Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson's approval plummets amid public-safety concerns
A new poll shows Mayor Katie Wilson’s favorability in Seattle fell from 57% in April to 37% by early August, largely due to worries over public safety.
A recent poll commissioned by the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce found Mayor Katie Wilson’s overall favorability has slid from 57% in April to 37% in early August, marking a 20-point decline. Fulcrum Strategy Group’s Andrew Thibault attributed the drop to heightened public-safety anxieties after a fatal shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival, which left three dead and four injured. Voters also expressed disapproval of Wilson’s decision to pause the city’s surveillance-camera expansion, a move questioned after the festival incident.
Former Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes resigned at Wilson’s request, further fueling criticism. Additionally, a recall petition filed by Melinda Jacobson and Dale Osterud alleges the mayor has neglected her duties on public-safety matters, with a hearing set for Aug. 31 in King County Superior Court.
Why it matters
The steep fall in the mayor’s approval highlights public safety as a pivotal issue for Seattle residents.
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