Election
In 2014,Johnson announced his run for the newly created District 4 seat in the Seattle City Council. [1] He campaigned on an urbanist platform,focusing on increasing density around public transit and improving the walkability in the city. [1] Johnson would challenge longtime councilmember Jean Godden,a city-wide member who was forced to run in the district elections. [1] [5] There was three other challengers in the election,which included neighborhood activist Tony Provine,Michael Maddux,a litigation paralegal,and University of Washington employee Abel Pacheco. [5] [6]
In the August primary,Johnson came in first with 32.84% and advanced to the general election,alongside Maddux,who earned 24.64%. [7] Godden,who was seen as the most vulnerable incumbent,was the only city councilmember running for reelection to lose in the primary. [8]
Johnson and Maddux agreed on most issues and were seen as "BFFs," who regularly carpooled to events together. [9] [10] Johnson focused on public transit,and said he was the candidate that would get things done. [10] Maddux concentrated on affordable housing and said he would bring new,innovative ideas to the council. [10]
In the November general election,Johnson defeated Maddux,51.30% to 48.22%,a margin of 708 votes. [11] [12]
Tenure
Johnson was sworn into office on January 4,2016. [13] Several days later,he was appointed to the Sound Transit board of directors by King County Executive Dow Constantine,replacing fellow councilmember Mike O'Brien. [14] Johnson was chair of the Planning,Land Use,and Zoning Committee,and focused on zoning,affordable housing,and transportation. [3]
While on the council,Johnson shepherded a housing and transit levy that voters passed,as well as a $600 million education levy. [15] [16] His plans for upzoning certain areas of Seattle unanmously passed the council,which allowed for larger building in exhange for developers including or paying for some low-income housing. [15] The upzone legislation received pushback from some community groups,including people around 35th Avenue Northeast,who were against bike lanes and road redesigns. [15]
In November 2018,he announced that he would not seek a second term on the city council. [15] [16] In late March 2019,Johnson announced he would vacate his council seat on April 5,2019. [17] After his resignation,Abel Pacheco Jr. was appointed to take Johnson's place until the November 2019 election. [18] Shortly after his resignation announcement,Johnson was offered a position as transportation adviser to the NHL Seattle project. [19] Johnson is currently the senior vice president of sustainability for the Seattle Kraken. [20]
