Girmay Hadish Zahilay (/ˈɡɜːrmaɪ ˈzɑːhɪlaɪ/ GUR-my ZAH-hil-eye;[1] born May 6, 1987) is an American politician and lawyer who is a member of the King County Council from District 2 in Seattle, Washington.
[3] Zahilay moved between public housing arrangements in several neighborhoods in South Seattle, including the International District and Skyway, while his mother Abie worked double shifts as a nursing assistant.
The family also stayed at a homeless shelter in Downtown Seattle between moves to public housing in New Holly and Rainier Vista.
[3] Zahilay also founded a non-profit, Rising Leaders, that aims to provide mentors for underserved middle school students.
[8] Zahilay announced his campaign for the King County Council in February 2019, becoming the first challenger to six-term District 2 incumbent Larry Gossett since 2005.
[14][better source needed] In the 2021–2022 annual budget, Zahilay secured $10 million for a community center in Skyway, an unincorporated area that had lacked many services.