Marilyn Strickland

Washington
Major of Tacoma
Type of Seat: 
Open Seat
Year: 
2009
Status: 
Elected
Woman Candidate: 
Woman Candidate

Marilyn Strickland, whom we recruited and successfully fielded in 2007 for Tacoma City Council, was elected mayor of Tacoma. The seat was vacated by the incumbent due to term limits. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Marilyn's parents moved to Tacoma when her father was stationed at Fort Lewis a little over 40 years ago. A graduate of the University of Washington, Marilyn earned an MBA from Clark-Atlanta University and is the Interim Director of Marketing & Communications for Bates Technical College. She has worked in both public and private sectors, holding marketing positions with the American Cancer Society and Starbucks, and has an extensive list of non-profit boards she was served on. She is the first woman of color to be elected mayor of a major city in the state.