Greg Nickels
Encyclopedia
Gregory J. "Greg" Nickels (born August 7, 1955) was the 51st mayor of Seattle, Washington. He took office on January 1, 2002 and was reelected to a second term in 2005. In August 2009
, Nickels finished third in the primary election
for Seattle mayor, failing to qualify for the November 2009 general election, and losing his bid for a third term as mayor. He left office on January 1, 2010.
and attended the University of Washington
, but left before graduating to pursue his passion for politics.
He now lives in West Seattle with his wife Sharon. They have two children, Jacob and Carey.
member and future mayor Norm Rice
from 1979 to 1987. Nickels was elected to the King County Council
in 1987, defeating longtime incumbent Bob Grieve, and reelected in 1991, 1995 and 1999. In 2001, he was elected Mayor of Seattle and was re-elected in 2005. Nickels ran for a third term in 2009, but he failed to advance to the general election after coming in third place in the primary election held in August 2009.
Nickels has had several notable events during his tenure as mayor of Seattle. In 2003, he helped to break ground for the Sound Transit Link light rail
project in November, and signed an executive order in 2004 giving equal rights to everyone who is married and works for Seattle city government regardless of sexual orientation.
Nickels' popularity began to decline in July 2008, when the Seattle SuperSonics
NBA franchise relocated to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
after a lawsuit against the team's ownership group was settled out of court – an outcome in which Nickels' administration, as well as Washington State lawmakers were faulted by many Seattle sports fans for not doing enough to keep the team in Seattle.
In addition, in December 2008, Nickels came under fire from some Seattle citizens after the city's policy of not using salt for snow removal due to potential environmental concerns contributed to a paralysis of the city's transportation systems after an unusual snowstorm blanketed the city in the greatest snowfalls it had seen since December 26–29, 1996 (the Seattle "snowpack", which began accumulating on December 13, did not melt until December 27, the longest period of time snow had remained on the ground in Seattle since the mid-1980s).
Due to disapproval of Nickels' handling of illegal tent cities in Seattle, a tent city community in the Seattle area is known colloquially as "Nickelsville".
A late 2008 poll of likely Seattle voters reflected dissatisfaction with the incumbent mayor, showing that 31% approved of Nickels's performance as mayor while 57% disapproved. Nickels' low popularity numbers did not recover by August 2009, when he was defeated in the primary election in his bid for a third term as Seattle's mayor. In Nickels' concession defeat, he thanked Seattle voters and noted, "Twice they gave me the honor of doing this. They want a new generation of leadership."
Nickels left Seattle to pursue a teaching position at Harvard University.
and served as the President of the United States Conference of Mayors
, but left that post on the day he left office as Seattle mayor. Nickels served on the board of directors of Sound Transit
. Since 2003, he has also been the chair of the Transportation and Communications Committee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and served on the Conference's Board of Trustees.
Nickels is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
, a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino
and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg
.
He was the key negotiator for the City of Seattle in accepting $45 million up front from the Bennett Group to move the Seattle Supersonics of the NBA to Oklahoma City.
. The primary goal of the agenda is to reduce Seattle’s greenhouse gas emissions “to meet or beat” the levels stipulated in the Kyoto protocols. Nickels spearheaded the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, an accord between over 600 US cities committed to reducing greenhouse emissions. Nickels won the 2006 Climate Protection Award from the Environmental Protection Agency
, the 2006 Edgar Wayburn Award for Environmental leadership from the National Sierra Club
, and the 2006 National Conservation Achievement Award from the National Wildlife Federation
.
Seattle mayoral election, 2009
The 2009 Seattle mayoral election took place November 3, 2009.Incumbent Mayor Greg Nickels sought reelection but finished third in the August 18, 2009 primary election. The general election was instead between Joe Mallahan and Michael McGinn...
, Nickels finished third in the primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
for Seattle mayor, failing to qualify for the November 2009 general election, and losing his bid for a third term as mayor. He left office on January 1, 2010.
Personal biography
Nickels, the oldest of six siblings, was born in Chicago to Bob and Kathie Nickels. In 1961, his family moved to Seattle, where he graduated from Seattle Preparatory SchoolSeattle Preparatory School
Seattle Preparatory School, popularly known as Seattle Prep is a private Jesuit high school located on Capitol Hill, in Seattle. It was founded in 1891 and has maintained a long history of academic excellence. The school regularly sends many of its students to Ivy League and 'highly selective'...
and attended the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, but left before graduating to pursue his passion for politics.
He now lives in West Seattle with his wife Sharon. They have two children, Jacob and Carey.
Political career
Nickels was legislative assistant to Seattle City CouncilSeattle City Council
The Seattle City Council is committed to ensuring that Seattle, Washington, is safe, livable and sustainable. Nine Councilmembers are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections and represent the entire city, elected by all Seattle voters....
member and future mayor Norm Rice
Norm Rice
Norman Blann Rice was the 49th mayor of Seattle, Washington, serving two terms from 1989-1997. Rice was Seattle's first, and to date only, African-American mayor.-Early life:...
from 1979 to 1987. Nickels was elected to the King County Council
King County Council
The Metropolitan King County Council, the legislative body of King County, Washington, consists of nine members elected by district. The Council adopts laws, sets policy, and holds final approval over the budget...
in 1987, defeating longtime incumbent Bob Grieve, and reelected in 1991, 1995 and 1999. In 2001, he was elected Mayor of Seattle and was re-elected in 2005. Nickels ran for a third term in 2009, but he failed to advance to the general election after coming in third place in the primary election held in August 2009.
