UPDATE: District 1 City Councilmember Lisa Herbold announces she’s not running for re-election next year

4:12 PM: In her weekly newsletter/blog post, West Seattle/South Park City Councilmember Lisa Herbold just announced, “I will not be running for re-election in 2023.” She is completing her second term as the first-ever District 1 council representative, elected in 2015 and then re-elected in 2019. Herbold explains her decision in part as follows: “The 2022 elections last month were good for progressives. I feel like it’s time to do my part to create an open seat election in District 1. I believe that an open seat can better drive turnout and deliver District 1 to another progressive. … I love and honor the work the progressive left has done in Seattle and I don’t want to do anything that makes it less likely for a non-progressive to be elected to represent the great District 1. I will continue to represent and advocate for District 1 over the next year. We’ve still got a lot of work to do!” Starting with next year’s election, D-1 covers more ground, such as Georgetown and SODO, because of the recent redistricting. (WSB photo from pre-bridge-reopening event, September)

8:02 PM: We should note that – even before this – we’d been watching the state Public Disclosure Commission website, where campaigns are registered in the early stages, and to date no one has registered a D-1 campaign. As for whether anyone is inspired to jump in based on Herbold’s early announcement, we’ll see next week. We’ve sent inquiries to the two men who challenged Herbold in the 2019 primaries, Brendan Kolding and Phil Tavel, to see if either is considering running again.

10:02 PM: We’ve heard back from Tavel, who says:

I have never lost my desire to serve this city, and even before Lisa’s announcement, this was a topic of conversation at our family dinner table. I truly wish the best for Lisa Herbold and I thank her for her service. I will say that I have been humbled by the number of people who have reached out to me today to ask if I intend to run, or to encourage me to run. At this point, I have not made any official decisions. Stay tuned. I do hope for a warm, safe and joyous holiday season for everyone.

In 2015, Tavel finished third in a nine-candidate primary, behind Herbold and Shannon Braddock; in 2019, he made it to the general against Herbold, with 44% to her 56%.

ADDED 11:56 PM: We’ve also now heard back from Kolding, who says:

I ran for City Council in 2019 because I felt called to lead. Seattle was experiencing crises in the areas of homelessness and public safety and I sought to introduce a new approach to these issues. During the campaign, I was inspired by the support I received. Although I did not make it out of the primary, I established myself as a viable candidate. There are people in this community who look to me for leadership, and that is something I take very seriously.

The issues that inspired me to run four years ago remain. I am frustrated by the glacial pace at which our region is responding to the homelessness crisis. I am saddened by the SPD staffing crisis and have taken great offense to the manner in which some members of the Council have treated police officers over these last few years. I am also sensitive to the struggles our small business community has faced. I am committed to doing what I can to solve these issues. Whether that be by running for office in 2023 or by supporting another reasonable candidate remains to be seen. Either way, I will be actively involved with the next election and vocal in local media.

I wish Councilmember Herbold all the best in her future endeavors. She and I do not see eye-to-eye on much, but we hold and defend our values with equal fervor. The solution to the problems our city is facing is for people of differing ideologies to seek to understand each other and to collaborate for the common good.

Adam December 9, 2022 (4:16 pm)

Well there ya go, I never thought I’d agree with any of her political moves, but this I can support!

Eb Scrooge December 10, 2022 (2:16 am)

There really is a Santa Claus!!
Byenow December 10, 2022 (4:13 pm)

Great news indeed. She was a complete hypocrite.
- BP December 13, 2022 (8:13 pm)
  
  So well said by so many!

