Seattle councilman Mike O’Brien gets challenger

Seattle City Councilman Mike O’Brien, who represents District 6 that covers Northwest Seattle, is facing a challenge from Chris Rufo.

RELATED: Ballard gears up for Mike O’Brien town hall

This month Rufo filed to run against O’Brien and put $10,000 behind his candidacy for the position, which includes Ballard, Fremont, Green Lake, Greenwood and Phinney Ridge.

Rufo is a documentary filmmaker who also is a member of the Opportunity for All Coalition, and he was a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the city of Seattle’s municipal income tax.

The Rufo for City Council Committee filed with the Ethics and Elections Commission on Sept. 17. The $10,000 was deposited the following day and posted Sept. 24.

O’Brien, who also is on the Sierra Club board of directors, started his current term in 2016 and has been in office since 2010.

KIRO 7 reporter Rob Munoz contacted O’Brien by email Wednesday for comment regarding the city’s homeless crisis and issues Rufo put forth.

“I’m not going to comment today, but obviously there is lots on my record on these issues,” O’Brien responded through his campaign email. “I will likely not be starting up my campaign until after the first of the year, but feel free to contact me here for any campaign related questions.”

O’Brien is one of seven city council members up for reelection on November 5, 2019.

The others up for reelection next year are Lisa Herbold (District 1), Bruce Harrell (District 2), Kshama Sawant (District 3), Rob Johnson (District 4), Deborah Juarez (District 5) and Sally Bagshaw (District 7).

No other challengers have filed to run.

Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest