2007/10/31 Council Agenda Packet

Not until my mid-teens did the civil rights movement cause me to begin to question things that were deeply imbedded in my psyche. Since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr., I have been engaged in a life-long process of overcoming the racist indoctrination of my childhood. Not only do I have memories of being the beneficiary of racially discriminatory practices, I am also aware of subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, discriminatory practices involving my gender(I am male), my economic status (decidedly middle-class)and even my height(at 5' 91/2"neither especially tall nor short.) More often than not,I have been the undeserving beneficiary of these discriminatory practices. I am enjoying my work with the county-level committee, and would relish the opportunity to continue it for the city. List past or present community involvement: As noted above, I have lived a life of service. From being a student leader in my high school band to being a founding member of a variety of organizations including a coin club, a college service fraternity(we actually rejuvenated a defunct chapter) and a number of parent booster organizations, I have always been willing to assume a leadership position. It goes without saying that a middle school or high school band or choir director is automatically recognized as a community leader, especially in smaller towns,as in four of my five job postings. Since becoming politically active in 2003, I took the initiative to create an alternate Meet-Up night for activists in the Howard Dean campaign who were, like me,unable to attend the regular Meet-Up nights; I was a co- founder of a political action committee named Democracy for Snohomish County, serving a stint as Chair, among other officer positions; I spear-headed the first-of-its- kind-in-Everett Renewable Energy Symposium and Expo in August of 2006; and I am proud to say I am a co-founder and active member of Green Everett,which,by continuing the renewable energy event, is making traditional an event that otherwise might have remained one-of-a-kind. Besides the above, I got myself appointed Precinct Committee Officer for the Democratic Party in my precinct, standing for election twice since. I also served a term as Vice-Chair of the 44`h LD Democrats and am currently Chair of the same. Though redundant, it is appropriate to point out again that I have twice run for Everett City Council, engaging in all the forums, debates,meetings and other conversations entailed therein.