Seattle (November 4, 2021) – Mayor Jenny A. Durkan issued the following statement regarding the election of Mayor-Elect Harrell:
“I’ve extended my sincere congratulations to Mayor-Elect Bruce Harrell. I’ve known Bruce for over 30 years, and I know as Mayor he will work hard for the people of Seattle. Voters showed their commitment to a just and hopeful future for all Seattle residents. I know Bruce wants every family to thrive in Seattle. He will bring people together to tackle the tough challenges we face on COVID-19, homelessness, public safety, and climate change. I hope all of Seattle joins to support him in these critical times.
“Over the last 20 months, Seattle has faced the greatest challenges of our history, and our next Mayor will need to be prepared to tackle the current and unforeseen challenges on January 1, 2022. In recent months, our office has worked on a detailed transition plan for the next Mayor and will work closely together with the Mayor-Elect towards a seamless transition for the businesses and residents of this great city and for our 12,000 incredible city employees. We will make sure Bruce can successfully begin this important transition now.
“We cannot afford to take our foot off the gas, and in these final months, I’ll continue our work for Seattle by making new investments in affordable housing, addressing the City’s largest encampments by opening new 24/7 shelter, continuing to build a balanced and effective approach to public safety, finalizing the 2022 budget, and providing boosters and vaccinations for our kids. This critical transition will help ensure that we keep the West Seattle bridge repair on track, implement our climate actions, deliver on our investments in BIPOC communities, and support our small businesses and neighborhoods in recovery.
“I want to thank Council President Lorena González for her years of work for the city and her family for the sacrifices they have made. As a civil rights lawyer, Lorena worked hard to ensure a more just society and continued that work as a strong voice on the City Council. I look forward to working with her these next two months in tackling the challenges we face and on keeping Seattle on a path to a full and equitable recovery. I know the Council President will further her work for justice and the public good, and I look forward to seeing what she will do next to continue to serve Seattle communities.