Casey Sixkiller, a Seattle deputy mayor, launches bid for mayor

[brooklynite]

Seattle Times

Casey Sixkiller, a longtime government staffer and lobbyist currently serving as Seattle’s deputy mayor for operations, is jumping into this year’s race for mayor with an announcement Tuesday.

Sixkiller took his spot in Mayor Jenny Durkan’s office in early 2020 after two years as King County Executive Dow Constantine’s chief operating officer.

He’s been Durkan’s point person on homelessness, briefing and sometimes clashing with City Council members about services for unsheltered people during the pandemic. Durkan isn’t seeking reelection.

“If there’s one thing we can all agree on: The conditions in our parks and streets are unacceptable,” Sixkiller, 43, said in an interview. “I’m really proud of the work we’ve done … to better support those living outside. But there’s no quick fix.”

[jalan48]

3. His dad was Sonny Sixkiller U of W football legend. He sounds like a great candidate.

Reared in Seattle, Sixkiller got his start in politics as an intern and legislative assistant to then-U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott. An enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Sixkiller later helped open the Cherokee Nation’s first Washington, D.C., office and worked on U.S. Sen. Patty Murray’s legislative staff.

The candidate says he wants to seek common ground between residents with diverse backgrounds and opinions. “Cherokees call this ‘gadugi.’ That’s what I’ve been doing my whole life,” he said. “Bringing people together to solve problems.”

[Stallion]

4. First Thing I Thought of

how many Sixkillers could there be in Washington

[Disaffected]

5. Interesting Surname

Since native NA names usually refer to some actual object or event (at least as I understand it), I wonder about its origin.