HTB December 9, 2022 (4:16 pm)

Good news. IMO, a lot of the crime, public disorder and homelessness problems we face can be attributed in part to policies championed by Herbold. I’d love to see a more business and public safety friendly candidate run – a true moderate, in other words. I’m pretty liberal in my convictions but it’s clear that when you push too far in the direction the progressive movement wants to go the results are uniformly dismal.Just my opinion

HoneyBun December 9, 2022 (4:27 pm)

Your description of your feelings is an accurate description of mine too HTB. Thank you for putting it so eloquently into words.
Kadoo December 9, 2022 (5:04 pm)

I concur!
M December 9, 2022 (7:29 pm)

I agree too!
JJ December 10, 2022 (8:37 am)

I like your style!
snowskier December 10, 2022 (9:40 am)

I agree as well. We need a move towards the center.
JunctionResident December 10, 2022 (9:49 am)

Yes, my thoughts too exactly!
KayakGeorge December 11, 2022 (6:03 pm)

I also concur. How ridiculous of Herbold to state “The Progressives did well in the 2022 elections” . .. not in Seattle they didn’t! They lost for Mayor, they lost for the counsel seat-at-wide, and thankfully lost for City Attorney. They are destroying this city that I love and have lived in since 1976. Crime just gets worse ( thanks to the “defund the police” nonsense that Herbold has flip-flopped on ) and after throwing $millions at the homeless problem, things just don’t get much better. I’m guessing she sees the writing on the wall that she’d likely lose if she ran again. Hopefully some more moderate and reasonable candidates will run.
- WSB December 11, 2022 (6:07 pm)
  
  Those elections were in 2021. There were no city elections in 2022 aside from Municipal Court.
  
  In 2022, locally, the more-progressive candidates won for:
  
  King County Prosecutor
  34th District State House #2 and Senate
  34th District House #1 (no incumbent), both finalists had similar positions and both were described as progressive by the Progressive Voters’ Guide; a Republican didn’t make it out of the primary
  Seattle Municipal Court Judges #3 and #7 (the only two that were contested)
  U.S. House 7th District

Anne December 9, 2022 (4:32 pm)

Good.

New Salt December 9, 2022 (4:35 pm)

Funny way of saying “because I have 0 chance of winning after the political landmines I’ve willing walked into the last few years”, but whatever gets the job done I suppose.

T December 9, 2022 (4:35 pm)

Hooray,she’s been a disaster Can she take Mosqueda, Morales and Saw ant with her?

Mark Schletty December 9, 2022 (4:41 pm)

Best news in years.

Odd son December 9, 2022 (4:46 pm)

Good

Aliyah December 9, 2022 (4:55 pm)

Good riddance.

Melissa December 9, 2022 (4:57 pm)

Sorry to see her go. She worked hard on our behalf and she did some great work. I’ve been consistently appalled at the language and attitudes towards her over the last several years.

Johnny Stulic December 9, 2022 (5:32 pm)

Yes, you nailed it. It is language and attitudes toward Herbold that’s the biggest problem in Seattle. Nothing else gets within 50 miles. One thing we can hand to her for sure: she and others drastically expanded her constituency of drug addicted petty criminals and no one else.
T December 9, 2022 (7:29 pm)

Really I’ve been appalled for her lack of response to citizens concerns.If you didn’t agree with her no response.

Question Authority December 9, 2022 (4:57 pm)

Now that the redistricting has taken place any business owners in the Georgetown or Sodo area who also live in the district would never give her a vote due to the crime affecting them.

WS Resident December 9, 2022 (4:59 pm)

It’s a Christmas miracle! This makes these darker days a little brighter.As Willie Wonka said “Adieu. Aufwiedersehen. Gesundheit. Farewell.”

Fiz December 9, 2022 (7:32 pm)

Can she leave now so I can cheer her decision? Lame duck.

Mr J December 9, 2022 (5:03 pm)

She was never a progressive despite what many commenters thought. We need another Sawant on the council.But also a good opportunity for the arm chair experts on here to run for office.

Al King December 9, 2022 (6:08 pm)

Mr J. You’re joking. right??? The VAST majority of us are NOT looking to add to the abject failure that Sawant represents. The Herbold experiment has run its course.
- Brian December 9, 2022 (6:37 pm)
  
  Nah another sawant type would be great.
  - Paul December 9, 2022 (7:05 pm)
    
    As a business owner in this district I strongly disagree. Sawant is a terrible leader. Same with Herbold. I never had 1 of my complaints even addressed. Only got an automatic response that someone would respond. Never heard a thing. And I was polite asking for city help in an area with problems.
Nolan December 9, 2022 (7:05 pm)

Hopefully she’s right and we can fill her seat with an actual progressive.

