Photos by Rich Hansen
Screenshots courtesy of TVW
Layout by David Bangs

"This is the longest day of the year," said Graham Johnson on June 21, "and I’m relishing every minute of it." Johnson was "relishing" his award as Public Employee of the Year given him by the League at its 2002 Civic Awards banquet. He was recognized for his service as nonvoting chair of the commission that redrew Washington’s legislative and congressional district boundaries following the 2000 census, and for his many years as director of the state’s Public Disclosure Commission.

An audience of 450 League members and friends applauded as he and seven other award winners were presented:

Lindsay Palmer - Citizen of the Year. Palmer is the public education director of the widely admired King County Sexual Assault Resource Center.	Lindsay Palmer receives her award from Municipal League chairperson Tom Albro
Rep. Ida Ballasiotes - Public Official of the Year. Ballasiotes retires this year after five terms in Olympia representing the 41st District.	Ida Ballasiotes with League trustees Deryl Brown-Archie and Randy Revelle.
Chevrolet of Issaquah - Business of the Year. The employees and owners contribute throughout the community year round.	Tony and Lynn Rehn, of Chevrolet of Issaquah
Pioneer Human Services - Organization of the Year. This is a path-breaking self-supporting leader in finding ways to help needy people.	Mike Burns and Lauren Jassny of Pioneer Human Services.
KUOW 94.5 FM - Governmental News Reporting. Throughout the day and week, public affairs broadcasts bring information and insight to Northwest audiences.	Eric Thom, Wayne Roth and Peter Barrett, of KOUW
Rep. Helen Sommers - Warren Magnuson Award. For many years, Sommers has led the House Budget Committee while representing the 36th Legislative District since 1973.	Helen Sommers (center) with League trustees Deryl Brown-Archie (left) and Tom Albro (right)
Sen. Dan McDonald - James R. Ellis Regional Leadership. McDonald retires this year after serving in many leadership positions in the Legislature and representing the 48th District for 24 years.	Sen. Dan McDonald

In accepting his award, Sen. McDonald noted that his grandfather had been among the founding board members of the Municipal League and that it gave him special pride to receive recognition from the organization 90-plus years later.

After congratulating the award winners, Alan Mulally, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, delivered the keynote address. Mulally emphasized the company’s deep roots in the Pacific Northwest and its determination to remain a strong participant in the region’s economy.

Mulally focused on the importance of efficient and reliable transportation. "Our failure to invest in transportation infrastructure before it was needed," he said, "is hurting Boeing, and everyone else who builds things in the Northwest today. And our employees steal time from their families at the beginning and end of every day because they have to pay congestion taxes on their way to and from work."

Long-term League member Jim Ellis ended the question period with an informal comment that recalled the key role Boeing has played in support of civic improvements over decades. "So please," he concluded to strong applause, "stay strong and stay here."

League Trustee Randy Revelle, as master of ceremonies, kept the event on schedule and invited everyone to attend next year. Deryl Brown-Archie chaired the Trustee Nominations Committee that included Rowan Hinds, Gary McLean, and Bob Roberts. The League’s Programs and Events Committee planned the event. Members included chair Putnam Barber, Elma Borbe, Rod Dembowski, Jessica Fleenor, Wilda Heard, Tom Page, Randy Revelle, and Herb Robinson.

At the start of the event, Barber recognized the event sponsors: The Boeing Company, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, Microsoft and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. He also thanked the more than 30 table hosts who helped to turn out a lively audience for the event.

League Chair Tom Albro followed with an outline of some of the League’s accomplishments. "Some people fondly call the Municipal League a good government organization," he said. "And that’s true. But much more importantly, the League is a good citizen organization, a group that makes it possible for individuals, working together, to contribute their time, thoughts, and talent to making King County a better place to live." (See his column on the next page.) He invited everyone to participate in the League.

To close the session, Randy Revelle drew three door-prizes: Virginia Howell won a lunch with County Executive Ron Sims; Mark Barbieri won a lunch with Secretary of State Sam Reed; and Sherry Shanabarger won two tickets to the Washington News Council dinner, where all of Washington’s ex-governors will be guests of honor later this year.

• About Civic Awards

• Past Civic Award Recipients By Year