Jean H. Godden (born October 10, 1931) was a member of the Seattle City Council, first elected in 2003 and re-elected in 2007 and 2011. Council member Godden served three terms and conceded her seat to Rob Johnson in the 2015 election.[1] She chaired the Libraries, Utilities, and Center Committee and the Special Committee on Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Project and Central Waterfront Planning. She was also Vice Chair of the Parks and Neighborhood Committee and was a member of the Transportation Committee. Jean also was an alternate on the Parks and Seattle Center Committee.[2]
Born in Connecticut, Godden's family moved many times before she graduated from high school in Virginia due to her father's job as a surveyor.
After two Seattle school levies failed and her son's kindergarten class disappeared, Godden and other parents mobilized and she ended up as PTA president. Godden then joined the League of Women Voters; Citizens Against Freeways; the Municipal League; and the United Way, where she helped to organize the Lake City Community Council, wrote its bylaws and served as one of its first directors.
In the late 1960s Seattle Mayor Wes Uhlman appointed Godden to his charter review committee. She was also named to the City's Board of Adjustment.
Godden attained celebrity status in Seattle as a columnist for both daily newspapers, first for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and most recently for The Seattle Times. Godden reached that status after years working in other positions with the paper, including as a business editor, editorial page editor, real estate and urban affairs reporter and restaurant critic. Godden was one of the P-I's early female staff members and one of two women in her class at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. She would eventually graduate from the University of Washington's School of Communications. She started her newspaper career at the University District Herald as a 19-year-old, joined the P-I in 1974 as a temporary staffer, had her first column published in the P-I in 1983, and finally switched to The Seattle Times in 1991.
Godden has two sons, Glenn and Jeff, and two grandsons, Chris Godden and Matthew Godden and one great-grandson and three great-granddaughters, Joshua Godden, Raevyn Godden, Calla Godden, and Sloane Godden. She resides in Seattle's View Ridge neighborhood.[4]
2007 Campaign
In the August primary, Godden faced opposition from three challengers: Joe Szwaja, Lauren Briel and Robert Sondheim.
She significantly out-fundraised all of her opponents.[5] According to Seattle Ethics and Elections reports, Godden had raised $189,189 as of August 27. Her closest challenger, Szwaja, had raised just over $56,000; as of September 28, 2007, Godden had generated $200,375 in campaign funding.[6]
In the August 21 primary, Godden advanced to the general election, beating her nearest challenger by more than 30 percentage points.[7]
Primary election results
2007 Seattle City Council, Pos. 1 Primary election
Godden was opposed for re-election to the council by Bobby Forch, a city transportation manager. The campaign was competitive, and fellow council member Mike O'Brien even endorsed Forch over Godden. Some speculated that age may have factored into the election as well, with Godden being 80 at the time. However Godden was re-elected to a third term on the council, capturing 54% of the vote.[8]
2015 Election
In the election of 2015 for the first time, seven of the city council seats were decided by geographic representation. Godden was opposed in her race for the newly created District 4 seat by opponents Rob Johnson, a transit advocate, and Michael Maddux, a parks activist. Godden conceded on August 6, and Rob Johnson was eventually elected to the seat.[9][10]
^"Jean Godden winning in early count", November 8, 2011.
^Seattle Times "City Councilmember Jean Godden Concedes", August 6, 2015.
^"Seattle Councilmember Jean Godden Concedes it's over", August 6, 2015.
