Rob Johnson (Seattle politician)

For other people named Rob Johnson, see Rob Johnson (disambiguation).

Rob Johnson
Member of the Seattle City Council
from District 4
In office
January 4, 2016 – April 5, 2019
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byAbel Pacheco Jr.
Personal details
Born1977 or 1978 (age 46–47)[1]
SpouseKatie
Children3
ResidenceSeattle, Washington
EducationWillamette University (BA)
University of California, Los Angeles (MURP)
OccupationPolitician

Robert M. Johnson is an American politician. He served on the Seattle City Council representing the fourth district, covering northeast Seattle and the area around the University of Washington, from 2016 until his resignation in April 2019.[2]

Early life and education

Johnson is a fifth-generation Seattleite.[3] He has a bachelor's degree in political science from Willamette University and a Master's in Tranportation Planning from University of California, Los Angeles.[3] Prior to the election, Johnson was executive director of Transportation Choices Coalition, an advocacy group in Washington state, where he managed their campaign for the Sound Transit 2 rail expansion programs.[3][4]

Seattle City Council

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]

Personal life

He lives in the Ravenna neighborhood with his wife, Katie, and their three daughters.[15]

Electoral history

Seattle City Council District 4, Primary Election 2015[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Rob Johnson 5,516 32.84%
Nonpartisan Michael Maddux 4,138 24.64%
Nonpartisan Jean Godden 3,307 19.69%
Nonpartisan Tony Provine 2,372 14.12%
Nonpartisan Abel Pacheco 1,416 8.43%
Nonpartisan Write-in 46 0.27%
Turnout 17,154 31.64%
Registered electors 54,208
Seattle City Council District 4, General Election 2015[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Rob Johnson 11,808 51.30%
Nonpartisan Michael Maddux 11,100 48.22%
Nonpartisan Write-in 111 0.48%
Majority 708 3.08%
Turnout 25,782 46.61%
Registered electors 55,309

References

  1. ^ a b c d "TCC Director Rob Johnson to Run for City Council". Seattle Met. November 12, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  2. ^ Beekman, Daniel (November 4, 2015). "Urbanists appear to be big winners in Seattle election". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d "Rob Johnson Subject Files, 2011-2019". Archive West. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  4. ^ Bonjukian, Scott (June 1, 2015). "2015 Seattle City Council Election, District 4: Rob Johnson Interview". The Urbanist. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  5. ^ a b "4 challengers, incumbent face off in Seattle District 4 race". King5. July 31, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  6. ^ Beekman, Daniel (July 9, 2015). "Incumbents face tough test in 3 Seattle City Council races". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Elections Results - Primary and Special Election" (PDF). King County Elections. August 17, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  8. ^ Beekman, Daniel (August 4, 2015). "Godden trailing; 5 incumbents move on for City Council". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  9. ^ Reynolds, Ross; Ferguson, Allie; Raftery, Isolde (October 14, 2015). "Seattle's District 4 Candidates Are Becoming BFFs". KUOW. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  10. ^ a b c Clark, Kate (October 14, 2015). "City council district 4 candidates debate on campus". The Daily. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  11. ^ Kamb, Lewis (November 6, 2015). "Rob Johnson elected to Seattle City Council District 4 seat". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  12. ^ a b "Elections Results - General and Special Election" (PDF). King County Elections. November 24, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  13. ^ Beekman, Daniel (January 4, 2016). "New Seattle City Council sworn in Monday". The Seattle Times.
  14. ^ "Constantine names Rob Johnson and Nancy Backus to Sound Transit Board of Directors" (Press release). Office of the King County Executive. January 7, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  15. ^ a b c d e Beekman, Daniel (November 8, 2018). "Rob Johnson won't run for re-election in Seattle's big 2019 City Council elections". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  16. ^ a b Norimine, Hayat (November 9, 2018). "Rob Johnson on His One-Term Seattle City Council Legacy". Seattle Met. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  17. ^ Beekman, Daniel (March 21, 2019). "Upzone booster Rob Johnson to resign early from Seattle City Council, triggering appointment process". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  18. ^ Daniels, Chris (April 22, 2019). "Abel Pacheco Jr. appointed to Seattle City Council". King 5.
  19. ^ Baker, Geoff (January 11, 2019). "Outgoing City Council member Rob Johnson hired by NHL Seattle to assist on transportation". Seattle Times. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  20. ^ Kerravala, Zeus (February 2, 2024). "Unpacking the Climate Pledge at Seattle Kraken's Climate Pledge Arena". Silicon Angle. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  • Webpage on Seattle City Council website


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