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| Affiliation | Democratic |
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| <- |
2006-01-01 |
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| Name | Dwight Pelz |
| Address | 1900 28th Avenue S
Seattle, Washington 98144, United States |
| Email | pelzseattle2005@hotmail.com |
| Website | [Link] |
| Born |
April 01, 1951
(73 years)
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| Contributor | Ralphie |
| Last Modifed | Ralphie
Oct 14, 2007 01:48pm |
| Tags |
Caucasian -
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| Info | A sixth generation Washingtonian, Dwight was born in Seattle on April 1, 1951. Three years later, the family moved to the nation's capital, when his father joined the staff of Seattle Congressman Don Magnuson. Dwight and his four siblings Ruth, Mary, Janet, and Bob were raised in Maryland, all attending Einstein High School. Dwight graduated from the University of Michigan in 1974, but today roots for the Huskies. He has been married for 25 years to Beth Brunton, a Seattle Public School teacher. They live in the Mount Baker neighborhood of Seattle, and have two grown children, Karen (24) and Andy (22).
Dwight has been active in public service in King County since returning to Seattle in 1975. For fifteen years he worked as a community organizer for a variety of grassroots groups on a variety of social issues. His first three years were spent working on progressive statewide initiatives in 1975 for tax reform, and in 1976 to control nuclear wastes in Washington.
In 1977, Dwight and his friend Rod Regan organized the statewide initiative campaign which repealed the sales tax on food. This was the most regressive tax in Washington, one that hit the poor and working poor the hardest. To this day, Dwight considers this his greatest career accomplishment.
Through the 80's Dwight served as the executive director of two citizen's groups the Light Brigade and Washington Fair Share. For five years, the Light Brigade opposed the troubled WPPSS Nuclear Plants, four of which were subsequently cancelled. Washington Fair Share was a statewide citizen organization that addressed consumer and environmental issues. It is known today as Citizen Action. In 1989, Dwight spent one year working as an organizer for two public employee unions.
By the late 80's, Dwight began to believe that his organizing skills and progressive values could be put to use in the State Legislature. In 1988, he ran for the State House, but lost. He was elected to the State Senate in 1990, where he represented the 37th District for six years. After just two years, he was chosen to chair the Senate Education Committee, where he wrote the Education Reform Act, and passed legislation to increase funding for our public schools. Then as Chair of the Labor and Commerce Committee he blocked the pro-gambling legislation to allow mini-casinos, legislation which passed after Dwight left the Senate. He was an ardent supporter of gun control, passing a bill to ban guns on school grounds, and falling one vote short of a bill to ban possession of handguns by those under the age of 21.
In 1996, Dwight was appointed to take Ron Sims' place on the King County Council, representing South Seattle. He was elected in 1997 and re-elected for a second term in 2001. In his role at the County, he has become a recognized leader in the areas of transit and transportation, growth management, the environment, human services and strengthening neighborhoods.
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