Donaldson was appointed to the council on January 19, 1990, to fill the first of two years of Norm Rice's remaining term, after he was elected Mayor of Seattle.

[5] In 1991, Donaldson ran for reelection with three challengers, with Freedom Socialist Party member Yolanda Alaniz moving past the September primary.

[5][6] Donaldson faced two challengers during her 1995 reelection bid, and she advanced through the primary with University of Puget Sound professor Jordan Brower.

[8] Brower sued the city of Seattle in October 1995 for allegedly misusing federal housing money for the new Nordstrom flagship store, which Donaldson voted in favor of.

[1][2] She also hosted an interview radio show called "The Bridge" with fellow former city councilmember Jean Godden, which is on hiatus due to the pandemic.