Jean Godden Concedes In Seattle City Council Race

After 12 years on the Seattle City Council, Jean Godden conceded defeat Thursday in her race for a fourth term.

Godden has been trailing two first-time candidates in the new District 4 in northeast Seattle, Rob Johnson and Michael Maddux. In Washington state, the top two vote-getters in the primary go on to the November general election.

In the vote count Thursday, Godden’s gap grew considerably, to more than 700 votes behind Maddux for the second spot.

“For me this race is over,” Godden told KUOW on Thursday afternoon.

She praised Johnson and Maddux for what she called a “civil” campaign and said “I thank them for it.”

Godden is a three-term City Council member, first elected in 2003. She was a columnist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and the Seattle Times before running for office.

Godden worked as a bookkeeper before that. She says that in the “Mad Men” era, she realized she was paid less than her male colleagues.

“So I can tell you that does energize you, to a certain extent!”

Godden is the only council incumbent seeking re-election who will not go on to the general election.

As she ended this campaign, Godden said she’s had “very good years” on the City Council.

“I leave a legacy that includes family leave, sick leave benefits, minimum wage increases, higher environmental standards and social justice,” she said.

And she said she has more to do this fall before her term ends.

“I’m hoping that I will set a record on what one can do in five months," she said, "and I’m going to go out with a bang and not a whimper.”