Remembering Jesse Tanner

While Jesse was mayor, the city moved car dealerships out of downtown to the new auto-mall on Grady way, and then built the downtown piazza and pavilion events center to attract new condominium construction and residents downtown. Jesse personally pushed hard for the building of the new Henry Moses Aquatic center, as well as the downtown Veterans Memorial. He was mayor during construction of the IKEA Performing arts center (a joint venture with the community and school district), the downtown parking garage, the new city hall and police station, and two new fire stations. His advocacy and marketing of our city lead to Paul Allen purchasing the lakefront property which will soon be the Seahawks headquarters. Jesse started the city’s sidewalk replacement program, and the neighborhood grant program, both extremely popular to this day. His last major action as mayor, in 2003, was to put the development agreement in place with Boeing to set the stage for the Landing, where we all look forward to shopping next holiday season.

Jesse also cared about taxpayers and ratepayers. Jesse did not raise any of our utility rates for the first seven straight years he was mayor, and in his final year he only increased one rate, for sewers, by 3%. He constantly looked for ways to bring more shopping to Renton so that would could collect more sales tax, instead of property tax, to fund our improvments.

During the years Jesse was mayor, he and I made sure we met for lunch at a local restaurant at least once each month. During these lunches he would share with me all of the great plans he had for our city. He was a consummate problems solver, applying his experience in transporation engineering and executive management to the betterment of our city. He was also a dedicated family man, delighting in his wife Janice, his children, and his many grandchildren. I considered him a champion to our community, a great friend, and a trusted mentor. I will dearly miss him.