Herbold’s walkbacks on basic safety — most recently, raiding the budget to give even more money to overfunded and underworked cops rather than actual trained professionals — have left us all worse off while throwing red meat directly to the frothing pack of “law and order” types you see in the comment section.
- wscommuter December 9, 2022 (10:02 pm)
  
  Wow. Just … wow. Thank you for at least self-identifying as a fringe perspective of insanity. “overfunded and underworked cops” … just … wow.
Lauren December 10, 2022 (9:16 am)

Totally agree, Mr J and Nolan.
Tanner December 12, 2022 (7:17 pm)

I made an appt with her and showed how another major city had successfully passed a measure to finance major, shovel-ready capital projects via a temporary, minuscule, increase to their city sales tax. The money is saved and spent once the once the total price tag of the bundle of projects has been met. I gave her the name and number of the City Manager and had prepped him for a potential phone call. During our meeting, I recall her being confused why the property tax wouldn’t just be increased… When she randomly knocked on my door, three years later, asking for my vote to help re-elect her I re-introduced myself and asked why she hadn’t called to the contact to at least learn more. She stammered, said she had, then that said she hadn’t because she had done some “internet research” and felt it wasn’t right for us. I guess…she felt no need to follow-up with the constituent as well. Let’s give careful thought in backfilling Herbold with someone that listens to all voices, perhaps has owned a business and, trivial as it might seem: Follows up.

Mj December 9, 2022 (5:10 pm)

HTB – Agreed

Thank you, I sorely needed some good news.

Scubafrog December 9, 2022 (5:19 pm)

Hopefully a moderate anti-crime, pro-police candidate will step forward in 2023.

Jort December 12, 2022 (2:04 pm)

Lisa already said she wasn’t running.

~Hockeywitch~ December 9, 2022 (5:19 pm)

Good!!! Don’t let the door hit you on the way out… Best news I’ve heard all day.. Now if a few more of them could depart as well, that would be great. Totally agree with HTB’s comment above.

KM December 9, 2022 (5:34 pm)

A nice person and good leader. Responsive and thoughtful. I hope her successor is more progressive.

Mrs. Myrtle December 9, 2022 (5:35 pm)

First the bridge reopens and now this…. Next stop is a Mariners World Series win.

The King December 9, 2022 (6:18 pm)

The Sonics come back and Geno wins the mvp !!!

Alex December 9, 2022 (5:35 pm)

To her credit she did do a few good things for the Fauntleroy community but when you layer on her treatment of the police force (down a third of the force under her watch and you are lucky if the West Precinct has the time to respond), her backpedaling and surprise when she tried to explain her role in Chief Best’s resignation, her disdain for landlords and the business community. Is it possible to find a centrist in West Seattle who can win?

K December 9, 2022 (6:29 pm)

Durkan was responsible for the debacle that was the SPD response to the 2020 protests. Best could have pushed back against Durkan’s idiocy, but instead chose to go along with it and then played the victim when it blew up in her face. Good riddance to both of them. The City Council (none of them–progressive, moderate, or conservative) is not responsible for that disaster.

TJ December 9, 2022 (5:36 pm)

“She was never a progressive”?? You mean she wasn’t a admitted socialist? She just spoke of being proud of the far left progressive work she did. The last thing this district needs is another Sawant. An anti-capitalist socialist in a city and country that was built from capitalism, and that will always be no matter what a small fringe wants, makes no sense. A moderate Democrat, which was a Seattle liberal 30 years ago, would work.

Jort December 12, 2022 (2:05 pm)

Just because she called her work “far left” and “progressive” doesn’t mean it was. Lisa was a moderate beaucrat and career politician always seeking maintenance of the status quo. She was far from being the liberal caraciature that comment section blowhards repeatedly and falsely alleged.

