Tom Rasmussen
Tom Rasmussen | |
|---|---|
| File:2012 Inauguration (6836353207).jpg Tom Rasmussen, 2012 | |
| Member of the Seattle City Council for Position 5 | |
| In office January 1, 2004 – December 31, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Margaret Pageler |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Domestic partner | Clayton Lewis |
| Residence | West Seattle |
| Education | Pacific Lutheran University (BA) Valparaiso University (JD) |
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Thomas M. Rasmussen is a retired member of the Seattle City Council, serving from 2004 to 2015.[1]
Education and early career
[edit | edit source]Rasmussen holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Pacific Lutheran University and a J.D. from Valparaiso University.[2] After graduating, he worked at the Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for three years.[3] From 1976 to 1988, Rasmussen was a legislative aide to Seattle councilmember Jeanette Williams, working on transportation and parks projects, including construction of a new West Seattle bridge and the city's purchase of the Kubota Gardens.[3][4][5]
After Williams' election defeat in 1989, Rasmussen became a top manager at the nonprofit Senior Services of Seattle/King County.[3] In 1999, Mayor Paul Schell hired him as director of the office of senior citizens, serving until his 2003 election win.[3][5] Before running for city council, Rasmussen also chaired the parks committee of the Queen Anne Community Council.[5]
Seattle City Council
[edit | edit source]Elections
[edit | edit source]In 2003, Rasmussen ran against incumbent Margaret Pageler, citing the council's lack of focus on local issues as the reason for his candidacy.[4] In the September open primary, Pageler came in first against her five challenges, with 39% of the vote, with Rasmussen coming in second with 25%.[6] Rasmussen criticized Pageler's application to the become president of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce the prior year and for the financial crisis that Seattle City Light was facing.[3] In the November general election, Rasmussen defeated Pageler, 52% to 48%.[7][8]
Rasmussen ran for reelection in 2007 unopposed.[7][9] In his 2011 reelection bid, Rasmussen had only one challenger, Dale Pusey, which he defeated in a landslide in the general election with 72% of the vote.[7][10]
Tenure
[edit | edit source]From 2004 to 2007, he was chair of the Housing, Human Services & Health Committee and vice chair of the Urban Development & Planning Committee.[2] From 2008 to 2009, he was chair of the Parks & Seattle Center Committee, the vice chair of the Culture, Civil Rights, Health and Personnel Committee, and the Labor Policy Committee.[2]
Rasmussen chaired the Transportation Committee for his final six years in office.[2] As chair, he championed the "big dig" tunnel replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement.[11] Rasmussen also supported Proposition 1, a levy that gave new funding to Seattle transportation projects, and pushed for expanded bus services from those funds.[11] In his final year in office, he pushed for expanded bus service, using Prop 1 funds, and a new tax levy, "Bridging the Gap II."[12][13]
In 2015, Rasmussen announced he would not seek reelection, choosing not to run for the newly created District 1 seat.[12][13]
Personal life
[edit | edit source]Rasmussen is gay and is active in LGBT legal and political organizations, including as a board member of the Lambda Legal Defense Fund.[11] He lives in West Seattle with his partner Clayton Lewis.[5][12][13]
References
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