David Della
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David Della | |
|---|---|
 David Della, 2006 | |
| Member of the Seattle City Council from District 7 | |
| In office January 5, 2004 – January 3, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Heidi Wills |
| Succeeded by | Tim Burgess |
| Chair, Seattle Human Rights Commission | |
| In office 1985–1989 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 10, 1955 |
| Party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Washington |
David Della (born March 10, 1955) is an American politician and labor activist from Seattle, Washington. In the 1970s and 1980s, Della was a union organizer fighting racial discrimination in the fish canary industry.[1] He was elected to represent District 7 on the Seattle City Council in November 2003.
Della grew up in South Seattle and attended Cleveland High School.[1] At age 16, he joined his father each summer in the Alaska canneries and helped organize local labor unions.
In the 1970s, Della organized with the Alaska Cannery Workers Association (ACWA) to fight racial discrimination against Asian workers in Alaskan canneries. He later was party to Wards Cove Packing Co. v. Atonio, a landmark United States Supreme Court case, which led in part to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1991.[2]
In the 1980s, Della worked with members of ILWU Local 37 in the Philippines who were organizing against loyalists of the Ferdinand Marcos' dictator regime.[2] After the assassination of Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes in 1981, reformers, including Della, rose through the ranks of Local 37.[1] In 1987, Della became a national organizer with IBU.[1]
From 1989 to 1993, he served as Seattle mayor Norm Rice's deputy chief of staff, and from 1993 to 1999, he was director of the state's Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs.[1] From 1999 to 2003, Della was the community affairs director for the United Way of King County.[1]
Della attended the University of Washington.
2003 Seattle City Council elections
In 2003, Della ran against incumbent Heidi Wills, who headed the council's energy committee.[3] Della focused his campaign on energy bills increasing, after Seattle City Light raised rates four times in a year.[3] Della blamed Willis for the rate increases by releasing flyers and billboards of people yelling at their utility bills.[4]
Della defeated Willis in the November General Election, 65,324 votes (54%) to 55,620 (46%).[5]