Summary

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the nomination of Seattle Councilmember Debora Juarez to fill the open Sound Transit board seat vacated by former Councilmember Rob Johnson. The term of the appointment expires at the end of the year.

Story

Executive Constantine named Seattle Councilmember Debora Juarez to the 18-member Sound Transit board, filling the seat formerly held by Rob Johnson, who resigned from the Seattle City Council effective April 5.

The appointment expires at the end of the year.

Councilmember Juarez, an enrolled citizen of the Blackfeet Nation, represents North Seattle’s City Council District 5. She was a strong advocate for the inclusion of a Link light rail station at 130th Street in the successful Sound Transit 3 ballot measure in 2016.

As a councilmember, Councilmember Juarez has been involved with several major regional capital projects, which will help inform her work on the Sound Transit board. In addition, Councilmember Juarez championed equitable transit-oriented development, which will bring new affordable housing and jobs to Northgate.

With heavy Sound Transit construction slated for North King County and South Snohomish County in the coming years, Executive Constantine believes the area would be well-served with a strong local voice on the Sound Transit Board.

The Juarez nomination now goes to the King County Council for approval.