K December 9, 2022 (5:48 pm)

Sad to hear it. Herbold worked hard for D1 over the years. Hopefully we can find someone else who was as passionate about West Seattle and actually getting things done as Herbold, and not elect another empty suit with talking points and no plan like Harrell. I wish actions spoke louder than words, but it seems most constituents just care about the words. :(

JW December 9, 2022 (5:49 pm)

Be still my heart , dreams really do come true

GOP in WS December 9, 2022 (6:07 pm)

I would like to see an election between her two former opponents. Shannon Braddock and Phil Tavel.

David December 9, 2022 (6:52 pm)

Let’s get another PROGRESSive in there to make more PROGRESS. Instead of regressing. Regressing is no good. We need progress. Towards a goal, progress. So we need another progressive not a regressive. To make more progress.

John Edwards December 9, 2022 (7:14 pm)

I am quite progressive, but she lost my vote forever when she voted against the Occidental Street vacation effectively killing Chris Hansen’s basketball arena that was going to be privately paid. Plus pay for flyovers rail tracks on Holgate. How in the world does someone turn down a new NBA arena w/ no taxpayer responsibility? Now, I do love Climate Pledge, but that was a real dumb move sucking up to the longshoremen union to get a few votes.

KM December 9, 2022 (8:33 pm)

That was awesome. She won my support with that, and the way she handled the rampant misogyny afterward.
K December 10, 2022 (5:48 am)

Climate Pledge Arena was also renovated with 100% private money, but still has to pay rent to the city for the use of it, plus a percentage of profits (with a minimum so the city still gets the bonus in bad years). Why would anyone support a fully-private arena that provides zero income to the city and is in the heart of an important transportation corridor, costing a lot of people their jobs, when there was an opportunity to renovate public space using 100% private money, then collect the rent and profits on that space for decades, while adding family-wage jobs to the city instead of taking them away. Thank god people like Herbold were in charge of those decisions and not you.

Mike December 9, 2022 (7:18 pm)

Good news!!!!!!!!!! Wouldn’t be opposed to someone that is actually involved in the community… Mr Tavel?

MM December 9, 2022 (7:26 pm)

Her-bold decision is the best decision she has ever made for the future of West Seattle. Now maybe there’s some hope we can get our city back to its wonderful old self without all the crime, homelessness, graffiti, theft, drugs!

T December 9, 2022 (8:13 pm)

Amen. Been waiting for an hour for the male smoking crack in the hallway/stairwell outside of a unit with two little boys in it. To be removed. I understand things like shootings or violent crimes come first but someone who at least acts like they care about stuff like this would be nice

Marcus December 9, 2022 (7:48 pm)

What most of this city needs with regard to everyday issues (crime, safety, health infrastructure) is a middle moderate.Both sides can benefit greatly by having issues actually addressed by those familiar with our local districts/communities but also adhering to the laws/policies already in place instead of pandering to a select group in order to quell the individualist “tantrum”.I want someone who will ACTUALLY bring cops back, make public safety a top priority, make housing a sustainable policy instead of some “lofty ideology”, someone who actually CARES about the community they represent and the constituents that elected them.I’m beyond sick and tired of “lopsided” groups claiming the other side is detrimental to their (cause, plan, mission, vision, etc.), all the while demonizing their opponents (or worse) their own base in order to save face or from having to admit gulit.We NEED to work together as a community if we’re ever going to fix the the issues of this socioeconomic quagmire we find ourselves in.

Stephen December 9, 2022 (8:29 pm)

not a fan. I look forward to new leadership, and definitely not in the mold of Sawant.

