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James Street (politician)

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Jim Street
Street in 1992
Member of the Seattle City Council
from Position 7
In office
January 1, 1984 – January 3, 1996
Preceded byJack Richards
Succeeded byTina Podlodowski
President of the Seattle City Council
In office
January 1, 1994 – January 3, 1996
Preceded byGeorge Benson
Succeeded byJan Drago
King County Superior Court Judge
In office
1996–2000
Personal details
Born (1942-08-09) August 9, 1942 (age 82)
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceSeattle, WA
Alma mater

James "Jim" Street (born August 9, 1942) is an American politician. He was a Seattle City Council member from 1984 to 1996, serving as council president from 1994 to 1995. Afterward, he served as a King County Superior Court judge from 1996 to 2000.

Early life and education

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Street was born on August 9, 1942.[1] He earned his bachelor's degree and Masters of Public Affairs from Princeton University.[1] Street then served for four years in the United States Air Force as an intelligence officer.[1][2] Following the war, he worked as an economist and budget analyst for the World Bank.[1] Afterward, Street earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Puget Sound, graduating first in his class, then became a partner at a Seattle law firm before running for city council.[1][3]

Political career

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Street ran for Seattle city council in 1983, defeating incumbent Jack Richards.[1] While on council, he served as chair of the Land Use Committee (1984–1989), proposed and chaired the first council's first Education Committee (1988–1989), and chaired the Growth Policies and Regional Affairs Committee (1990–1995).[1][4] Street focused on land use and regional growth while in office, creating the Department of Neighborhoods (DON) and the development of the Neighborhood Matching Fund grant program within DON.[4] He also opposed the failed Mariner ballpark ballot measure, which would have provided subsidies for constructing a new stadium.[5]

Street unsuccessfully ran for Seattle mayor in 1989, losing in the primary.[5] In 1995, he announced he would not seek reelection.[3][5] The following year, Street ran for King County Superior Court judge, serving for four years.[3] In 2006, Street ran for the Washington State Legislature in the open District 43 seat after Representative Ed Murray announced he was running for state senate.[2][6] He came in second in the September Democratic primary to Jamie Pedersen, who would later win the seat in the safe Democratic district.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Jim Street Subject Files, 1967-1995". Archive West. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  2. ^ a b McGann, Chris (August 20, 2006). "His last name is no coincidence: Transportation key to Jim Street". Seattle Post Intelligencer. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Ex-Councilman To Run For Judge". The Seattle Times. July 11, 1996. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Street (Jim) Interview". University of Washington. 1992. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "Farewell To Jim Street, Good Servant And Wonk". The Seattle Times. December 25, 1995. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Sanders, Eli (September 28, 2006). "The Gay Seat". The Stranger. Retrieved January 19, 2025.