Nickels has had several notable events during his tenure as mayor of Seattle. In 2003, he helped to break ground for the Sound Transit Link light rail
Link Light Rail
Sound Transit Link Light Rail is a rapid transit project in the Greater Seattle region, originally approved by a ballot measure in November 1996. Two lines are currently operating as of 2009: Tacoma Link, which uses 3 vehicles built by Škoda, and Central Link, which uses 35 vehicles built by Kinki...
project in November, and signed an executive order in 2004 giving equal rights to everyone who is married and works for Seattle city government regardless of sexual orientation.
Nickels' popularity began to decline in July 2008, when the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
NBA franchise relocated to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Seattle SuperSonics relocation to Oklahoma City
The Seattle SuperSonics relocation to Oklahoma City was a successful effort by the ownership group of the Seattle SuperSonics to move the team to Oklahoma City...
after a lawsuit against the team's ownership group was settled out of court – an outcome in which Nickels' administration, as well as Washington State lawmakers were faulted by many Seattle sports fans for not doing enough to keep the team in Seattle.
In addition, in December 2008, Nickels came under fire from some Seattle citizens after the city's policy of not using salt for snow removal due to potential environmental concerns contributed to a paralysis of the city's transportation systems after an unusual snowstorm blanketed the city in the greatest snowfalls it had seen since December 26–29, 1996 (the Seattle "snowpack", which began accumulating on December 13, did not melt until December 27, the longest period of time snow had remained on the ground in Seattle since the mid-1980s).
Due to disapproval of Nickels' handling of illegal tent cities in Seattle, a tent city community in the Seattle area is known colloquially as "Nickelsville".
A late 2008 poll of likely Seattle voters reflected dissatisfaction with the incumbent mayor, showing that 31% approved of Nickels's performance as mayor while 57% disapproved. Nickels' low popularity numbers did not recover by August 2009, when he was defeated in the primary election in his bid for a third term as Seattle's mayor. In Nickels' concession defeat, he thanked Seattle voters and noted, "Twice they gave me the honor of doing this. They want a new generation of leadership."
Nickels left Seattle to pursue a teaching position at Harvard University.
Affiliations
Nickels is a member of the Washington State Democratic PartyWashington State Democratic Party
The Washington State Democratic Party is the local Democratic Party branch in the State of Washington, headquartered in the Broderick Building in Downtown Seattle. It is also commonly referred to as the Washington State Democrats and the Washington Democratic Party.-Washington State Democratic...
and served as the President of the United States Conference of Mayors
United States Conference of Mayors
United States Conference of Mayors, sometimes referred to as the United States Council of Mayors, is the official non-partisan organization for cities with populations of 30,000 or more. The cities are each represented by their mayor or other chief elected official...
, but left that post on the day he left office as Seattle mayor. Nickels served on the board of directors of Sound Transit
Sound Transit
Sound Transit has been the popular name of Washington state's Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority since September 19, 1999. It was formed in 1996 by the Snohomish, King, and Pierce County Councils...
. Since 2003, he has also been the chair of the Transportation and Communications Committee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and served on the Conference's Board of Trustees.
Nickels is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a coalition of over 600 mayors who support a number of gun control initiatives that the group calls "commonsense reforms" to fight illegal gun trafficking and gun violence in the United States...
, a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino
Thomas Menino
Thomas Michael "Tom" Menino is the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the city's first Italian-American mayor...
and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
.
He was the key negotiator for the City of Seattle in accepting $45 million up front from the Bennett Group to move the Seattle Supersonics of the NBA to Oklahoma City.
Environmental record
In 2005, Nickels announced an “Environmental Action Agenda” with the goal of protecting air quality and public healthPublic health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
. The primary goal of the agenda is to reduce Seattle’s greenhouse gas emissions “to meet or beat” the levels stipulated in the Kyoto protocols. Nickels spearheaded the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, an accord between over 600 US cities committed to reducing greenhouse emissions. Nickels won the 2006 Climate Protection Award from the Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
, the 2006 Edgar Wayburn Award for Environmental leadership from the National Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
, and the 2006 National Conservation Achievement Award from the National Wildlife Federation
National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation is the United States' largest private, nonprofit conservation education and advocacy organization, with over four million members and supporters, and 48 state and territorial affiliated organizations...
.
External links
- Seattle Mayor's Office
- Mayor leads crusade against global warming: Seattle's Greg Nickels interviewed about how he got peers to go along, June 20, 2005
- Mayor Greg Nickels' Climate Protection Page
- Mayor Signs Executive Order Recognizing Same Sex Marriage
- CityMayors profile
- http://www.komonews.com/news/22854199.html