City Council President Bruce Harrell offers message to victims of abuse

SEATTLE — After City Council President Bruce Harrell announced Friday that he will not continue to serve as Seattle mayor he took the time to address concerns from victims of abuse about his words to survivors in his speech on Wednesday.

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Harrell said a woman who lives in his district, and who he calls his sister, is a victim of abuse and told him "out of love and respect", "Bruce, I heard you the other day, and as a victim of abuse, I needed to hear more and I wanted to hear more."

Harrell went on to say that the woman "needed to feel that I understood what the allegations against the mayor brought out in her. How she felt. She believed the city wanted to know that."

Harrell addressed those concerns and went on to offer the following:

"To the survivors, I hear you. It was your voice that changed the history of this city. It was your voice that changed its (Seattle's) course and direction. It was your voice that prompted me to ask an entire city to heal. I've learned in life that the truth always prevails over falsity, and that justice and karma are universal laws of life. So to my sister out there, I hear you. To all of the survivors, I hear you, and I understand. I hope that if I see my sister or any survivors you would receive a hug from me because I am a hugger. Let you understand that many of us are leading not only with our mind, but with our heart, and are trying to help everyone involved."

With Harrell's announcement, the Seattle City Council will now appoint someone else to fill the mayoral position, possibly Councilman Tim Burgess or Councilwoman M. Lorena González.

Whoever serves as interim mayor, will only do so for a short time. The person who wins the November election will take office once results are confirmed that month, rather than, traditionally, taking office in January.

Cox Media Group