Seattle Councilmember Juarez (Blackfeet Nation) Statement on Sound Transit Board Nomination

Debora Juarez became first American Indian on Seattle City Council. Photo courtesy Chris Stearns

Published April 15, 2019

SEATTLE — Councilmember Debora Juarez (District 5, North Seattle), Chair of the Council’s Civic Assets, Public Development and Native Communities Committee, issued the following statement after King County Executive Dow Constantine nominated Juarez to serve on the Sound Transit board:

“I am proud to be nominated to serve on the Sound Transit board. I plan on working as hard for the people of the tri-county Sound Transit service area as I do for my North Seattle district. I will serve the board as a strong advocate for transit-oriented development and as an experienced leader in managing major civic projects with regional impacts,” said Juarez.  “I was a strong advocate for the inclusion of a Link light rail station at 130th Street in the successful Sound Transit 3 ballot measure in 2016, and have fought for equitable transit oriented development that considers community needs.”

Juarez has also spearheaded numerous capitol development projects including but not limited to the $1.6 billion Seattle Center redevelopment, the $712 million Seattle Waterfront project, and the $80 million construction of an NHL practice facility in Northgate.

Juarez, an enrolled citizen of the Blackfeet Nation, is the first Native American elected to the City Council and represents North Seattle’s City Council District 5.