• Gregory J. Nickels became Seattle's 51st Mayor on January 1st, 2002.

• In 1910 the city charter was amended to make the office of mayor, nonpartisan.

• Gregory J. Nickels was born in Chicago, Illinois on 08-07-55. His family moved to Seattle when he was six. After prep school, Nickels attended the University of Washington in Seattle.
• At the young age of 19 Nickels served eight years as legislative assistant for former city council member Norm Rice, who latter became Seattle's Mayor in 1990. Nickels served 14 years on the king county council, and in 2001 started campaigning for Mayor.
  
     

On March 8th 2004, Seattle Mayor Greg Nichols signed an executive order officially recognizing  the validity of same-sex marriages. Read the Mayor's executive order:

SOME OF MAYOR NICKELS STAFF:
Tim Ceis-Deputay Mayor: Responsible for both   functional and policy issues for the Mayor.
Andrew Lofton-Chief of Departmental Operations: Responsible for departmental issues and polices.
Regina Labelle-Counsel to the Mayor: Responsible for legal policy matters.
Casey Corr-Communications Director: Responsible for organizing and managing communication activates in the Mayors office.
Mariannw Bichsel-Senior Communications and Policy Advisor: Marianne is the mayor's official spokesperson and member of the senior policy team.
Mayor Greg Nickels Staff

	Norman B. Rice, an African-American, was the first member of a minority group to be elected mayor of Seattle. He served from 1, 1990 to 2001.
	Bertha Knight Landes (1868-1943) was elected mayor in 1926 and served one two-year term. She was the first woman elected executive in a major American city and is the only woman, to date, to serve as mayor of Seattle. She was defeated for reelection in 1928.

CITY COUNCIL:
The Nine members who make up the city council are entrusted to communicate the citizen's views to the mayor. Each Council member is elected to a non-partistin four year term. The council members an influential leaders who either create, support or oppose city legislation. The mayor must communicate, and compromise with the Council members in order to pass effective legislation. For example: the mayor and the City Council approved a total budget of  $2,415,295,000 for the year of 2001.

• Promote and enhance public dialogue, debate and meaningful participation in government.

• Pass a 2005-2006 Budget that is financially sustainable through partnerships, cost savings and possible new revenue sources.

• Expanding transportation choices, while maintaining the existing transportation system, making certain all transportation providers work together in designated village and urban areas.

• Stabilize existing and create new living wage jobs citywide, and especially in distressed and underserved neighborhoods, through workforce investment, business development and improvement in the physical infrastructure.

• Partner to preserve and strengthen the social fabric of our City by working to identify and provide services to those in need.
  Seattle City Council Home Page

Jan Drango

 

Jim Compton

 

Richards Conlin

Counsel President Chair: Governmental Affairs & Labor Committee. Position 4
 

Chair: Utilities & technology committee.
Position 9

Chair: Transportation
committee.
Position 2

David Delton

Jean Godden

Nick Licata

Chair: Parks, Neighborhoods & Education Committee.
Position 7

Chair: Energy & Environmental Policy Committee. Position 1

Chair: Public Safety, Civil Rights & Arts Committee. Position 6

Richard McIver

Tom Rasmussen

Peter Steinbrueck

Chair: Finance & Budget Committee. Position 8
 He supported installing cameras in city police cars, which is largely an African American concern. He also works for African Americans by sitting Washington State Housing Finance Commission, a quasi governmental agency working to increase housing affordability and access through the promotion of homeownership and the development of non-profit low-income housing.

Chair: Housing, Human Services & Health Committee. Position 5

Chair: Urban Development &Planning. Position 3

DONNA JAMES, DIRECTOR:

This office is a part of Seattle's office of economic development.

• The city created this office in 1994, and has since been actively marketing the city as a attractive and cost effective city to film and record in.

• As of 1996 filmmakers have had to purchase a permit to film in Seattle.

• In 2001 the city received $207 million in direct economic contributions, and $471 million total economic contributions.

• Seattle has been the filming location for over 100 movies and TV shows.

• The average wage of a film industry job in Seattle is $41,620.

• Film and video production produced 2,266 direct jobs as a whole in 2001.
  
  Filmmaking contributes to Seattle's creative environment and economy by providing employment and projects for an array of talented locals in the industry. This office helps bring revenue to independent filmmakers, studios, and musicians who are in the trade workers minority.  Seattle is also famous for its "Grunge music scene.", which is primarily composed of artists, and musicians, another minority group.
   

City of Seattle Mayor's Film & Music Office Web Site-Home Page

 
These judges are elected to judicial departments for four year terms. The majority of their workload is dedicated to jury trials and pre-trial hearings. These judges also hear sentencing, arraignments, reviews, and non jury (bench) trials. The Courts judicial officers are also empowered by the laws of the State of Washington to perform marriage ceremonies. Every other year, the judges select one judge to act as the presiding judge for a two year term. The presiding judge is responsible for oversight of all judicial departments including the Magistrate department.

Minority representation by judges, and magistrates does not exists. However a person of a minority group can become a judge or magistrate, as the picture indicates.

Municipal Court of Seattle - Home Page