Marilyn Strickland was sworn in as Mayor of Tacoma in January 2010, and previously served as a city council member. Born in Seoul, Strickland is a graduate of the University of Washington and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Clark-Atlanta University. She and her husband Patrick Erwin live in the downtown neighborhood.

Mayor Strickland’s pro-growth agenda focuses on creating family-wage jobs by improving education and workforce training, promoting entrepreneurship, investing in transportation and attracting international investment. Prior to elected office, she worked in both the private and public sectors. Mayor Strickland’s regional and national board leadership includes Sound Transit, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Democratic Mayors Association. Strickland has appeared on Meet the Press, National Public Radio and is a trustee with the Urban Land Institute. She has been recognized by the National League of Cities Women in Municipal Government for outstanding local leadership and was recognized as the 2015 Washington Trade Hero by the Washington Council on International Trade.