Richard Conlin Subject Files

Richard Conlin served on Seattle City Council for 16 years, from 1998 to 2013. He defeated Sherry Harris in the election of November 1997; Harris was attempting to regain a seat on Council after being defeated in 1995. Conlin was elected by his colleagues to serve as Council President for the terms 2008-2009 and 2010-2011, joining Sam Smith and David Levine as the only Council members to serve consecutive terms in that capacity since adoption of the 1946 City Charter. During his four terms on Council, Conlin chaired the following regular committees: •Neighborhoods, Growth Planning, and Civic Engagement (1998-1999) •Neighborhoods, Sustainability, and Community Development (2000-2001) •Transportation (2002-2005) •Environment, Emergency Management, and Utilities (2006-2009) •Regional Development and Sustainability (2010-2011) •Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability (2012-2013). In addition, Conlin chaired several long-term and short-term special committees including: •Special Committee for the Retreat (2010) •City Clerk Selection Evaluation Committee (2010) •Special Committee on Domestic Violence, Sexual Harassment, and Stalking in the Workplace Training (2010) •Special Committee on the SR520 Project (2010-2013) •Special Committee on Yesler Terrace (2011) •Special Committee on Legislative Department Planning (2011) •Special Committee on the Library Levy (2011-2012) •Special Committee on South Lake Union (2013) Conlin’s committee work reflected his primary interests on Council, especially related to sustainable development, neighborhoods, environmentalism, and transportation concerns. Elected as an environmentalist and neighborhood advocate, he championed zero waste strategies, salmon population enhancement, the local food action initiative, and has been touted at a leader of Seattle’s green revolution. Although elected as a progressive thinker and even being identified with the Green Party, Conlin was later criticized as a moderate—some even tarred him as a conservative—particularly for three positions he took late in his tenure. He supported the deep-bore tunnel to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct in opposition to Mayor Mike McGinn; in 2010 he voted for an ordinance to curb aggressive panhandling; and his was the only vote on the Council against a paid sick-leave ordinance (he agreed with the principle, but not the way the ordinance set it up). Late in his tenure, Conlin cast a controversial vote opposing the financing plan for a new sports arena in Seattle’s Sodo neighborhood backed by venture capitalist Chris Hansen. The King County Council backed the plan unanimously; the City Council voted 7-2 in favor of the plan with only Conlin and Nick Licata opposing it. Conlin’s support for the deep-bore tunnel led to a citizen effort to recall him. The 2011 recall effort cited Conlin for three alleged violations of law: signing the draft environmental-impact statement of the proposed Seattle waterfront tunnel in lieu of Mayor Mike McGinn, colluding with City Attorney Peter Holmes, and failing to place a certified initiative on the ballot. On July 22, 2011, King County Superior Court Judge Carol Schapira dismissed the recall petition, ruling that it could not go forward because there was no proof of malfeasance nor had Conlin committed an illegal act. Conlin was narrowly defeated for reelection in 2013 by Socialist Alternative candidate Kshama Sawant, a Seattle Central Community College and Seattle University economics professor. Sawant won by 1.7 percent of the vote. Conlin was born on May 1, 1948, in Washington DC. He received a B.A. in History from Michigan State University in 1968, as well as a Master's degree in Political Science in 1971. He was elected to two terms (1973–1976) as an Ingham County Commissioner, representing part of the City of East Lansing. He later taught public administration at the University of Botswana and University of Swaziland. Prior to being elected to Seattle City Council, Conlin directed the Community and Environment Division at Metrocenter YMCA from 1985 to 1996, where he established the Earth Service Corps, expanded the Master Home Environmentalist certification (aimed at household waste and pollution), and co-founded the policy group Sustainable Seattle. After leaving City Council, he founded Richard Conlin & Associates, a consulting firm that works with citizens and local governments to create resilient, sustainable communities for all. He also is affiliate faculty at both the Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington; and Antioch University Seattle.