Marilyn Strickland Joins the Mayoral Race
Tacoma City Councilwoman Marilyn Strickland just announced that she is joining the race for mayor. From her press release:
Strickland is running for mayor because she believes that Tacoma has made dramatic progress over the past decade and must maintain its momentum. “The current economic climate has touched each and every one of us. It’s important that we evaluate our priorities and shape a collective vision for our city that will serve as our road map for the future. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we build alliances and work toward shared goals,” says Strickland.
“From our magnificent waterfront to our unique neighborhoods and business districts, we must protect and nurture our assets. If we take care of what we have and make smart policy decisions, the rest will follow. We will attract private investment, create jobs and open doors of opportunity, “ says Strickland.
Now things are getting interesting. Now we have a race! Anybody else?
More information at StricklandForMayor.com
Previously – Jim Merritt Running for Mayor
Filed under: General
13 comments
R RR Anderson March 17, 2009
tom stenger come on dowwwwwwwn!
M Mort March 18, 2009
Good grief… does she even pay any property taxes???? Second the comment Stenger where are you?
J jdub March 18, 2009
sweat pea! (it would be colorful . . . .)
P Patricia March 18, 2009
Good luck!
R RR Anderson March 20, 2009
how many pages is Ms. Strickland’s resume?
P pegsterdtown March 20, 2009
Well RR I believe that Ms. Strickland could and would do a better job than our esteemed mayor that we have now. Ms. Strickland genuinely cares about our city and what the future will bring.
I believe this will be a step in the right direction. But now for the big question….. Where is Marty Campbell? I cannot believe he would let an opportunity like this pass him by.
J J. Cote March 20, 2009
The fact that she considers the past decade to be “dramatic progress” is indicative that she has NO grasp of what is going on. Her voice has been merely a rubber stamp of the “St. Helens Ave Clique”. Claims that she’ll do a better job than Baarsma are somewhat ridiculous. To do better than a minimalist is a shallow claim, indeed.
P pegsterdtown March 20, 2009
I already knew that Marty was running for council. I just thought that he wanted to be at the top of the heap……
U uoaaa181 March 21, 2009
I thought we were a Council/Manager form of government in Tacoma. Please correct me if this has changed over the last 8 years. If we ARE still a Council/Manager city, I’m a bit lost as to why we pay so much more attention to who runs for Mayor than who runs for City Council. The City Council sets the policies, the City Manager implements the policies. The Mayor is part of the decision making process but is only one of many. The Mayor cannot effectively act on his (we’ve only had one woman Mayor in the history of Tacoma) own. To some degree it is more of a ceremonial role. Although they do appoint to some of the commissions.
If someone really wants to have an impact a council seat is where they should aim.
E Erik B. March 22, 2009
I’m a bit lost as to why we pay so much more attention to who runs for Mayor than who runs for City Council.
It’s true uoaaa181 that the Mayor in Tacoma only has one vote on the council as do other councilmembers.
However, the mayor gets to chair the City Council meetings and vote on substantive issues. In the “strong mayor” form of govenment, the council comes up with the legislation alone and is able to elect their own chair and then left to veto council actions which occurs rarely. Thus, the veto power in the strong mayor forms of govenment is pretty useless.
The mayor also gets a far stronger bully pulpit than the other city councilmembers and no doubt has a far greater influence on the City Manager than the other councilmembers.
Many directions by the mayor create a presumption for staff action which cannot be overruled without 5 other city councilmembers lining up which rarely happens.
M morgan March 23, 2009
The Mayor is also the only full-time elected position. The rest of the council reads their weekly 500+ page memo from the City Manager on their drive in to the weekly meeting.
R Rachel March 28, 2009
Let me guess isn’t Marilyn the same person who does NOT pay property taxes?? And get the Condo exemption? She is another loser. If she is so damn intelligent why does she work at Bates (my Eberesole payout/pal) place. Come on folks, she is another hack placed there by the Ebersole, Black Collective to move $$ from the city pockets to their sticky hands and for non-profit orgs. Good grief.
J J. Cote March 30, 2009
Morgan@12: You could not have described politics in Tacoma better. I’ll add a little to it though.
The Mayor is the full-time guy that tells the part-timers how he wants them to vote and why he’s right. They discuss this at “Executive Sessions” and “Commitee Meetings” that used to be held at the Parkway Tavern, but now are held at an undisclosed location. (Lonergan’s secret tree fort in the woods across the street from the Mission. It used to be disguised as a homeless shanty, but was accidently torn down).
I hope that this clears up any confusion.