Post-primary endorsements show growing, diverse support for Harrell’s message of unity and progressive change
SEATTLE – Bruce Harrell’s campaign for Mayor announced a slate of new endorsements from current and former elected officials from Seattle and the Puget Sound region. They join what was already the largest and most diverse group of endorsements of any Seattle Mayoral candidate in the recent primary, and show the growing momentum around Harrell’s campaign.
Today’s endorsements include Seattle area elected officials and leaders including:
- Former Seattle Mayor Charley Royer
- Seattle City Councilmember Debora Juarez
- Seattle City Councilmember Alex Pedersen
- Former Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw
- Former Seattle Councilmember and Interim Mayor Tim Burgess
- Former Seattle Councilmember Richard Conlin
- Seattle Port Commissioner Sam Cho
- Seattle Port Commissioner Fred Felleman
- Woodway Mayor Mike Quinn
- Auburn City Councilmember (and former Chair, Seattle Indian Health Board) Chris Stearns
Royer is the third former elected Mayor endorsing Harrell, joining Norm Rice and Wes Uhlman. Longtime Councilmember Tim Burgess, who served as an interim Mayor in 2017, also endorsed Harrell this week.
“I am honored to join the other former Mayors of Seattle in endorsing Bruce Harrell. Those of us who have occupied the office through good times and bad know what it takes to be the Mayor. Bruce has what it takes,” said Royer, Seattle longest serving Mayor from 1978-1989. “First and foremost, we need a Mayor with the credibility to find and hire a Chief of Police who will work with the Mayor and the community to help the Department change the culture of policing in Seattle. It is the most important hire the Mayor will make. What police professional in the country would want to come to a big city whose Mayor and Council would cut the police budget in half to satisfy its critics? What bright young Seattleite would want to become a police officer in this city? Second, we need a Mayor of the whole city, not just its loudest voices. If Bruce Harrell can do what I know he is capable of, he can and will be the Mayor we need in these difficult times for our City.”
“I am honored to continue building support from leaders throughout Seattle and the region,” said Harrell. “In order to address challenges of homelessness, public safety and economic recovery, we will need collaboration, teamwork, and a focus on results. With the confidence of so many fellow Democrats and leading policymakers, I know we can bring positive change and an end to the divisiveness in City Hall.”
These new endorsements add to the already long list of Democratic and local leaders supporting Harrell, including:
- Congressman Adam Smith
- Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland
- Governor Gary Locke (fmr.)
- State Senator Reuven Carlyle (D-36)
- State Senator Jamie Pedersen (D-43)
- State Senator Jesse Salomon (D-32)
- State Representative Cindy Ryu (D-32)
- State Representative Steve Bergquist (D-11)
- State Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos (D-37)
- State Representative and former Speaker of the House John Lovick (D-44)
- Former State Rep. Gael Tarleton (D-36)
- King County Assessor John Wilson
- Former County Councilmember Larry Gossett
- Port Commissioner Peter Steinbrueck
- Former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice
- Former Seattle Mayor Wes Uhlman
- Former Seattle Councilmember Abel Pacheco
- Former Seattle Councilmember Tom Rasmussen
- School Board Member Brandon Hersey
- Former School Board Member Betty Patu
- Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards
- Kenmore Councilmember Corina Pfeil
- Renton Councilmember Ed Prince
- Tukwila Councilmember De’Sean Quinn
