Surratt
As a 60-member transition team is shaping first priorities for the administration, Mayor-elect Katie Wilson has named her senior staff that will accompany her at City Hall including a second-in-command who has been active in addressing inequity and displacement in the Central District.
Tuesday, Wilson announced Brian Surratt will serve as the new administration’s sole deputy mayor. The former director of the Office of Economic Development and policy lead on the city’s minimum wage who is also part of leading Wilson’s transition team, was most recently CEO at Greater Seattle Partners. His work with OED to help develop the Liberty Bank affordable mixed-use project at 23rd and Union is considered a model for equitable development in the city.
Surratt will join a roster of mostly City Hall-experienced senior staff surrounding Wilson:
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Kate Brunette Kreuzer, Chief of Staff
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Jen Chan, Director of Departments
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Seferiana Day, Director of Communications
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Alex Gallo-Brown, Director of Community Relations
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Aly Pennucci, Director of City Budget Office
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Brian Surratt, Deputy Mayor
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Nicole Vallestero Soper, Director of Policy and Innovation
“This is a team that’s ready to get to work and make Seattle a great place to live, work, and raise a family,” Wilson said in the announcement. “They bring deep community ties, exceptional issue expertise, and most important of all: a track record of getting things done.”
More familiar names will be part of the administration including Commute Seattle head Alex Hudson, who lost to Joy Hollingsworth in her run to lead District 3 on the Seattle City Council. Hudson reportedly announced she will be leaving her post to join the Wilson team.
In the meantime, Hudson and Surratt are part of Wilson’s transition process as a team of policy leaders is shaping early priorities and opportunities for the new administration.
Following her victory over the incumbent Harrell, Wilson has said she enters office “with a strong mandate” to pursue policies to attack the affordability crisis, address homelessness, “and build a city for working people” following a sweep of progressive victories in the election.
An early focus will be on homelessness as Wilson says the city will focus on encampments and street issues in “the downtown core and adjacent neighborhoods” leading up to next summer’s FIFA World Cup.
Another early opportunity will be the city’s new Social Housing Developer. CHS reported here as 2026 will bring its first revenue from a $50 million a year voter-approved levy starting in February.
Wilson must also build connections with the new 2026 Seattle City Council following progressive victories by incumbent Alexis Mercedes Rinck and newcomer Dionne Foster as well as new District 2 representative Eddie Lin.
Meanwhile, Erka Evans easily defeated incumbent Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison in their race giving Wilson another potential ally in her efforts to change the city.
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