FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2012
MEDIA CONTACTS
Gwen Schuler, Community Relations, gwendolyn.schuler@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5160
Maria Lee, Community Relations, maria.lee@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2054
Today, Mayor Marilyn Strickland was selected as one of 15 rising leaders from across the United States to join the NewDEAL, a national network that is committed to highlighting state and local elected officials who are pro-growth progressives.
“I am honored to join these leaders from across the country who have worked to champion ideas that build growth in their communities,” said Mayor Strickland. “I grew up in South Tacoma, and I’ve been a downtown resident for over a decade. I believe in the potential of Tacoma, and I am committed to helping it become a model city for the Pacific Northwest.”
Gov. Martin O’Malley of Maryland and U.S. Senator Mark Begich of Alaska, honorary chairs of the NewDEAL, recognized Mayor Strickland for the breadth and depth of her work. Now in the third year of her first term as mayor, she has championed several initiatives that will benefit residents, neighborhoods and businesses in the greater Tacoma region.
These include making significant infrastructure investments at the Point Ruston waterfront to spur development and improve public access; raising the city’s business and occupation tax threshold from $75,000 to $250,000 – providing tax relief for 5000 small businesses; partnering with the Port of Tacoma, University of Washington Tacoma, the Puget Sound Partnership and the Center for Urban Waters to launch a clean water research and science hub that seeks to promote innovation and entrepreneurship; conducting a citywide assessment to develop strategies focused on youth gang prevention; launching a citywide community gardens initiative with the goal of making Tacoma the city with the highest number of community gardens per capita.
Mayor Strickland also spearheaded the creation of the City of Destiny Scholarships with the College Success Foundation to promote college readiness and internships for students in high demand occupations such as nursing, environmental science, engineering and other fields related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Sworn in as mayor of Tacoma in January 2010, Mayor Strickland previously served as a city council member. Born in Seoul, Korea, she is a graduate of the University of Washington and holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Clark-Atlanta University. She has professional experience in both the private and public sectors. She served as development officer for the Tacoma Public Library and has held management positions with the American Cancer Society, Starbucks Coffee Company and JayRay Communications where she worked with Tacoma Public Utilities to help launch Click!Network, America’s first municipally owned telecommunications network.
Mayor Strickland serves on several local, regional and national boards. She is chair of the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System Board of Directors and the Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners. She also serves on the advisory board at the University of Washington Tacoma, is on the Tacoma Pierce County Economic Development Board executive committee, the Sound Transit Board of Commissioners operations committee, the Puget Sound Regional Council executive committee, the U.S. Conference of Mayors Education Reform Task Force, the U.S. Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Council and the U.S. Small Business Administration Advisory Council for Underserved Communities.
About the NewDEAL
The NewDEAL is committed to helping pro-growth progressive leaders share their innovative ideas, and the public is encouraged to nominate state and local elected leaders on its website: newDEALLeaders.org.
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