John Okamoto sworn-in as new member of Seattle City Council

SEATTLE – The Seattle City Council on Monday selected John Okamoto to immediately fill the vacancy left by Sally Clark's resignation.

Okamoto's first full council meeting as a seated Seattle City Council member will be May 4, the council said.

Clark resigned from the City Council earlier to take a job at the University of Washington.

Okamoto has run three different cabinet departments for the city, most recently as interim director of the Human Services Department in 2014-2015.

From 2008 to 2014, he served as executive director of the Washington Education Association, an 82,000-member professional education organization.

“I’m humbled and honored by this opportunity and welcome this new challenge,” said Okamoto. “I’ve invested my working life making this city better, and I intend to continue that work in this new position as Seattle City Council member.”

Okamoto has pledged that he will not seek election to the City Council in November. He will serve as council member until King County Elections certifies the November election results on Nov. 24,  at which point the winner of the general election will replace him.

Okamoto lives in the Seward Park neighborhood with his wife, Sharon. His children, Charissa and Shawna, and their families live nearby, the council said.