Councilmember Mark Solomon's Staff

Email Christine

Christine is a former journalist and government communications professional with experience working for cities in Snohomish and King counties.

Her passion for local government was sparked during her time as a newspaper reporter, during which she spent countless hours inside various city halls throughout east Snohomish County. After a cumulative five years in government communications in the cities of Sultan and Kirkland, she transitioned to the nonprofit sector, spending two-plus years as the Communications Manager for the Seattle Police Foundation.

Her role at SPF ignited her love for Seattle’s beautifully diverse, vibrant neighborhoods, and spurred a deep desire to more holistically serve the Seattle community. She is a resident of District 7 and is thrilled with the opportunity to listen to and learn from District 2 constituents as a member of Councilmember Solomon’s team.

Christine is an avid shutterbug and a proud civilian volunteer with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), including the Ward Roney Jr. VFW Post 7511 and VFW District 1, Department of Washington. When she’s not working, she loves exploring Seattle with her camera!

Email Sarah

Sarah Mayes serves as Chief of Staff for Councilmember Mark Solomon.

She previously worked for two appointed citywide councilmembers: Tanya Woo and Kirsten Harris-Talley. Additionally, she served as Senior Policy Advisor for Council President Debora Juarez (District 5), while also clerking the Committee on Governance, Native Communities, and Tribal Governments. Sarah has staffed issues relating to transgender rights, police accountability, public safety, labor, public assets, housing, and four city budgets.  Sarah also worked as a Policy Analyst for the Community Police Commission.

Altogether, Sarah has worked for seven lawmakers over the span of three decades, including: Portland Metro Councilor David Bragdon, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden. Sarah received her B.A. from Reed College, with studies focused on history, economics, and political science. She worked for fourteen years in academic and law libraries before starting two small businesses in 2019. A proud mother, Sarah has raised her two sons in Seattle since 2006. 

In her free time, Sarah enjoys cooking, playing video games, and spending time with her family and her cat Shadow.

Email Murphy

Murphy serves as the Outreach and Operations Director for Councilmember Solomon. Originally from Bothell, Washington, he has always been passionate about public service. After earning his degree from the University of Washington, he went on to complete a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the UW Evans School in 2020.

Before joining Councilmember Solomon's team, Murphy worked in the Office of Council President Debora Juarez and the Office of Councilmember Tanya Woo, focusing on transportation, Sound Transit and technology. He played a key role in advancing community projects, including funding new spaces and improving sidewalk access for students. Now, Murphy is excited to help prioritize community needs and connect the people of Seattle to their local government.

In his free time, Murphy enjoys playing tabletop games, hiking the outdoors with friends, and exploring Seattle's local restaurant scene.

Email Thaddaeus

A lifelong Seattle resident, Thaddaeus Gregory brings vital experience in land use, real estate, and environmental law to Councilmember Solomon’s team. Thaddaeus grew up in southeast Seattle where he developed a deep appreciation for its vibrant green spaces, diverse neighborhoods, and strong sense of community. He received his B.A. from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and his J.D. from the University of Michigan. Prior to joining City Hall, Thaddaeus spent half a decade as a land use lawyer where he represented a broad array of clients and engaged on critical housing and commercial projects throughout the region.

He is excited to combine his heart for service, pragmatic mindset, and extensive knowledge of land use to drive positive outcomes for Seattle’s community members during the One Seattle Plan comprehensive plan update.

In 2023, Thaddaeus was named a Top 40 Under 40 Black Lawyer by the National Black Lawyers, and in 2024 earned a position on Best Lawyer’s “Best lawyers in America: Ones to Watch” list in land use and zoning law.

Thaddaeus is a musician and athlete, and serves on the boards of Benefits Law Center and Rainier Scholars. In his free time, he enjoys exploring our local national and state parks, as well as enthusiastically supporting Seattle’s iconic professional sports teams!