King County Council recognizes Robert J. Drewel on his retirement as Executive Director of the Puget Sound Regional Council

December 9, 2013

Summary

Story

As he prepares for the next chapter in his life of public service, the Metropolitan King County Council today recognized Robert (Bob) Drewel for his “iconic” public service as Executive Director of the Puget Sound Regional Council, Snohomish County Executive and Chairman of Sound Transit.

“It is my honor to recognize a true icon” said Jane Hague, Council Vice Chair. “Bob is a veteran of countless efforts that improved the lives of citizens throughout the Puget Sound region.”

His 30 years of public service included three terms as County Executive of Snohomish County, Chairman of the Sound Transit Board, founder and president of the Washington Aerospace partnership and Executive Director of the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC). He has always been committed to act regionally as demonstrated by his involvement with the Puget Sound Regional Council from its inception in 1991.

Under his leadership in the PSRC he had a significant role in the voter approval of Sound Transit in 1996, a third runway at SeaTac Airport, and funding for the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge replacement.

As the founder and President of the Washington Aerospace Partnership, Bob was a pivotal player in the effort to assemble the Boeing 787 in Everett and the 737 MAX in Renton.

Bob is known for caring about economic development, effective land-use policies, transportation challenges, and the environment. His leadership style has effectively worked to build partnerships among civic interests, business, labor and government. Bob Drewel has exemplified that spirit of bi-partisanship during more than 30 years of public service.

He has also been recognized by the Municipal League of King County three times, twice with the James R. Ellis leadership award and most recently as the Puget Employee of the Year.

Mr. Drewel is also known as Puget Sound’s “voice of charity,” and has volunteered as the auctioneer for more than 100 charity auctions to the tune of millions of dollars over the years.

Mr. Drewel is a native of King County, and graduated from two King County institutions – Ingraham High and University of Washington.

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RECOGNITION

WHEREAS, Robert J. Drewel is noted for an extensive and varied career exemplifying leadership in education, in county government, in the private sector, and most recently, in regional government; and

WHEREAS, Bob Drewel was one of the pioneers in the central Puget Sound region who understood the critical importance of regional transportation solutions if the economy of the area were to thrive; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Drewel was a pivotal player in the early years of Sound Transit, joining their board in 1994, serving as Chair beginning in 1996, and providing leadership for Sound Move, the first step toward realizing a regional transit system; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Drewel also introduced Transit-Oriented Development as a Sound Transit board policy, to maximize transit/residential opportunities for central Puget sound communities and their citizens; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Drewel has played pivotal roles in the Washington Aerospace Partnership, the Prosperity Partnership, countless charitable organizations where he was loved for his auctioneering skills and fundraising capabilities, and the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC), where he has been Executive Director for the past decade; and

WHEREAS, although Mr. Drewel could well be described as the quintessential Renaissance man, he is best known for leadership in promoting regional solutions with a focus on economic development, effective land-use policies, transportation, and the environment, all of which coalesced into PSRC’s “VISION 2040”;

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Metropolitan King County Council, recognize and congratulate

ROBERT J. DREWEL

for three decades of public service and the legacy he leaves in the Puget Sound region.

DATED this ninth day of December, 2013.




Former Snohomish County Executive and retiring Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Director Bob Drewel joins Councilmembers after the Council recognized his over three decades of public service to the Puget Sound region.