In an unusual move in Seattle politics six of the former candidates for the Seattle City Council District 1 seat have joined together to endorse Maren Costa over her opponent Rob Saka.

Costa and Saka finished first and second in the primary election and will face one another in the general election on November 7.

The former candidates write:

An Open Letter to Seattle’s District One Residents,

We, the undersigned, Seattle City Council District One candidates, proud residents of West Seattle, passionate believers in the future of our great city, hereby endorse our one-time opponent Maren Costa to be the next Seattle City Council member representing District One.

We endorse Maren for the same reason we sought the office; we love Seattle and we want to see it thrive.

Over these intense past five months of campaigning, Maren has shown herself to be a serious, caring, quick study. Her growth on the campaign trail was evident to all of us. She found her voice in the truest sense. She learned how to be real in public, and we can attest, that is no small feat. At every forum, debate or community event, Maren was there - showing up with authenticity, humor and self-effacing charm. What you see is what you get; no "consultancy speak” - just Maren.

She has experience fighting for justice and a better world. She has management skills and a healthy dollop of guile gleaned in the cutthroat grind of high tech. She has the persistence and patience of a parent and a partner.

This group endorsement is more notable because some of us have non-trivial policy differences with Maren on some of the issues that dominated this campaign season. But, in spite of those differences, we believe Maren’s openness, transparency and candor make her more likely than her general election opponent to be a successful collaborator on the Seattle City Council.

Onward,

 

Philip Tavel

District Court Judge

 

Preston Anderson

LICSW, MPA

 

Stephen Brown

President, Eltana Bagels

 

Lucy Barefoot

Outreach Specialist, Office of the Secretary of State of Washington

 

Mia Jacobsen 

Longshoreman