(Seattle, Washington) Tim Burgess officially began his campaign Tuesday November 27 to become Seattle’s next Mayor when he filed disclosure reports with the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission. “I’m running for Mayor because we urgently need a leader who can bring people together to get things done.” Burgess said.
Now in his second term on the Seattle City Council, Burgess has a unique breadth of experience
as a former journalist, poverty relief worker, police officer and small business owner. The filing of the campaign compliance reports made Burgess’ entry into the race official after months of rumors and speculation. The campaign also launched its website at www.BurgessForMayor.com.
“All across Seattle, people have said they want bolder thinking, more inclusive and more
effective leadership from City Hall to bring people together and get things done,” Burgess said. “With focused and clear leadership, we can accomplish great things for the people of Seattle.
“Seattle is an amazingly wonderful city and we can be very proud of our accomplishments. Our
future can be even brighter if we work together to build an economy of the future, with more family wage jobs, with equity and justice for all, environmental health and sustainability, high quality early childhood services, and excellence in our public schools.
“Throughout my life, I have witnessed what can be accomplished when people have the courage
and conviction to join together and champion what they believe in. I saw this 40 years ago as a young journalist when police officers stood up and said “no more” to the entrenched corruption that gripped City Hall. I saw it in 2008 when people responded to my plan to open a residential care and treatment facility for prostituted children with contributions of hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is the kind of
leadership I will provide as Mayor for all the people of Seattle.”
Burgess has spent considerable time in recent years as a champion of education reform and early
childhood interventions.
Burgess said his campaign will focus on protecting and caring for the city’s most vulnerable
people; building trust and respect between the people and police officers and shifting policing strategies to focus more on preventing crime, not just responding to it; building effective transportation systems, fixing what we have, finishing what we’ve started and creating true regional partnerships for better, quicker and environmentally smart mobility; and dramatically improving early childhood interventions and public schools.
Burgess was born and raised in Seattle, attended Stevens Elementary, Lincoln High School, and
the University of Washington. He and his wife, Joleen, live in the Queen Anne neighborhood where they raised three daughters—all graduates of Seattle Public Schools.
Burgess was first elected to the City Council in 2007, defeating an incumbent with 63% of the
vote, and was re-elected in 2011 with 83%. In both of his Council campaigns, Burgess received the highest rating of OUTSTANDING from the nonpartisan Municipal League of King County. In his 2011 race, he won endorsement from most of the city’s labor and Democratic organizations.
Prior to joining the City Council, Burgess served on the city’s Ethics and Elections Commission
for 12 years, five years as its chairperson. On the Council, Burgess has chaired the Public Safety and Education Committee and the Government Performance and Finance Committee.