DW December 9, 2022 (8:43 pm)

Lisa Herbold is an unnecessarily polarizing representative of this community. We deserve better. Yes, individual liberties and freedom and personal choice are paramount. Yet those rights need to exist in a realistic societal context of non-infringement of the liberties of others, of safety for families and individuals, and of a recognition that the engine of our economy is businesses, and notably small businesses.By being intellectually lazy and for some unarticulated reason prioritizing almost exclusively the needs of the few, Lisa did a disservice to her constituents.The sad ironies are as follows. First, most people prioritize economic and physical safety, neither of which Lisa Herbold seemed to care about. And second, those on the margin of our society who need help – and on whom Herbold seemed to focus to the exclusion of the majority – can be helped, through a range of public and non-governmental agencies, but they cannot be helped through the naive positions of Herbold. She never actually helped those she seemed to put above all others in priority.It is possible to craft a set of policies that acknowledge and support those in our community who need help (and they will always exist, and it is our responsibility to help them as part of our social pact) and that also acknowledge the desires and needs of the broad community overall.Herbold was sadly a weak, unthoughtful, and ineffective representative who did not understand her responsibilities and her role. We can do better, and we deserve better.I am sure this community will be thoughtful and deliberate in the next election and will choose a candidate who has a cogent philosophy that acknowledges the complex and multi-factorial nature of our district and who will strive for a fair, balanced model of governance.

CAM December 10, 2022 (9:53 am)

So to clarify, the “engine of our economy” is people. Without people your business doesn’t exist. Stop attempting to discount the needs of people and saying your business is more important. Secondly, Lisa Herbold absolutely did “prioritize economic and physical safety.” What you saw and felt was that your needs weren’t prioritized over those of others for once.

Mike December 9, 2022 (8:55 pm)

Was that why I heard fireworks tonight, celebrating in the streets?!?!? Hallelujah!!!

Scott Dolfay December 9, 2022 (9:50 pm)

Yahoo!!! She is a truly despicable person. I know from firsthand
experience. I begged her for months to help with tenants that I couldn’t evict
thanks to the unconstitutional “eviction moratorium”.

BTW, the tenants never lost income due to COVID. They even bought
a new car for themselves rather than pay rent. The state received millions of printed
federal funds yet she wasn’t willing to request any of it. See:

https://ofm.wa.gov/about/news/2020/05/state-funds-distributed-covid-19-outbreak-response

She didn’t give a damn. The result was $70,000 in damage by
the tenants. After they finally abandoned the place I sold it, just like 70% of
other small Seattle landlords.

Part of her sick legacy is that the vast majority of rentals
are corporately owned now. Way to go Miss Progressive.

wssz December 10, 2022 (12:59 am)

Scott, you really got the raw end of the deal and it never should have happened. Ms. Herbold completely failed to protect you and so many other small landlords from opportunistic tenants. What a mess. I’m very sorry to hear that you ended up having to pay an ungodly amount to repair the horrific damage those renters/squatters caused and then have to sell your rental. My housemate of almost 10 years rented your house and loved living there (initials KL). She especially appreciated you as her landlord. You meticulously cared for the house and were so kind and thoughtful. You are exactly the kind of landlord we as a community need to protect and support. Ms. Herbold contributed mightily to the loss of local small landlords who genuinely care about their tenants and their rentals.
Scarlett December 10, 2022 (9:12 am)

We’ll probably disagree on some issues, but the government’s financial irresponsiblity in responding to Covid-19 and misappropriation of funds, unvetted dispersal of PPP loans included, will go down as the greatest example of larceny in American history. This wasn’t money just “dropping in laps,” this was deliberate fraudulent activity by hundreds of thousands across the country who exaggerated financial harm (many were more profitable during pandemic), fabricated payrolls, income, or the like (several I know locally). The scale of it was staggering. It really damaged how I view people.

Marty December 9, 2022 (10:23 pm)

Make my day! Maybe we can elect someone who is a little bit tougher on crime and has some solid common sense. Don’t see how we can’t do better.

Nachobeaver December 9, 2022 (11:32 pm)

Best Christmas present yet!!

Ken December 9, 2022 (11:40 pm)

Like most commenters on this blog, I think this is welcome news. Credit to Ms. Herbold for being able to read the tea leaves and see that her chances of being re-elected are slim to none with Georgetown and Sodo business districts now being part of District 1. It’s been very tough to operate a business in the City (see all the vacant businesses in Westwood Village) and 2023 looks to be a major downturn for City revenues. Nobody is in the mood for increased taxes without first looking at where areas where spending should be cut back.

