Seattle Councilman Rob Johnson Won't Run For Reelection

SEATTLE, WA - Seattle Councilman Rob Johnson won't seek reelection in 2019 after serving just one term. Johnson said in a statement he wants to "hold the door open" for someone else to take the seat.

Here's the statement Johnson released Thursday:

"By working closely with constituents, community partners, my dedicated staff, and Council colleagues I am proud of what we have been able to achieve. The passage of Sound Transit 3, Housing, and our Families, Education, Preschool & Promise levies, Mandatory Housing Affordability, equitable development funding for new affordable housing, #fix65, a new Seattle Arena and a renovated Magnuson Park Community Center are some of the highlights, and I look forward to working just as hard with them in 2019 as I have in my three years prior to make Seattle a more affordable, livable, and transit-connected city.

“While this job has been more humbling and rewarding than I ever could have anticipated back when I took office in 2016, I look forward to spending more time with my family, being an active PTSA member at my girls’ school, and staying active in the civic life of the special city we call home.”

Six candidates have already filed to run in the 2019 Council elections (plus a seventh, Alex Tsimerman, a Council gadfly), but no one has stepped up to challenge Johnson in District 4.

Johnson was among the Council members who voted to repeal the head tax earlier this year after it was in effect for less than a month. If it had stayed in place, the head tax would've funded homelessness services.

Johnson's decision not to run in 2019 was first reported Thursday by the Seattle Times. In that article, Johnson said that "homelessness will be a defining issue in 2019," a hint that voters - or potential candidates - might make the head tax an issue in the 2019 election.

You can read more about the other 2019 candidates here.

Image courtesy Seattle City Council