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The Legislative Branch of County Government

The Pierce County Council sets policy and approves the annual budget for the second-largest county (population 813,600) in Washington. The county's Home-Rule Charter, approved by voters in November 1980, separated executive and legislative duties by establishing a County Executive and a seven-member County Council.

When are meetings held?: The full council meets Tuesdays at 3 p.m. on the 10th floor of the County-City Building (930 Tacoma Ave. S., Room 1045) in Tacoma. Standing and select committees of the council meet at other times throughout the week.

How to watch: All meetings are broadcast live and replayed on Pierce County TV (channel 22) and streamed live on the Web. Past council meetings can be accessed through the council video archive or by requesting a DVD.

Councilmembers each represent approximately one-seventh of the county's population and are limited to two consecutive four-year terms. The council's Rules of Procedure are outlined in Title 1, Chapter 1.28 of the Pierce County Code.

Our History

The first councilmembers to serve under the Home-Rule Charter commenced their terms on May 1, 1981. County commissioners who were in office at the time became councilmembers - Jake Bujacich (District 7), Joe Stortini (District 4) and Joe A. Vraves (District 2) - and the first four elected councilmembers were Phyllis K. Erickson (District 1), A.L. 'Slim' Rasmussen (District 5), R. 'Clint' Richardson (District 3) and Shirley Winsley (District 6).

DISTRICT 1

Councilmember Term(s) Served

Phyllis K. Erickson May 1, 1981 - December 31, 1982
January 1, 1983 - January 22, 1986 (resigned)

Barbara E. Skinner January 29, 1986 - December 31, 1986 (appointed)
January 1, 1987 - December 31, 1990
January 1, 1991 - December 31, 1994

Jan Shabro January 1, 1995 - December 31, 1998
January 1, 1999 - December 31, 2002

Shawn Bunney January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2006
January 1, 2007 -

DISTRICT 2

Councilmember Term(s) Served

Joe A. Vraves
(Former Commissioner) May 1, 1981 - December 31, 1984
January 1, 1985 - August 2, 1985 (resigned)

Paul J. Orheim August 14, 1985 - November 26, 1985 (appointed)

William 'S. 'Bill' Stoner November 27, 1985 - December 31, 1988 (partial term)
January 1, 1989 - December 31, 1992
January 1, 1993 - December 31, 1996

Sarah Casada January 1, 1997 - December 31, 2000

Calvin Goings January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2004
January 1, 2005 - December 31, 2008

Joyce McDonald January 1, 2009 -

DISTRICT 3

Councilmember Term(s) Served

R. 'Clint' Richardson May 1, 1981 - December 31, 1984

Barbara G. Gelman
January 1, 1985 - December 31, 1988
January 1, 1989 - December 31, 1992
(first Councilmember to serve a full two-term limit)

Kenneth M. 'Ken' Madsen January 1, 1993 - December 1996
January 1, 1997 - December 31, 2000

Kevin Wimsett January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2004

Roger Bush January 1, 2005 - December 31, 2008
January 1, 2009 -

DISTRICT 4

Councilmember Term(s) Served

Joe Stortini
(former Commissioner) May 1, 1981 - December 31, 1984 (resigned, elected County Executive)

James Edward 'Jim' Salatino January 1, 1985 - December 31, 1986 (resigned)

Dennis P. Flannigan February 11, 1987 - December 31, 1987 (appointed)
January 1, 1988 - December 31, 1988 (partial term)January 1, 1989 - December 31, 1992
January 1, 1993 - December 31, 1996

Harold Moss January 1, 1997 - December 31, 2000
January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2004

Timothy M. Farrell January 1, 2005 - December 31, 2008
January 1, 2009 -

DISTRICT 5

Councilmember Term(s) Served

A. L. 'Slim' Rasmussen May 1, 1981 - December 31, 1982

Wendell B. Brown January 1, 1983 - December 31, 1986
January 1, 1987 - January 1, 1989 (resigned,
elected County Assessor-Treasurer)

Miriam N. Marilyn Graves January 5, 1989 - November 21, 1989 (appointed)

Cathy Pearsall-Stipek November 22, 1989 - December 31, 1990 (partial term)
January 1, 1991 - January 11, 1993 (resigned, elected County Auditor)

Wendell B. Brown January 25, 1993 (appointed)
General Election to December 31, 1994 (partial term)
January 1, 1995 - December 31, 1998
January 1, 1999 - December 31, 2002

Barbara G. Gelman January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2006
January 1, 2007 -

DISTRICT 6

Councilmember Term(s) Served

Shirley Winsley May 1, 1981 - December 31, 1984

Charles F. 'Chuck' Gorden January 1, 1985 - December 31, 1988
January 1, 1989 - June 21, 1990 (resigned)

Sally W. Walker June 27, 1990 - December 31, 1990 (appointed)
January 1, 1991 - December 31, 1992 (partial term)
January 1, 1993 - December 31, 1996

M. Patrick 'Pat' O'Malley January 1, 1997 - December 31, 2000
January 1, 2001 - January 10, 2003 (resigned, elected District Court Judge)

Paul A. Bocchi January 14, 2003 - November 19, 2003 (appointed)

Dick Muri November 19, 2003 - December 31, 2004 (partial term)
January 1, 2005 - December 31, 2008
January 1, 2009 -

DISTRICT 7

Councilmember Term(s) Served

Jack D. 'Jake' Bujacich
(former Commissioner) May 1, 1981 - December 31, 1982
January 1, 1983 - December 31, 1986

Paul A. Cyr January 1, 1987 - December 31, 1990
January 1, 1991 - December 31, 1994

Karen Biskey January 1, 1995 - December 31, 1998
January 1, 1999 - December 31, 2002

Terry Lee January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2006
January 1, 2007 -