CAM December 9, 2022 (11:42 pm)

Let me be the first to predict that in November 2023 this comment section will be flooded with people expressing SHOCK and UTTER DISGUST that their handpicked “pragmatic,” “moderate,” “middle-of-the-road” candidate who was making campaign promises to make all small business owners successful, evict all tenants based on the word of their absolutely never lying landlords, roll back all police reform, get rid of judges (and those pesky trials while we’re at it, if you’re arrested you obviously did it, duh), make all the homeless people disappear, and rewrite state legislation on sentencing guidelines, while also telling all their supporters what good liberals they are and how they shouldn’t have to feel bad for not wanting to have to be faced with the tragedies happening in the world around them and the complex realities that go into helping people, has once again lost by a healthy margin.

New Salt December 10, 2022 (2:07 am)

Uh, you do know that Bruce Harrell and Sara Nelson won in West Seattle by like 20%, right? And Lisa Herbold, running on a pro-increasing-police-force platform, won by 10% in 2019? Yeah… I think you might want to talk to a few more of your neighbors before making any more predictions about this district. Most of them have a bit more substance than your straw man.
- Kingly December 10, 2022 (11:54 am)
  
  Uh. That may be true, but voter turnout was barely 40% or something that year so it’s not really the flex you think it is. Bruce and Sara are 90’s Republicans and people still seem to think they’re democrats and progressive. Ha.
- CAM December 10, 2022 (12:52 pm)
  
  Aside from the outcomes of the last mayoral election year, I think you may want to refresh yourself on the comments from any November election results post of the last decade or so here on the blog. You may be talking to neighbors who agree with you but it would appear you aren’t listening to the rest of them that keep telling you they don’t. And yet every year the same shock and dismay that everyone else just doesn’t get it because they’re all just so uninformed.
  - New Salt December 10, 2022 (9:56 pm)
    
    “Oh, yes, if you’ll politely excuse the results of the most applicable election in recent history, you’ll see that I have correctly dunked on the local blog comment section .” Good god, this really is the worst possible timeline.

WSB December 10, 2022 (12:05 am)

For those interested, both of CM Herbold’s 2019 opponents have answered our requests for comment, added above.

Del December 10, 2022 (12:21 am)

Hallelujah!!!

Dave December 10, 2022 (12:28 am)

I hope we can get representation who’s not extremist this time around, someone who’s pragmatic and grounded.

wssz December 10, 2022 (12:33 am)

DW and Marcus, both of you sound thoughtful and well informed. If you’re inclined to run for this seat, you just might be the right person for the job. It would be a refreshing change to be represented by a moderate who prioritizes our core needs of crime, safety, infrastructure, and the health of our businesses — especially small, locally owned businesses. I’m relieved that Ms. Herbold has decided to not run again. We need someone who is much more responsive to a broader cross section of constituents. The overwhelmingly negative comments about her here are very revealing.

Ivan Weiss December 10, 2022 (4:39 am)

The overwhelmingly negative comments about her are very revealing, but are they representative? I’m sure those who make them believe they are. That doesn’t make them so. But by all means, jump on your bandwagon if it makes you feel better. Lisa has served the City of Seattle for 25 years, and she will retire undefeated. Your words can’t touch her. Stick that in your pipes and smoke it.
- Scubafrog December 10, 2022 (4:46 pm)
  
  From your crime-free oasis, easy to say. Here, in the district, we live with the consequences of Herbold and Council. She failed. Murders, violent crime, and all manners of crime are back to historic levels. Her anti-police rhetoric likely contributed to half of the SPD leaving. She will leave the district worse than when she arrived two terms ago. These are life-and-death matters for Seattleites. Your childish rhetoric is shameful, and beneath the masses on the Peninsula who’re suffering: “Your words can’t touch her. Stick that in your pipes and smoke it.”
  - Ivan Weiss December 12, 2022 (1:02 pm)
    
