Sally J. Clark

Sally Clark
Sally Clark with a kitten at Seattle Animal Shelter, 2010
Member of the Seattle City Council
Position 9
In office
January 27, 2006 – April 4, 2015
Preceded byJim Compton
Succeeded byJohn Okamoto
President of the Seattle City Council
In office
January 3, 2012 – January 3, 2014
Preceded byRichard Conlin
Succeeded byTim Burgess
Personal details
SpouseLiz Ford
ResidenceSeattle, WA
EducationUniversity of Washington (BA, MPA)
Websitehttp://www.seattle.gov/council/clark/

Sally J. Clark is a former member of the Seattle City Council for Position 9 from 2006-2015.

Early Career

Clark started her career as a print journalist before working for the Chicken Soup Brigade in communications.[1] In 1997, Clark worked in Seattle city councilmember Tina Podlodowski, focusing on neighborhood development and public safety.[1]

Clark’s career also includes work with Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods, the Metropolitan King County Council, Northwest Association for Housing Affordability, and Lifelong AIDS Alliance.[1][2]

Seattle City Council

2006 Appointment and Election

Clark was appointed to fill the vacant seat formerly occupied by Jim Compton in January 2006.[3] In November, she was elected to a one-year term, defeating opponent Stan Lippmann 75% to 23%.[4]

2007 Election

Clark ran for a four-year term in 2007, running against three challengers.[5] She would get in first with an overwhelming majority of 68%, with challenger, Judy Fenton, only receiving 12%.[6] In the November General Election, Clark would win in a landslide and Fenton, 78% to 22%.[7]

2011 elections

Clark ran for a second four-year term in 2011 against two challengers, Dian Ferguson and Fathi Karshie.[8] Both challengers would label Clark as a "follower" and "slow."[8] Clark would focus her campaign on the city budget, supporting the creation and retention of small businesses, and homelessness.[9]

Clark would win the August primary, with 72% of the vote, with Ferguson coming in second with 22%.[10] In the general election, Clark would defeat Ferguson, 65% to 35%.[7]

Tenure

Clark also served as the Chair of the Select Committee on Minimum Wage and Income Inequality and the Chair of the Select Committee on Taxi, For-Hire, and Limousine Regulations. Clark was additionally a member of the council's Energy Committee and Education and Governance Committee. During her time on the city council and as the Chair of the Committee on the Built Environment.[1]

In 2012, the council voted her council president, a role she would stay in until 2013.[1][11]

In office, she updated the city's "multifamily code" to increase incentives for building low-income housing, expanded Seattle Children's.[8] Clark spearheaded a vote intended to limit the ability of popular ride share companies to operate, by capping the number of drivers they could employ at any time.[12] The movement, led by Sally, passed the Seattle City Council 6-3 on March 17.[13]

In 2012, while serving in her official capacity, Clark struck a bicyclist while driving, opening the city to legal liability for any costs beyond the $25,000 covered by her car insurance.[14] A settlement was reached. The bicyclist received $400,000, with the city paying $375,000.[15]

Throughout her tenure, Clark was labeled "moderate," "a follower," and "indecisive."[8][11][16]

In February 2015, Clark announced that she would not seek reelection[17]. In April, she announced she would resign from her seat to take a job at the University of Washington.[2]

Education

Clark is a graduate of the University of Washington (BAs in Political Science and Spanish, and an MPA from the UW’s Evans School of Public Affairs).[18]

In 2012, Clark completed Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government as a David Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow. She is a 2013-2014 Aspen Rodel Fellow.[18]

Personal life

Sally and her partner, Liz, live in the Brighton neighborhood of Southeast Seattle near Seward Park.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Sally Clark Records, 2003-2015". Archives West. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b Balta, Victor (April 2, 2015). "Sally Clark named UW director of regional and community relations". UW News. University of Washington. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Former council aide to replace Compton". The Seattle Times. 2006-01-27. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
  4. ^ "King County Election Results". King County Elections. 28 November 2006. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  5. ^ St. Clair, Tim (19 June 2007). "Ever vote for a candidate who is not a Democrat?". Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Official Election Results". King County Elections. 5 September 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  7. ^ a b "General and Special Elections". Seattle Municipal Archives. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d Heffter, Emily (August 9, 2011). "Sally Clark a target of Seattle City Council primary challengers". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  9. ^ Barnett, Erica C. (July 7, 2011). "Campaign Fizz: City Council Member Sally Clark". Seattle Met. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Official Final Primary and Special Election". King County Elections. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  11. ^ a b Thompson, Lynn (January 25, 2012). "Hail to the chief: Sally Clark takes on new role as Seattle Council president". Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Should Seattle City Council impose a cap on rideshare services Lyft, uberX, and Sidecar?". The Seattle Times. 2014-02-25. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  13. ^ "Council places limits on number of rideshare drivers". The Seattle Times. 2014-03-17. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  14. ^ Fucoloro, Tom (November 26, 2014). "Sally Clark struck person biking in Tacoma + Why she should become leader for safe streets". Seattle Bike Blog. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  15. ^ Miletich, Steve (May 13, 2016). "Cyclist struck by then-Seattle Councilmember Sally Clark to get $400,000 settlement". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  16. ^ Holden, Dominic (August 12, 2011). "Sally Clark Has Decided That She'll Do Whatever Everyone Else Is Doing". The Stranger. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  17. ^ Wing, Jennifer (February 19, 2015). "Seattle City Council Member Sally Clark Won't Run For Reelection". KNKX. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Sally Clark appointed to Seattle Housing Authority Board". Seattle Housing Authority. January 4, 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
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