Mayor's Technology Summit:
Homeland Security, Safety and Economic Development
Greg Nickels
Mayor
Seattle, Washington
Seattle
Mayor Greg Nickels has earned a reputation for his innovative leadership
to address transportation, public safety, economic opportunity and other
challenges facing the city of Seattle.
Nickels became the 51st Mayor of the city of Seattle when he took office on January 1, 2002. His priorities as mayor are to build a 21st century transportation system that can move goods and people around the region more efficiently, protect public safety, create economic opportunity and restore neighborhood vitality.
During his first year in office, Nickels worked to strengthen basic city services. He led an effort to win voter approval of an $86 million housing levy, launched a new Emergency Preparedness Bureau in the Seattle Police Department, strengthened finances at Seattle City Light, restructured departments, and pushed customer service by launching 684-CITY, a one-stop, easy-to-remember phone number for city services.
He began his public service at age 19 with the city of Seattle and in 1979 joined the office of Seattle City Councilmember Norm Rice as his legislative assistant. He served in that capacity until his successful 1987 campaign for the King County Council.
As chair of the Seattle/King County Board of Health, he earned a reputation for protecting our children. He took on the tobacco industry advertising aimed at kids and had the Marlboro Man banned from the Kingdome. He succeeded in removing graphically violent video games from Seattle Center.
Nickels has also been in the forefront of the fight for more parks and green space. Nickels has been a passionate advocate of creating a mass transit system and improving bus transit for the Seattle region. He serves on the executive committee and board of directors of Sound Transit.
Nickels graduated from the University of Washington.