    I’ll stand by what I said. To imagine that Herbold, or any City Council member, or all nine of them, or all nine of them and the mayor combined, are going to stop property crime, drug offenses, and homelessness by flooding the city with cops and turning Seattle into a police state like Singapore, is profoundly ignorant. To stop these problems will require a massive investment in public housing and social services at the very least. Only a fool would suppose that this could be accomplished solely at the local level. It’s a nationwide problem, and how are we to pay for it, if all the money is going to the cops, and voters are too gutless to tax the Jeff Bezoses and Elon Musks of the world till their eyes bleed? Lisa did what she could. People have made her the issue. She’s not the issue. When her successor, whoever it is, fails to turn the tide, will you call that person a failure and demand someone else? The hypocrites won’t.

WS Guy December 10, 2022 (2:17 am)

Will this be a ranked choice election? Choosing between Tavel and Kolding would be like ice cream vs. cake after Herbold. I voted for her years ago only to watch her policies destroy the city. Never again will I vote for an activist.

WSB December 10, 2022 (10:27 am)

Unless something unforeseen happens, the ballot measure passed last month was for major city offices to be elected by ranked choice starting next year (when all 7 of the district seats on the council go to voters), and I should have noted that in the story.
- Seattlite December 11, 2022 (2:08 pm)
  
  What a travesty RCV is for Seattle’s voters.

John December 10, 2022 (4:05 am)

Seattle needs more moderate voices to run this city. There has to be a balance between protecting the poor but also protecting everyone else. Crime and drugs are rampant and that needs to end. We need to be able to actually attract police to this city to help with the issues we face.

my two cents December 10, 2022 (4:25 am)

Good riddance. Never felt she represented the community as a whole; always seemed to gravitate to a photo op or newsletter “look what I did – and yes, I am wonderful” articles.

Shasha December 10, 2022 (5:10 am)

GOOD, she has done little to nothing to improve things in West Seattle. Bye Bye dont le t he door hit you on your way out!

Eric December 10, 2022 (5:47 am)

After a month of Tavel, you’d be begging for Herbold back. Fortunately, he cannot win an election due to his obvious smarm.

Rosey December 10, 2022 (6:34 am)

I wish her the best in her next chapter, and don’t blame her at all for not wanting to run again. Between some of the most stressful years to be sitting on the council (pandemic, protests) and the level of vitriol she seems to attract that seems over the top compared to other council members, that role had to be exhausting. Thanking her for her service.

Runner December 10, 2022 (7:23 am)

What great news to start my day with!

Insertname December 10, 2022 (7:42 am)

Finally some good news 👍👍

Also John December 10, 2022 (8:21 am)

I find this disappointing. She assisted me with a life changing issue, that she didn’t have to. Her help aloud me to move forward with being able to subdivide my lot thus allowing me to sell one of two homes on that lot. This would not have been possible without her.

Ryan December 10, 2022 (8:21 am)

As a West Seattle resident/home owner for over 20 years and a small business owner in SoDo for 13 years now…I say vote for Pizza! Pizza brings everyone together. If there is one thing we can all agree on is a delicious Pizza. So If you want Pizza, let me know!

Rick December 10, 2022 (8:48 am)

I’m not religious but for this I will “Praise the Lord!”

Graciano December 10, 2022 (9:03 am)

Woohoo, now if we can get the rest of the consul to follow her lead.

Peter December 10, 2022 (9:12 am)

Please please please not Tavel and Kolding again, there are many much more competent, trustworthy, and able people in D1. I would fully support Shannon Braddock running again.

GOP in WS December 10, 2022 (12:57 pm)

I believe Shannon Braddock is Dow Constantine’s Chief of Staff. Solid moderate. Experienced. Smart – maybe too smart to get involved in a race for city council.
- Derek December 10, 2022 (6:11 pm)
  
  Moderate scares me off. Need progressive. I don’t trust moderates.
  - Scott Dolfay December 11, 2022 (1:07 am)
    
    The problem with progressives is that they don’t know when to stop progressing.

