Alexis Mercedes Rink Leads Race for 8th Seattle City Council Seat, Early Results Shown

SEATTLE — Initial election results show that Alexis Mercedes Rink is leading the race to fill Seattle City Council Position 8 over Tanya Wu with 57.32% of the votes.

This position is currently held by businesswoman Wu, who was appointed in January. She filled the vacancy left by King County Councilwoman Teresa Mosqueda. The City Council initially nominated eight candidates for the vacant seat after receiving 72 applications.

Even though Wu had the support of most of the city council, she was trailing Rink in the August primary.

Woo, The fifth-generation Seattle resident has made giving a voice to people and businesses in marginalized communities a centerpiece of her campaign.

She has supported the city’s approach to clearing homeless encampments, such as contracting with the King County Regional Homeless Authority for WSDOT sites, despite criticism from many that removing encampments only moves the tents to another neighborhood while problems persist.

Rink, The University of Washington graduate and Central District resident focused her campaign on equality and resource-rich communities.

She detailed her experience working with the King County Regional Homeless Authority to create a severe weather shelter. Her opponent criticized her for her role in unveiling an expensive housing plan through KCRHA that later fell apart. She admits the independent government agency, which now has a new director general, needs to improve to get more people in need off the streets.

Votes are still being counted and the numbers will be updated to reflect the most recent percentage.