Seattle’s Tim Burgess leaving city council after 2017

Seattle Council Member Tim Burgess will spend his final year on the council in 2017, and not seek re-election.

Burgess announced on his personal Facebook page that he will not seek re-election in 2017.

After considerable and, frankly, agonizing thought, and after multiple conversations with my family, I’ve decided not to seek re-election to the City Council in 2017. In the end, it was clear to me and Joleen that its time for someone else to fill my seat. I’ve been elected citywide three times and will have served 10 years at the end of this term next December. When my term ends, I will be just a couple months short of 69. Time turn my focus to the next chapter for Joleen and me.

What an honor is has been to serve the people of Seattle. I look forward to continuing that service for another year and beyond in some capacity.

Tim Burgess has often stood apart on the council, offering a dissenting voice on controversial issues. While he gained unanimous support for ordinances like the gun sales tax he spearheaded, he also made stands in opposition to his colleagues. He did not support the recent homeless camping ordinance; he also supported the construction of a north Seattle police precinct that was ultimately de-funded by the council; and he favored the Pronto bike share program as much as others on the dais.

Burgess occupies the Position 8 seat on the city council. It is one of two seats that are voted on citywide in Seattle’s seven district system.

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