Richard McIver facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard McIver
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| Member of the Seattle City Council, Position 8 |
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| In office 1997–2010 |
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| Preceded by | John Manning |
| Succeeded by | Mike O'Brien |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Richard Jeffrey McIver
June 14, 1941 Seattle, Washington |
| Died | March 9, 2013 (aged 71) Seattle, Washington |
| Website | http://www.seattle.gov/council/mciver/ |
Richard McIver (born June 14, 1941 – died March 9, 2013) was an important leader in Seattle, Washington. He served as a member of the Seattle City Council for many years. The City Council is a group of elected officials who make decisions for the city.
McIver first joined the Council in January 1997. He was chosen from many people who wanted the job. Later that year, he was elected by the people of Seattle. He was re-elected two more times, in 2001 and 2005.
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Who Was Richard McIver?
Richard Jeffrey McIver was born in Seattle, Washington. He spent most of his life helping his community. He was known for caring deeply about the people he represented.
What Did Richard McIver Do on the City Council?
As a City Council member, Richard McIver worked on many important issues. He led several committees that focused on different parts of city life.
- Finance & Budget Committee: This committee handled the city's money and how it was spent. McIver was the leader of this committee for several years.
- Housing & Economic Development Committee: He also led this group, which worked on making sure people had good places to live and that businesses could grow.
- Other Committees: He was also part of committees that looked at the environment, emergency plans, and transportation.
Richard McIver's Focus on Rainier Valley
McIver was especially connected to a neighborhood in Seattle called Rainier Valley. This area had many different communities and some families who needed extra support.
He worked hard to help Rainier Valley. One of his biggest achievements was creating a special fund. This fund, worth $50 million, helped develop the community. He wanted to make sure that new projects, like the Link light rail train, would help local businesses and families, especially those owned by immigrants and minority groups.
Richard McIver and the 2001 Election
In his 2001 re-election campaign, Richard McIver ran against a person named Grant Cogswell. Cogswell was a music writer and a supporter of building a monorail system in Seattle.
Their campaign was even featured in a movie! The film was called Grassroots. In the movie, a famous actor named Cedric the Entertainer played the role of Richard McIver.
A Moment of Understanding
During big protests in Seattle in 1999, Richard McIver had an experience that stayed with him. He was on his way to an official dinner when a police officer stopped him. The officer did not know he was a City Council member.
This moment was important to McIver. It showed him that some people might not expect an African American person to be a city leader. He used this experience to work even harder for fairness and understanding in the city.
Later Life and Legacy
In February 2009, Richard McIver announced that he would not seek re-election. He decided it was time to step down from his role on the City Council.
Richard McIver passed away on March 9, 2013, in Seattle. He was 71 years old. He is remembered for his dedication to Seattle and his efforts to help all its communities thrive.
Images for kids
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Richard McIver in 2002.
