Seattle City Council appoints Mark Solomon to fill District 2 seat

Seattle City Council appointed Mark Solomon to the District 2 seat on Jan. 27, 2025, by a 5-3 roll-call vote after several rounds of balloting and a public-comment period that included more than a dozen supporters for multiple finalists.

The appointment fills the vacancy until a candidate in the November 2025 general election for District 2 is elected and qualified. Council President Sarah Nelson moved the voting procedure the council used for the appointment and later led the roll-call votes that produced the appointment.

The council convened a special meeting and opened an extended public-comment period. The clerk reported 10 in-person speakers and five remote speakers; commenters endorsed several of the six finalists (Hung Chua; Adonis Duxworth; Thaddeus Gregory; Edward “Eddie” Lynn; Chikunde Salisbury; and Mark Solomon). Supporters of Solomon, who emphasized public-safety and community partnerships, included Lisa Nitsa of Nitsa Stegan, who told the council she had worked with Solomon for years and described him as “completely devoted to serving the public good” and skilled at “building inclusive partnerships.” Other speakers voiced support for Edward Lynn, Thaddeus Gregory, Adonis Duxworth and Chikunde Salisbury during the public-comment period.

Councilmembers discussed a range of selection criteria before voting, including whether an appointee should act as a caretaker until voters decide in November, land-use and housing expertise needed for the year ahead, and representation for the Chinatown–International District and other neighborhoods. Several councilmembers said they weighed experience, community ties and readiness to assume committee work immediately.

Council President Sarah Nelson moved to adopt a written voting procedure for the appointment and the council approved that procedure in a roll-call vote (8–0). The council then nominated all six finalists and conducted successive roll-call rounds. After three rounds without any nominee reaching the five-vote threshold, the council amended the procedure to eliminate nominees who received two or fewer votes in a round; the amended procedure passed unanimously (8–0).

Voting rounds recorded on the public record:

- Early rounds: Mark Solomon consistently received the largest share but did not reach the five-vote threshold in the first two rounds (Round 1: Solomon 4, Duxworth 2, Lynn 1, Salisbury 1; Round 2: Solomon 4, Duxworth 2, Lynn 1, Salisbury 1). Round 3 produced Solomon 4, Duxworth 3, Salisbury 1.

- Final round (head-to-head): In the final roll call between Mark Solomon and Adonis Duxworth, the council voted as follows: Councilmember Saka — Mark Solomon; Councilmember Strauss — Adonis Duxworth; Councilmember Hollingsworth — Mark Solomon; Councilmember Kettle — Adonis Duxworth; Councilmember Moore — Mark Solomon; Councilmember Rink — Adonis Duxworth; Councilmember Rivera — Mark Solomon; Council President Sarah Nelson — Mark Solomon. That produced a 5–3 result in favor of Solomon.

Mark Solomon accepted the appointment at the dais and was administered the oath of office by City Clerk Sherine Dedmon. After taking the oath, Solomon said he was “here to be of service” to District 2 and to work with colleagues “to make life better for the city of Seattle and for the residents of District 2.”

The selection followed an extended public-comment period in which residents and community leaders presented personal statements and endorsements for several finalists. The council’s discussion on criteria emphasized the coming year’s workload — notably land-use and housing issues connected to the city’s comprehensive plan work — and whether the appointee should be a caretaker or a candidate who intends to run in the November election. Several councilmembers said they expected to see the winner stand for election if they chose to continue in the role.

No legislation, ordinances or budget items were adopted in connection with the appointment. The council adjourned after completing the nomination and oath process.