Marilyn Strickland

Early life and education

Strickland was born on September 25, 1962, in Seoul, South Korea, the daughter of Inmin Kim, a Korean, and Willie Strickland, an African-American serviceman. She and her family moved to Tacoma, Washington, in 1967 after her father was stationed at Fort Lewis. She was raised in Tacoma's South End neighborhood and attended Mount Tahoma High School. Strickland earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business from the University of Washington and a Master of Business Administration from Clark Atlanta University. She is married to Patrick Erwin.

Career

After graduating from the University of Washington, Strickland took a job at Northern Life Insurance doing clerical work. At a luncheon, she was introduced to Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, who suggested that she further her education.

After earning a Master of Business Administration from Clark Atlanta University, Strickland joined Starbucks as a manager of its online business. She then moved on to help launch the City of Tacoma's public broadband cable service Click!, working with an advertisement agency to help grow public support.

After years in the private sector, Strickland was elected to the Tacoma City Council. She served as a council member for two years before being selected to serve as mayor from 2010 to 2018.

Strickland was the first Asian-born elected mayor of Tacoma, as well as the first African-American woman in that office. She used connections in China and Vietnam to draw foreign investors, culminating in Chinese president Xi Jinping's visit to Tacoma.

In May 2010, the Tacoma Board of Ethics sanctioned Strickland for accepting frequent flyer miles from a local businessman for an official trip to Asia. She accepted the sanction and returned the value of the frequent flyer miles to the businessman.

After her mayoralty, Strickland was approached by the pro-business Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce to serve as its president. During her tenure as president of the chamber of commerce, she opposed the Seattle head tax.

Strickland has been described as a political moderate or centrist.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2020

Strickland left the Chamber in early 2020, declaring her candidacy for Washington's 10th congressional district in the 2020 election, a seat being vacated by incumbent Denny Heck. She was endorsed by several politicians and newspapers. In the August 4 jungle primary, Strickland placed first in a field of 19 candidates. She and the second-place finisher, Democratic state representative Beth Doglio, advanced to the November general election.

In the November general election, Strickland defeated Doglio. She assumed office on January 3, 2021. As a member of the 117th United States Congress, Strickland is the Pacific Northwest's first Black U.S. representative and one of the first three Korean-American congresswomen, along with Michelle Steel and Young Kim, who began their terms on the same day. She wore a traditional hanbok to her swearing-in ceremony to honor her mother.

Tenure

Strickland voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.

Committee assignments

• United States House Committee on Armed Services****
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure****

Caucus memberships

• Black Maternal Health Caucus{{cite web|title=Caucus Members
• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus****
• Congressional Black Caucus****
• Congressional Equality Caucus
• New Democrat Coalition****
• Rare Disease Caucus

Personal life

Strickland is a Protestant.

References

References

1. link. [[The Chosun Ilbo]]. (November 17, 2020)
2. (November 6, 2020). "Marilyn Strickland's Black, Korean American roots are 1st for Congress".
3. Baarsma, Bill. (September 2, 2018). "Marilyn Strickland (1962- ) •".
4. Ebersole, Brian. (December 27, 2017). "From 'scary-bright' pupil to world-class mayor". The News Tribune.
5. "Marilyn Strickland".
6. (February 8, 2019). "Working Geek: Former Mayor Marilyn Strickland is Seattle Metro Chamber's uniter in chief".
7. (December 17, 2018). "Marilyn Strickland".
8. "Chronology of Tacoma Mayors".
9. Plog, Kari. (December 19, 2019). "Marilyn Strickland, Seattle chamber CEO and former Tacoma mayor, to run for Congress".
10. [https://archive.today/20120715223304/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015104931_apwatacomamayorethics.html "Tacoma Board of Ethics says mayor violated code"]
11. Pagano, Jason. (October 24, 2018). "Cost of doing business? Seattle considers employee head tax".
12. (March 28, 2018). "Chamber CEO: Head tax will push Seattle businesses out".
13. "Progressive Voters Guide".
14. [https://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/editorials/article244382407.html We endorse: Tacoma's Strickland would work hard for Washington Congressional Dist. 10]
15. ''Seattle Times'' Editorial Board. (July 12, 2020). "The Times recommends: Marilyn Strickland for the 10th Congressional District".
16. (December 19, 2019). "Marilyn Strickland, Seattle Chamber CEO and ex-Tacoma mayor, running for Congress".
17. (December 19, 2019). "Seattle Metropolitan Chamber CEO Marilyn Strickland is Stepping Down to Run for Congress".
18. (August 28, 2018). "There hasn't been a Korean American in Congress since 1999. Come November, there could be 4.".
19. (May 20, 2020). "Endorsements".
20. (August 6, 2020). "Alert: Former Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland advances in 10th Congressional District primary".
21. (August 6, 2020). "Former Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland advances in 10th Congressional District primary".
22. Nam, Rafael. (August 6, 2020). "Marilyn Strickland advances from Washington primary to replace Rep. Denny Heck".
23. Kiggins, Steve. (November 4, 2020). "Strickland beats Doglio for 10th Congressional District".
24. (November 4, 2020). "Marilyn Strickland's Black and Korean-American roots mark historic firsts for U.S. Congress". KING 5 News.
25. (January 5, 2021). "Congresswoman wears hanbok at swearing-in ceremony, honors Korean immigrant mom".
26. (January 3, 2021). "Committees and Caucuses".
27. Kassel, Matthew. (January 6, 2021). "Marilyn Strickland has a city hall handbook for Congress".
28. "About the CEC". CEC.
29. (December 1, 2020). "New Democrat Coalition Elects New Leadership Team and Inducts Five Members-Elect".
30. "Rare Disease Congressional Caucus". Every Life Foundation for Rare Diseases.
31. (January 4, 2021). "Religious affiliation of members of 117th Congress". Pew Research Center.