Former Seattle City Councilman Richard McIver, 71, died Saturday night at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle.

McIver, known for speaking his mind and speaking up for under-represented communities, was selected from 114 applicants to fill a vacancy on the Council in January 1997. He was elected to the position that fall, and was re-elected in 2001 and 2005. In 2009, McIver retired from the City Council as he chose not to run for re-election. McIver, a fifth generation Seattlelite, was born to Mildred Artis-McIver and Willaim McIver, II on June 14, 1941. He graduated from Garfield High School in 1959, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Washington University. Richard spent most of his career in neighborhood housing advocating for rejuvenation for the unrepresented poor community. Prior to his appointment to the City Council, McIver worked for the Washington Association of Community Economic Development and Tacoma Housing Authority. During his tenure on the City Council, McIver chaired the Council’s Housing & Economic Development Committee; chaired the Council’s Budget & Finance Committee from 2004 – 2007; served on the Puget Sound Regional Council’s Economic Development and Operations Committee; and served on a host of other city and regional committees. During the World Trade Organization (WTO) protest in 1999, McIver was driving to a World Trade Organization (WTO) event when was stopped by a Seattle Police Officer who did not recognize him. The officer did not believe McIver was a public official and made his stand spread-eagle against his car while the officer frisked him. Undoubtedly, the Seattle Police (SPD) WTO abuse incident was a very low point in McIver’s political career, however, the well-respected, low-key City Councilman used this unfortunate incident as a teaching tool and opportunity to rein in the Seattle Police Department abusive tactics against Black and other minority citizens. McIver was also instrumental in the establishment of the Rainier Valley Community Development Fund, which was established to help small businesses in Rainier Valley that were impacted light rail construction. McIver served as executive director of the organization after he retired from the Council. As of press time, the cause of McIver’s death was not known. However, he had been battling health issues for some time. McIver, who most recently suffered a stroke, had reportedly regained his ability to walk after three years of rehabilitation. The Seattle City Council issued the following statement on McIver’s passing: “It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of our friend, the Honorable Richard McIver. Richard committed his life to improving the lot of others. His community development career, including his years as a member of the Seattle City Council, was grounded in a quest for equity of opportunity, justice, and elevating quality of life for people in need. Richard’s deep knowledge of economic development strategies and belief in the positive power of government action made him a valuable ally not just for people of color and small businesses, but for a just and equitable future for the city as a whole. Richard employed terrific dignity, a wicked sense of humor and a sharp ear for equivocation in pursuit of a better city for all. We will miss him greatly.” McIver leave to cherish his loving memory; wife Marlaina Kiner-McIver, daughter Mimi, grandson Michael (Texas),a niece Lisa, Seattle, a host of relatives and other extend family, friends and thousands of political constituents. He was preceded in death by his parents Mildred and William McIver, Jr. and Brother Williams “Billy” McIver III, and an his Uncle, famed civil right attorney, James “Jim” McIver. Funeral arrangements are pending. Tune into the Z-Twins radio stations (1420 KRIZ, 1560 KZIZ & 1620 KYIZ) for more information as it is released by the family.The community is saddened by the passing of former Seattle City Councilman Richard “{Dicky)” McIver. He was 71. Councilman McIver was born and raised in the greater Seattle area; a 1959 graduate of Seattle’s Garfield High School and with a higher education degree from Western Washington University. Richard spent most of his career in neighborhood housing advocating for rejuvenation for the unrepresented poor community. His career path prior to being selected/and appointed in 1997 to Seattle City Council position to fill out the unexpired term of former City Councilman John Manning, were with the Washington Association of Community Economic Development and Tacoma Housing Authority. He was born to the late Ms. Mildred McIver and the late Mr. William McIver, Jr., his parents perceded him in death, as well as his Brother Williams “Billy” III, an his Uncle, fame civil right attorney, James “Jim” McIver. Mr. McIver was a downhome, everyday common person. Nothing fancy, he used this effective approach on the City Council as an advocate for the disadvantaged, the locked out and left out; he indeed was a