issues in the coming year,” Saka said.
Solomon’s appointment will last until November, when voters will elect someone to serve the remaining two years of Morales’s term.
Solomon was selected from a list a five finalists for the position, including:
• Adonis E. Ducksworth: A Rainier Beach resident and member of Mayor Bruce Harrell’s office since 2023.
• Chukundi Salisbury: A 28-year veteran of city government who manages environmental education programs and advocates for marginalized communities.
• Thaddaeus James Gregory: A land-use lawyer from Seward Park with expertise in urban planning.
• Edward Chia Lin: An attorney with the City Attorney’s Office since 2017, focused on making a direct community impact.
• Hong Chhuor: A Cambodian refugee with 15 years in Seattle, known for grassroots advocacy and political organizing.
Community activist Chukundi Salisbury, who was in the running for the vacant seat as well, says that now more than ever is the time for everyone in the community to get involved in the political process.
“As we enter into Trump 2.0, it’s going to be important for everybody to take an active interest in not only national but local politics,” Salisbury said. “Democracy is a full participation sport, and we need everybody involved and reading the stuff and coming to meetings like I do. You can’t just opt out. We need people to opt-in.”
Source: Seattle Medium
