Richard Conlin
Encyclopedia
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 and was unanimously reelected on 4 January 2010.
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.
(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. http://www.munileague.org/candidate-evaluations/previous-ratings/2009/candidate-questionnaires/ConlinQCEC09.pdf
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
.
Conlin spent time teaching public administration at the University of Botswana
and University of Swaziland
.
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.
Seattle 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....
, 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 and was unanimously reelected on 4 January 2010.
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 UniversityMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
(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. http://www.munileague.org/candidate-evaluations/previous-ratings/2009/candidate-questionnaires/ConlinQCEC09.pdf
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
Sustainable Seattle
Sustainable Seattle is a non-profit organization that promotes sustainability in the Central Puget Sound. It was officially founded as a non-profit in 1991 by a small group of six people who quickly became twelve. Sustainable Seattle was the first organization to create regional indicators for...
.
Conlin spent time teaching public administration at the University of Botswana
University of Botswana
The University of Botswana, or UB was established in 1982 as the first institution of higher education in Botswana. The university has four campuses: two in the capital city Gaborone, one in Francistown, and another in Maun. The university is divided into six faculties: Business, Education,...
and University of Swaziland
University of Swaziland
The University of Swaziland developed from the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland , formerly known as the University of Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland , which had its headquarters in Lesotho between 1964 and 1975. It eventually became the University of Botswana and Swaziland in...
.
Plastic Bag Controversy
Conlin sponsored the 2007 Zero Waste Strategy, Resolution 30990 which directed Seattle Public UtilitiesSeattle Public Utilities
Seattle Public Utilities is a public utility agency of the city of Seattle, Washington, which provides water, sewer, drainage and garbage services for 1.3 million people in King County, Washington...
to produce recommendations on how to eliminate residential solid waste, including whether to ban or tax plastic shopping bags and Styrofoam
Styrofoam
Styrofoam is a trademark of The Dow Chemical Company for closed-cell currently made for thermal insulation and craft applications. In 1941, researchers in Dow's Chemical Physics Lab found a way to make foamed polystyrene...
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.