January 24, 2023
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Jean H Godden born October 10 1931 was a member of the Seattle City Council first elected in 2003 and re elected in 2007 and 2011 Council member Godden served three terms and conceded her seat to Rob Johnson in the 2015 election 1 She chaired the Libraries Utilities and Center Committee and the Special Committee on Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Project and Central Waterfront Planning She was also Vice Chair of the Parks and Neighborhood Committee and was a member of the Transportation Committee Jean also was an alternate on the Parks and Seattle Center Committee 2 Jean GoddenJean Godden 2011Member of the Seattle City Council for Position 1In office 2003 2015Preceded byJudy NicastroSucceeded byRob JohnsonPersonal detailsBorn 1931 10 01 October 1 1931 age 91 Political partyDemocraticChildrenJeff and Glenn sons ResidenceSeattle WAEducationUniversity of Washington BA OccupationSeattle City Councilmember Position 1 Godden received her bachelor s degree in editorial journalism from the University of Washington in 1973 and was elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa Her local fame is due to her award winning column in The Seattle Times newspaper which she gave up to run for City Council 2 Godden won reelection to the Council in 2007 She defeated her challenger Joe Szwaja in the November election by winning 71 21 percent of the vote 3 Godden conceded her seat in the election of 2015 during the council s first district elections in recent times 1 Contents 1 Biography 2 2007 Campaign 2 1 Primary election results 3 2011 Election 4 2015 Election 5 ReferencesBiography EditBorn in Connecticut Godden s family moved many times before she graduated from high school in Virginia due to her father s job as a surveyor After two Seattle school levies failed and her son s kindergarten class disappeared Godden and other parents mobilized and she ended up as PTA president Godden then joined the League of Women Voters Citizens Against Freeways the Municipal League and the United Way where she helped to organize the Lake City Community Council wrote its bylaws and served as one of its first directors In the late 1960s Seattle Mayor Wes Uhlman appointed Godden to his charter review committee She was also named to the City s Board of Adjustment Godden attained celebrity status in Seattle as a columnist for both daily newspapers first for the Seattle Post Intelligencer and most recently for The Seattle Times Godden reached that status after years working in other positions with the paper including as a business editor editorial page editor real estate and urban affairs reporter and restaurant critic Godden was one of the P I s early female staff members and one of two women in her class at Northwestern University s Medill School of Journalism She would eventually graduate from the University of Washington s School of Communications She started her newspaper career at the University District Herald as a 19 year old joined the P I in 1974 as a temporary staffer had her first column published in the P I in 1983 and finally switched to The Seattle Times in 1991 Godden has two sons Glenn and Jeff and two grandsons Chris Godden and Matthew Godden and one great grandson and three great granddaughters Joshua Godden Raevyn Godden Calla Godden and Sloane Godden She resides in Seattle s View Ridge neighborhood 4 2007 Campaign EditIn the August primary Godden faced opposition from three challengers Joe Szwaja Lauren Briel and Robert Sondheim She significantly out fundraised all of her opponents 5 According to Seattle Ethics and Elections reports Godden had raised 189 189 as of August 27 Her closest challenger Szwaja had raised just over 56 000 as of September 28 2007 Godden had generated 200 375 in campaign funding 6 In the August 21 primary Godden advanced to the general election beating her nearest challenger by more than 30 percentage points 7 Primary election results Edit 2007 Seattle City Council Pos 1 Primary election Party Candidate Votes Jean Godden inc 37 658 51 96 Joe Szwaja 15 781 21 78 Lauren Briel 9 695 13 38 Robert Sondheim 9 058 12 50 2011 Election EditGodden was opposed for re election to the council by Bobby Forch a city transportation manager The campaign was competitive and fellow council member Mike O Brien even endorsed Forch over Godden Some speculated that age may have factored into the election as well with Godden being 80 at the time However Godden was re elected to a third term on the council capturing 54 of the vote 8 2015 Election EditIn the election of 2015 for the first time seven of the city council seats were decided by geographic representation Godden was opposed in her race for the newly created District 4 seat by opponents Rob Johnson a transit advocate and Michael Maddux a parks activist Godden conceded on August 6 and Rob Johnson was eventually elected to the seat 9 10 References Edit a b Seattle Times http www seattletimes com seattle news politics city councilmember jean godden concedes a b Seattle City Council Website http www seattle gov council godden Archived 2007 02 04 at the Wayback Machine King County Election Results https web archive org web 20071110070459 http www metrokc gov elections 200711 resPage17 htm People for Jean Godden Archived from the original on 2007 09 28 Retrieved 2007 08 03 Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission http www2 ci seattle wa us ethics eldata filings campaignhome asp elcycle el07a amp campuni 82 Angela Galloway Seattle PI Strange Bedfellows September 28 2007 King County Election Results https web archive org web 20080724015815 http www metrokc gov elections 200708 resPage8 htm Jean Godden winning in early count November 8 2011 Seattle Times City Councilmember Jean Godden Concedes August 6 2015 Seattle Councilmember Jean Godden Concedes it s over August 6 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jean Godden amp oldid 1106155713, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
