Seattle City Council appointed Deborah Juarez to fill the vacant District 5 seat on July 28, voting 7–1 after adopting a voting procedure for the appointment earlier in the meeting.

Council President Sarah Nelson moved to adopt a voting procedure that would nominate the six finalists as candidates and require five votes to appoint a nominee; the council approved that procedure 8–0. After public comment and brief remarks from council members, the council held a roll-call vote on nominees James Bory, Katie Haima, Nilu Jenks, Deborah Juarez, Julie Kang and Robert Wilson. Council Member Rink cast the lone vote for Nilu Jenks; the other seven council members voted for Juarez. Juarez accepted the appointment and was sworn in during the meeting.

The appointment fills the seat only until a candidate elected and qualified in the November 2026 general election assumes the office. Council President Sarah Nelson said the process being used was the same procedure the council used in prior vacancy appointments and described the steps members would follow during voting. After the clerk called the roll on the voting procedure, Nelson moved the nomination motion and the council proceeded to comment and then to voting.

The public comment period preceding the vote drew 18 in-person speakers and 12 remote speakers; each was given two minutes. Speakers urged support for several different finalists. Many individuals spoke in support of Julie Kang, citing her work in higher education and community organizations; others urged appointment of Nilu Jenks or Robert Wilson. A small-business owner from District 5 told the council repeated break-ins and limited police follow-up have left local merchants asking for more patrols and attention.

Council members framed their comments around several recurring district priorities that influenced their votes. Council Member Teresa Rivera said she was “humbled” by candidates’ willingness to serve and stressed that district residents should guide the selection. Several members emphasized District 5 needs that had been repeatedly raised in meetings and public comments: small-business safety and patrols in commercial corridors, missing sidewalks and pedestrian safety, transportation planning along Aurora and light-rail access, housing affordability and services for people experiencing homelessness including substance-use treatment.

After the roll-call vote concluded, Council President Nelson invited Juarez to the dais. The city clerk administered the oath of office; Juarez said she accepted the appointment. In brief remarks after being sworn in, Deborah Juarez thanked tribal leaders, labor, business and nonprofit partners and district residents. “I’m not the smartest person. I’ve just lived longer,” Juarez said, adding that leadership is shared across many people and groups.

The council adjourned after completing the appointment; members noted the council will meet again on July 29 at 2 p.m.