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Bruce Harrell will not finish term as Seattle mayor


New Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced Friday afternoon that he will not finish the remainder of Ed Murray's term as mayor.  (Photo: KOMO News)
New Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced Friday afternoon that he will not finish the remainder of Ed Murray's term as mayor.  (Photo: KOMO News)
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SEATTLE -- Bruce Harrell announced Friday afternoon that he will not finish the remainder of Ed Murray's term as Seattle mayor.

Harrell, who took on the position Wednesday after Murray's abrupt resignation, had five days to decide whether or not he was going to stay in the position.

In a news conference Friday, Harrell said he made the decision ahead of the deadline to allow City Council to make a decision on who it will elect as the next mayor. He has asked the council to take a vote Monday to decide.

"While I have a passion for excellence and boldness and a heck of a lot of energy ... I have decided to decline," Harrell said during the news conference.

Harrell said he will remain on City Council to serve District 2.

Harrell also announced four executive orders Friday. He is directing the Office of Economic Development to submit a bid for a second Amazon headquarters in Seattle. He announced he opposes the voter-approved county juvenile justice center and will partner with the city on alternatives.

Harrell also directed city departments to identify 10 hot spots around the city that need to be cleaned up.

"Our city has become filthy," he said during the news conference. "We have to do better."

In his last executive order, Harrell directed the IT department to examine electronic systems to find vulnerabilities and find ways to better respond to public disclosure requests.

Murray abruptly announced his resignation from his post Tuesday, about two hours after The Seattle Times reported that his cousin said Murray had repeatedly molested him in the 1970s when he was a teenager.

Murray's cousin became the fifth man to accuse the mayor of sexual abuse. Earlier allegations of sexual abuse prompted Murray to drop out of his campaign for re-election but he had steadfastly refused to resign until Tuesday.

A new interim mayor will be selected from eight other councilmembers.

Former U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan and urban planner Cary Moon, both Democrats, are running for mayor in the November election.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.



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