About Me
I first moved to Kirkland 35 years ago, renting an apartment in Totem Lake. Kirkland was the jewel of the Eastside then and remains so today. My wife and I, Mary Beth Binns, live in the Norkirk neighborhood, and have three daughters in college and grad school.
I am in my third term elected to the Kirkland City Council. I‘ve been involved in city issues around my passion for sustainability: the intersection of housing, transportation, and energy policy. I have the honor of being selected by my fellow councilmembers as Deputy Mayor and have served three different mayors during my tenure.
For Hamilton fans out there, you know it’s important to be “in the room where it happens.” That’s why I’m involved regionally on committees and boards where policies are developed that go beyond our city limits. I represent Kirkland on the Eastside Transportation Partnership (former chair), Eastrail Regional Advisory Council (former co-chair), WSDOT 405 Executive Advisory Committee, King County Regional Policy Committee, Puget Sound Regional Council Transportation Policy Board, and King County Cities Climate Collaboration. I advised Puget Sound Energy on their strategy to reach net-zero emissions by 2045 on their Beyond Net Zero advisory committee.
Because building code standards are set at the state level, I sought and received a gubernatorial appointment to the State Building Code Council, representing cities west of Cascades. I currently serve as vice chair.
Prior to being elected, I volunteered within the community and on non-profit boards. I served on the Kirkland Planning Commission. I co-chaired the successful YES! For Great Kirkland Parks campaign where voters approved permanent, dedicated funding for Kirkland parks in 2012. My policy background was honed as a board member of Futurewise, the state’s leading smart growth organization, and as a board member at Spark Northwest, developing community-based renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. I also served as a trustee of the Municipal League, promoting good government principles, and chaired the Capital Finance Review Board, examining the overlapping impact of ballot measures of various jurisdictions.
Professionally, I work as a freelance web developer and technology consultant for non-profit organizations, doing work for several states. Previously, I was a long-time Test Manager at Microsoft, working on flagship products like Windows and Internet Explorer. I also am a former technology director at Fuse Washington.
To blow off steam, I play drums in a Seattle classic rock cover band, Vlad & the Dads. When I need to get out of my home office, you’ll also see me at various coffee shops around town.