Richard Conlin

Richard Conlin
Member of the Seattle City Council for position 2
In office 1998 – present
Personal details
Born	May 1, 1948 (1948-05-01) Washington, D.C.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Sue Ann
Children	3
Residence	Seattle, WA
Occupation	Seattle City Councilmember (Position 2)
Website	http://www.seattle.gov/council/conlin/

Richard Conlin was first elected to the Seattle City Council in 1997 and reelected in 2001, 2005 and 2009. In 2009, he received more votes than any other candidate for City office in the history of Seattle. He was first elected, unanimously, by the council to be their president on 7 January 2008 and was unanimously reelected on 4 January 2010.

Council duties

As of January 2012, Conlin is chair of the Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability Committee (PLUS). The PLUS Committee oversees the Department of Planning and Development, the Office of Emergency Management, and the Office of Sustainability and Environment. Conlin also Chairs the Special Committee on the Library Levy, represents the Council on major transportation projects such as the replacement of the SR 520 Bridge and the Sound Transit Board, and serves on the Seattle-King County Board of Health, the Growth Management Planning Council, the Regional Food Policy Council, and the Green-Duwamish Watershed Planning Committee. (http://www.seattle.gov/council/conlin/bio.htm)

Conlin has stated that his priority is to make Seattle more sustainable, a city that values and practices environmental stewardship, economic opportunity, social justice, and community. His accomplishments include shepherding 37 neighborhood plans through the Council, launching the Zero Waste Strategy and Local Food Action Initiative, working to improve pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and other transportation systems, supporting human services, and making government more transparent. (http://www.seattle.gov/council/conlin/bio.htm)

During his first term (1998-2001), Conlin successfully moved 37 neighborhood plans through Council approval as the Chair of the Neighborhoods, Sustainability, and Community Development Committee. The completion of the Neighborhood Planning Program was a key step in Seattle’s implementation of Washington’s Growth Management Act. (http://www.seattle.gov/council/conlin/bio.htm

In his second term (2002-2005), Conlin chaired the Council’s Transportation Committee. He worked on implementing the region’s plan for improved transit, developing new funding sources for transportation maintenance, and supporting pedestrian and bicycle improvements to reduce dependence on the automobile. These efforts continued in his third term when Richard worked extensively with neighborhoods and community interests on the replacement of SR 520 and the Viaduct. (http://www.seattle.gov/council/conlin/bio.htm

In 2007, as Chair of the Environment, Emergency Management, and Utilities Committee, Richard launched the Zero Waste Strategy (ZWS) with the goal of changing the direction of Seattle’s solid waste management programs to an increased emphasis on preventing and reducing waste while continuing to increase our recycling rate. Conlin also launched the Local Food Initiative to increase Seattle’s access to nutritional foods, reduce costs for farmers bringing their produce to markets in Seattle, and strengthen the security of our food supply. (http://www.seattle.gov/council/conlin/bio.htm

As Council President, Conlin Chaired special committees on Open Government and Economic Recovery, and led the Council through a challenging transition to a new Mayor and the most difficult economic situation that Seattle has faced in many years. (http://www.seattle.gov/council/conlin/bio.htm

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 he directed YMCA Earth Service Corps, created the Master Home Environmentalist certification program (aimed at reducing indoor pollution) and co-founded the policy group Sustainable Seattle.

Conlin spent time teaching public administration at the University of Botswana and 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, 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.

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. On September 15, the petition was certified by the King County Elections Office, delaying implementation of the fee until after a public vote. On August 18, 2009, Seattle voters rejected the fee, 53 to 47 percent. Subsequently, in December, 2011, the Council unanimously adopted an ordinance prohibiting the use of plastic bags and assessing a 5 cent fee on the use of paper bags. There was no organized petition drive, and this ordinance goes into effect on July1, 2012. (http://clerk.seattle.gov/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s1=plastic+bags&Sect4=AND&l=MAX&Sect1=IMAGE&Sect2=THESON&Sect3=PLURON&Sect5=LEGI2&Sect6=HITOFF&d=LEGA&p=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fclerk.seattle.gov%2F~public%2Flegisearch.htm&r=1&f=G)

External links

• Richard Conlin's campaign website
• Richard Conlin on Seattle City Council website
• Seattle Post-Intelligencer's candidate voters' guide