Dolores Sibonga, Seattle’s first woman of color on City Council, dies at 95

The longtime Seattle councilmember’s influence can still be traced through the families and political leaders she helped along the way.

Photo via marmarcastro (Instagram)

Filipina American lawyer Dolores Sibonga, who became the first woman of color to serve on the Seattle City Council, died Sept. 16 at 95. Her 14 years on the council included efforts to expand minority hiring and compensate Japanese American city employees fired during World War II.

Seattle roots

Sibonga grew up in Seattle…