by Misa Murohashi, the North American Post
Seattle City Council President Bruce Harell announced on January 8th that he will not seek re-election when his term expires at the end of this year. “I have been honored to serve the people of Seattle and thank the many community partners, city employees, organizations, family, and friends who began this journey with me in 2007 and have worked with me to make our city better. My goal has always been to serve with integrity and compassion,” Harrell said in a news release.
In 2007, Harrell was elected to the City Council, emerging from a field of five candidates who ran for the open seat vacated by Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck. In 2011 and 2015, Harrell was re-elected. He has chaired various committees including the Governance, Equity, and Technology Committee and the Human Services, Equitable Development, and Renter Rights Committee.
Harrell’s mother was interned with other Japanese Americans during WWII and his father came to Seattle from a segregated South. Raised in Seattle, Harrell graduated from Garfield High and played football for the University of Washington.
Harrell’s announcement came a day after Tammy Morales announced she would run for Harrell’s South Seattle district this year. Morales ran against Harrell in 2015, losing by only 344 votes. Harrel said he will remain an engaged community leader to create a more vibrant, healthy, and just society after his work as council member ends.
