Staff changes at Tim Burgess's office

Alex Pedersen, a legislative aide in Councilmember Tim Burgess's office since 2012, will be leaving his job on Thursday. In an email to his colleagues on Tuesday, Pedersen said he was going to work for an affordable housing organization. But Seattle's political class has been chattering about the possibility that Pedersen might run for a Council seat next year under the new district election system. He lives in Council District 4, which includes neighborhoods such as the University District, Ravenna, View Ridge and Sand Point. Councilmember Jean Godden lives in District 4 too, and she has already filed paperwork to campaign there next year. Earlier this week, Pedersen said he hadn't decided whether to run. "Neighbors have encouraged me to consider," he said. "But that's a big decision, and something I'd need to work out with the entire Pedersen family."Burgess said in an email to the legislative department on Tuesday that he was bringing two new staffers onboard: Debi Lundberg, currently an executive assistant to the President and CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association, and Seferiana Day, who worked most recently as a manager for Pramila Jayapal's successful state Senate campaign in the 37th District. Beginning the week of Nov. 17, they'll both be working for Burgess. — B.L.