Peter S. December 10, 2022 (10:03 am)

Although somewhat required, the statements by both Tavel and Kolding wishing Herbold well show class and good taste. Hopefully, some of that will continue into the actual election. I’m far more likely to vote for a candidate who touts their own (realistic) goals and accomplishments and am completely turned off by candidates that lean into negative (and often untrue) attack ads, even though I know they’ve proven effective.

Yardbird666 December 10, 2022 (10:15 am)

Good riddance. I could never understand how she kept getting re-elected.

Byron Anderson December 10, 2022 (12:00 pm)

She is not running for re-election because the city’s budget is about be crushed by all the unfettered spending. If she understood economics she would have known that spending and tax revenues can’t go up indefinitely. She’s bailing out of the sinking ship so someone else can take the blame. https://crosscut.com/politics/2022/11/seattles-budget-hole-projected-grow-82-million-deeper

Alki Resident December 10, 2022 (12:12 pm)

Woo Hoo!!! This is AWESOME news! Good riddance. She has actively ruined our once beautiful city. Everyone I know is cheering this decision!

Scarlett December 10, 2022 (12:28 pm)

More notalgia for the good ole days that never were – except for those who were lucky to have family support, a nice chunk money and perhaps a house handed to them, which is then handed down to their kids, and on and on. Their kids will learn the same fables. And, an industry of financial planners and moderate politicians to make sure no takes too much of it. Because, as you know, they all started from scatch and earned it through hard work and frugality, a heart warming rags to riches story. As M. Trivers, the evolutionary biologist said, self-deception is the most ubiquitous of all human traits.

WestSeattleBadTakes December 10, 2022 (12:28 pm)

To expect anyone but the most self-centered and unscrupulous to expose themselves to the vitriol of this “community,” as evidenced in these comments, would be delusional. Yet here we are.

Al King December 10, 2022 (6:17 pm)

WSBT. I take it you don’t believe elected officials should be held accountable for their actions-or inactions. Why???
Cynthia December 11, 2022 (10:42 am)

You’re right. That is a bad take

T December 10, 2022 (4:00 pm)

The majority of the Council is horrible. When small.buissness ask for help they get no response from the Council.The burglaries ,assaults robberies go on and on.Yet the Council remains silent

Nab December 10, 2022 (5:42 pm)

How did Herbold get elected if so many seem happy that she is leaving. Is it possible there are not enough conservative voters that vote or is our district overrun with progressives?

Johnny Stulic December 10, 2022 (7:31 pm)

What does the American political liberal-conservative divide have to do with the City Council and their city-suicidal policies? I, for one, am as liberal as they come, but I wouldn’t support Herbold and other Sawant wannabes and their poverty fetish if they put a gun to my head. The “progressive” label is a made up euphemism on the same level of MAGA Q-Anon people calling themselves patriots.
K December 10, 2022 (8:46 pm)

There is some level of sampling bias inherent in all internet message boards/comment sections.

JLF December 10, 2022 (8:28 pm)

I’m going to write in Matt Vaughan of East Street Records for city counsel. He’s already a thought leader in West Seattle, let’s make it official. Right?

Xuu206 December 10, 2022 (9:09 pm)

Feels like we’re getting our city back! The jubilance is overwhelming!

TM7302 December 10, 2022 (11:28 pm)

YAY!!!

Scarlett December 11, 2022 (9:03 am)

“Progressive” or “conservative” are meaningless and worn out political contructs in Seattle.; you’re all more alike than you want to admit. Moderation is just a euphemism for those on both sides who don’t want to solve – or even face – the real challenges and inequities of society. This doesn’t come from any particular political stance, this is just observation of stark and brutal reality of life.

Eric December 11, 2022 (12:51 pm)

Well said, Scarlett.

Cynthia December 11, 2022 (10:38 am)

So Herbold could read the tea leaves and figured out she couldn’t get re-elected, huh? HOORAY! It saves me the trouble of campaigning against her, doorbelling, posting signs, etc. The people on here who still support her must be low information voters. She was totally out of step (as was much of the City Council) with what West Seattle wanted. Good riddance.