Former Tacoma mayor Marilyn Strickland declares for Congress
Former Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland announced her candidacy Thursday to succeed fellow Democrat Denny Heck in the 10th congressional district.
Strickland, who is president and CEO of the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce, served two terms as Tacoma mayor from 2010 to 2017. The race to replace Heck, who announced earlier this month he is not seeking re-election, may attract a crowded field.
“I want to run for this seat because I believe there are big issues that keep recurring that need to be addressed,” Strickland told The News Tribune. “I would say housing affordability, the high cost of health care, dealing with climate change and then really transportation.”
In her statement announcing her candidacy, Strickland emphasized her track record as mayor, saying “I’ll take that same focus and energy to represent the 10th District in the other Washington.”
She lives in downtown Tacoma.
Caleb Heimlich, chairman of the state Republican Party, said Strickland does not live in the 10th congressional district. Heimlich said she’s registered to vote in the 6th, which is represented by U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer.
“She can’t even vote for herself currently. Beyond that, I don’t think Mayor Strickland’s priorities match the district. She’s been an employee up in Seattle at the Chamber,” said Heimlich, adding that he didn’t think the districts’ residents “want to have Seattle values representing them in Washington, D.C.”
The U.S. Constitution does not require a candidate or sitting House member to live in the district. The requirement for a candidate is to be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen and a resident of the state in which the House district is located.
Strickland said she plans to move into the district.
“Hopefully, I’ll do it after I’m elected,” she said, saying moving is a “pretty big, disruptive event.”
Asked to comment on Heimlich’s remarks about “Seattle values,” Strickland replied: “The reality is a lot of people who live in Tacoma, and Pierce County and even in Thurston County, commute to Seattle to go to work every day ... My home is in Tacoma and my home has been in Tacoma for a long time.”
She said she plans to step down as president and CEO of the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce, probably in late January.
Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards said Strickland’s experience with the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce “gives her a broader perspective.”
Strickland said in a written statement that “thanks to her leadership as Mayor of Tacoma, the city attracted over $1 billion worth of investment into housing, office, and retail space; boosted high school graduation rates from 55 percent to 89 percent; and will invest over $500 million in infrastructure.”
In an interview, she also cited the paid summer jobs program for youth, infrastructure spending that helped spur the Point Ruston development and transportation projects including street repairs, Sound Transit service and bike lanes.
Jim Merritt, a Tacoma architect who ran unsuccessfully for mayor against Strickland in 2009, described her as “very personable and very intelligent.”
Merritt said credit for accomplishments during her two terms as mayor should be shared with the City Council, city manager and other staff members because it’s a “team effort.” He also said Strickland should show her “commitment” to the voters by moving into the district before the election.
A native of Seoul, South Korea, Strickland grew up in a military family and is the first Korean- and African-American elected mayor of Tacoma. She attended Tacoma Public Schools, earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Washington and earned a master’s degree in business administration from Clark-Atlanta University.
This story was originally published December 19, 2019 at 11:11 AM.
