Richard Conlin is the current president of the Seattle City Council, first elected to council in 1997 and reelected in 2001, 2005 and 2009. He was first elected, unanimously, by the council to be their president on 7 January 2008[2] and was unanimously reelected on 4 January 2010.[3]
Richard Conlin | |
|---|---|
| File:Richard-Conlin.jpg | |
| Seattle City Council | |
| In office 1998–present | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 1, 1947 Washington, D.C. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Sue Ann[1] |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Seattle, WA |
| Occupation | Seattle City Councilmember (Position 2) |
| Website | http://www.seattle.gov/council/conlin/ |
Council duties
As of August 2006, Conlin is chair of the Environment, Emergency Management & Utilities Committee, and chair of the Annexation Committee.
Conlin is a member of Urban Planning & Development Committee; and of Parks, Education, Libraries & Labor Committee.
The areas of focus in his current role are public health, sustainability, and the environment. Under the banner of environment, he is involved in efforts to improve the salmon population.
Conlin is involved in emergency response planning for Seattle.
Background
Conlin received a B.A. in History from Michigan State University (1968), as well as a Master's degree in Political Science (1971). He was elected to two terms (1973–1976) as an Ingham County Commissioner, representing part of the City of East Lansing. [1]
Prior to being elected to Seattle City Council, Conlin directed the Community and Environment Division at Metrocenter YMCA from 1985 to 1996, where started the Earth Service Corps, expanded the Master Home Environmentalist certification (aimed at household waste and pollution) and co-founded the policy group Sustainable Seattle.[4]
Conlin spent time teaching public administration at the University of Botswana and University of Swaziland.
Plastic Bag Controversy
Conlin sponsored the 2007 Zero Waste Strategy, Resolution 30990 which directed Seattle Public Utilities to produce recommendations on how to eliminate residential solid waste,[5] including whether to ban or tax plastic shopping bags and Styrofoam food containers. In 2008 Conlin sponsored Seattle's Bag Fee Law, a 20-cent surcharge on bags. Businesses with under one million dollars in annual sales were exempt and got to keep the money. The measure passed the city council by a 6-1 margin.[6]
On August 8, 2008, Washington Food Industry, a trade group representing grocery stores, launched a petition drive against the ordinance, funded in part by the plastics industry.[7][8] On September 15, the petition was certified by the King County Elections Office,[9] delaying implementation of the fee until after a public vote. On August 18, 2009, Seattle voters rejected the fee, 53 to 47 percent.[10]
References
- ^ Seattle Voters' Guide, Candidate Bios http://www.switchyardmedia.com/images/stories/showcase/2009_seattle_elections/slideshow448.html Accessed online 7 February 2010
- ^ Seattle City Council Minutes, Monday, January 7, 2008 http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s1=&s2=20080107&Sect4=AND&l=20&Sect6=HITOFF&Sect5=MINU1&Sect3=PLURON&d=MINU&p=1&u=%2F~public%2Fminu1.htm&r=1&f=G Accessed online 7 February 2010
- ^ Seattle City Council Minutes, Monday, January 4, 2010 http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s1=&s2=20100104&Sect4=AND&l=20&Sect6=HITOFF&Sect5=MINU1&Sect3=PLURON&d=MINU&p=1&u=/~public/minu1.htm&r=1&f=G Access online 7 February 2010
- ^ http://2009council2.electionland.thestranger.com/users/3936-richard-conlin
- ^ http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/columns/sustainable-seattle-citys-progress-towards-zero-waste
- ^ http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008078323_apwabagfee4thldwritethru.html
- ^ http://www.seattlepi.com/local/374525_bags12.html
- ^ http://www.seattlepi.com/local/376383_plastic26.html
- ^ http://www.kirotv.com/news/17490452/detail.html
- ^ http://your.kingcounty.gov/elections/200908/resPage9.aspx