no-nonsense common sense approach to solving people problem very effect. He never wore outrage expense named attire, just common well businesslike everyday attire. It was this casual attire in 1999 during Seattle’s World Trade Organization (WTO) terrors attacked that some believe cause him to be abused and ruff up by the Seattle Police officers, as he was casual attire and showed his City Council credentials, namely his very public face. McIver, who was driving to a WTO event, was stopped by a Seattle Police Officer who did not recognize him. The officer did not believe McIver was a public official and made his stand spread-eagle against his car while the officer frisked him. Undoubtedly, the Seattle Police (SPD) WTO abuse incident was a very low point in McIver’s political career, however, the well-respected, low-key City Councilman used this unfortunate incident as a teaching tool and opportunity to rein in the Seattle Police Department abusive tactics against Black and other minority citizen,During the 1999 public protests against the World Trade Organization (WTO), McIver was pulled from his car, spread-eagled and frisked by Seattle police — and almost arrested — before officers recognized him and let him attend the WTO-related event he had tried to enter.Undoubtedly, the Seattle Police (SPD) WTO abuse incident was a very low point in McIver’s political career, however, the well-respected, low-key City Councilman used this unfortunate incident as a teaching tool and opportunity to rein in the Seattle Police Department abusive tactics against Black and other minority citizen, with garn support for fellow city councilperson. During Mr. McIver tenure on the City Council unlawful bad shooting of innocence Black Citizen ceases. There were no Department of Justice investigations, as it is currently today in SPD. The brutal tactic of SPD, after WTO incident through McIver insisting and under the leadership of Chief Gil Kerlikowske the SPD at that time was reined into check. McIver leave to cherish his loving memory; wife Marlinia Kiner-McIver, daughter Mimi, grandson Michael (Texas),a niece Lisa, Seattle, a host of relatives and other extend family, friends and thousands of political constituents. He was preceded in death by his parents Mildred and William McIver, Jr. and Brother Williams “Billy” McIver III, and an his Uncle, famed civil right attorney, James “Jim” McIver. Home going service information was not available at press time. Friends will gather at the Four Seas Restaurant in the International District Saturday, March 16, 2013 from 5-7PM for a community celebrates the life of Dicky McIver. Listen to the ZTWINS’s Community Popurriuri for undated information, time, place and date of Council Richard McIver’s Home going Service. his daughter, Mimi McIver, and grandson Michael, both of Texas.The cause of death has not been reported, but McIver survived a heart attack while in office in 1998, and underwent surgery for prostate cancer in 2000. More recently he survived a stroke.$50 million Rainier Valley Community Development Fund that since 2006 has loaned more than $10.8 million to 19 small businesses and real-estate developers.established in 2002 to help small businesses in the path of light-rail construction and mandated as a part of the federal government’s funding for the transportation projectchaired the City Council’s Housing & Economic Development Committee. He was vice-chair of the Environment, Emergency Management and Utilities Committee and was a member of the Transportation Committee. He was an alternate member of the Energy & Technology Committee. (From 2004 through 2007 he was the chair of the Council’s Budget & Finance Committee.)After years of serious health problems, former City Commissioner Richard McIver died Saturday night at age 71.The cause of death has not been reported, but McIver survived a heart attack while in office in 1998, and underwent surgery for prostate cancer in 2000. More recently he survived a stroke.He was born on June 14, 1941 to Mildred Artis-McIver and William McIver, II, and attended Horace Mann Elementary School.McIver graduated from James A. Garfield High School, and earned a BA in Community Development, with major emphasis in finance and urban planning, from Western Washington University, Fairhaven College in Bellingham. There he was given the “Distinguished Alumnus” honor in 2003.”Richard was warm, funny, well-loved and dedicated to his city,” Mayor Mike McGinn said in a statement on Sunday. “My thoughts are with his family and his friends. He will be missed.”McIver was both beloved and at times reviled. Although he was re-elected three times after being appointed to office in 1997, many bios published since his death focus on his two biggest scandals while in office: an alleged ethics violation in 2008 and a controversial 2007 domestic violence incident in which his wife first called 9-1-1 then called back a few minutes later to try dissuading officers from responding; in that case he was arrested but all