Posted: November 28, 2007 13:35:14 PST
NOTE TO EDITORS: A publication-ready downloadable photograph of Mayor Dan Pike is available on the city's website.
The City of Bellingham welcomes Mayor Dan Pike, who was sworn in to office Tuesday, Nov. 27 before a full house at City Hall in a ceremony attended by his extended family, campaign team, city staff and dozens of community members.
In his remarks, Pike reflected on his love for Bellingham, his enthusiasm for his new job as Mayor, and his faith in our community's ability to work together to keep Bellingham livable, healthy and strong.
Pike is committed to bringing a spirit of respect, civility and inclusion to City government.
"I was faithful to that standard in my campaign. I will be faithful to that standard as your Mayor. We are One Bellingham. I humbly ask you, my fellow citizens, to join me in moving towards our best future," he said.
The full text of Pike's remarks can be found on the City's website at www.cob.org. Tuesday's swearing in ceremony for Pike and new Ward 4 Council representative Stan Snapp was aired live on BTV10 and is scheduled to repeat several times in the coming weeks. It also will be posted to view on the City's website.
The ceremony was opened by departing Mayor Tim Douglas. Douglas served during the past year as interim Mayor after being appointed by the Bellingham City Council to fill the vacancy left by former Mayor Mark Asmundson's resignation. Pike was elected in the November 2007 General Election and sworn in Tuesday to fill the remaining month of Asmundson's term and a new four-year term that begins in January 2007 and ends Dec. 31, 2011.
Pike has lived and worked in and around Bellingham for the past 25 years. He holds an undergraduate degree in planning from Western Washington University, a master's degree in public administration from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, and has experience managing complex projects and large budgets as a transportation planner and project manager. He has worked on the Bellingham waterfront as a fisherman and has volunteered for numerous community organizations. Pike and his wife live in Bellingham's Lettered Streets Neighborhood with their two elementary-school-age children.
Mayor Pike outlines key priorities
At Tuesday's ceremony he outlined several projects he expects to accomplish during his first 100 days in office, including taking steps to improve the City's development permit system, protect the Lake Whatcom Reservoir, and demonstrate progress on waterfront redevelopment.
"It is clear that to move forward on so many important issues all at once there is a huge amount of work for the City and the Council. What is even more clear, however, is that the citizens of Bellingham want to do just that," he said.
"It will be the core challenge of my administration to organize, prioritize and sustain open and transparent processes to ensure the community pulls together and makes real progress. Nothing will come easy, there will be many tough decisions that must be made by the City Council and the community, but the rewards of our labor will be great."
Mayor Pike welcomes your comments at mayorsoffice@cob.org or by contacting his office at 676-6979.
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Media Contact:
Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike
mayorsoffice@cob.org
676-6979
