Seattle City Councilman Burgess says he won't seek re-election next year

SEATTLE -- Three-term Seattle City Councilman Tim Burgess announced Monday that he will not seek re-election next year.

"After considerable and, frankly, agonizing thought, and after multiple conversations with my family, I've decided not to seek re-election to the City Council in 2017," Burgess said in a statement. "In the end, it was clear to me and Joleen that it's time for someone else to fill my seat. I've been elected citywide three times and will have served 10 years at the end of this term next December. When my term ends, I will be just a couple months short of 69. Time turn my focus to the next chapter for Joleen and me.

"What an honor is has been to serve the people of Seattle. I look forward to continuing that service for another year and beyond in some capacity."

Burgess, a former journalist and Seattle Police Department detective, was first elected to the City Council in November 2007. He was re-elected in 2011 and again in 2015. He was elected council president by his colleagues for 2014-2015. Prior to his election to the City Council, Burgess chaired his neighborhood community council and served 12 years on Seattle's Ethics and Elections Commission.