charges were dropped.The two incidents marred a long and storied career in politics which saw the Seattle native champion the rights of at-risk communities in areas ranging from gentrification to police accountability, affordable housing and transportation equity.But it was another memorable incident that cemented McIver’s name for people outside Seattle.During the 1999 public protests against the World Trade Organization, McIver was pulled from his car, spread-eagled and frisked by Seattle police — and almost arrested — before officers recognized him and let him attend the WTO-related event he had tried to enter.Current City Commissioner Jean Godden, who describes McIver as her mentor, spoke to the Seattle Times about the incident this week.”He said he was a city councilman, and the policeman didn’t believe him and made him spread-eagle against the car. He never forgot that, not so much because of the indignity to him, but that others did not believe an African American might be a city councilmember,” Godden told the Times.McIver was appointed to the Council in 1997 after the previous commissioner quit; McIver won election to the post later that year, was elected again and ultimately served until retiring in 2009.At the time of his appointment to the Council, McIver had served as executive director of the Washington Association of Community Economic Development; he had also worked as development director for the Tacoma Housing Authority.Proudly a fifth-generation Seattleite and known for his “laid-back” style, McIver was also known for speaking his mind and breaking with political traditions – even to the point of becoming friends with his elections rival in 2001, Grant Cogswell, driving him to the polls, then partying with him on Election Night.In fact a film of Cogswell’s election campaign, “Grassroots,” premiered last year at the Seattle Film Festival – and featured Cedric the Entertainer as McIver.A major force in creation of the Rainier Valley Community Development Fund – established in 2002 to help small businesses in the path of light-rail construction and mandated as a part of the federal government’s funding for the transportation project – McIver served as the organization’s interim executive director in 2010 after a scandal forced out the previous director.Richard J. McIver was first appointed to fill a vacancy on the Seattle City Council in early 1997 and was subsequently reelected to three full four-year terms in 1997, 2001, and 2005.While on the council, McIver: chaired the Council’s Housing & Economic Development Committee; served on the board of the Washington State Housing Finance Commission; served on the Puget Sound Regional Council’s Economic Development and Operations Committee; and more.He is survived by his wife, Marlaina Kiner-McIver; a daughter and a son.Richard McIver (died March 9, 2013) was a member of the Seattle City Council. He was selected from 114 applicants to fill a vacancy on the Council in January 1997, was elected to the position that fall, and was reelected in 2001 and 2005. As of October 2007 he was chair of the Finance & Budget and Budget Committees, vice-chair of the Economic Development & Neighborhoods Committee, and a member of the Housing, Human Services & Health Committee.McIver chaired the City Council’s Housing & Economic Development Committee. He was vice-chair of the Environment, Emergency Management and Utilities Committee and was a member of the Transportation Committee. He was an alternate member of the Energy & Technology Committee. (From 2004 through 2007 he was the chair of the Council’s Budget & Finance Committee.)McIver died on March 9, 2013, at the age of 71 in Seattle.Richard McIver, long the only African American on the Seattle City Council and an advocate for Rainier Valley and underdeveloped parts of the city, died Saturday night at Swedish Medical Center. He was 71.”He was extremely generous with his wisdom, and he was sort of our moral compass,” said City Councilmember Jean Godden, who considered Mr. McIver a mentor.She is among those who remember him responding to neighborhood-rejuvenation efforts with the suggestion that the council instead focus on parts of the city that had not yet been “juvenated.”Mr. McIver’s sharp questions and vibrant, sometimes unpublishable sense of humor earned him the respect and goodwill of colleagues and at least one adversary.Paul Elliott, his former chief of staff, remembers Mr. McIver going for drinks on Election Day in 2001 with his opponent, Grant Cogswell. They drank at the Four Seas bar in the International District, which Mr. McIver considered his second office, Elliott said. Because monorail supporter Cogswell had given up his car, “Richard drove his opponent to the polls, waited out in front while his opponent voted against him, then picked up Grant’s girlfriend and drove them to their election-night party,” Elliott said.During the 2005 campaign, Mr. McIver became known for saying, “Don’t mistake cool for fool,” after opponents equated his laid-back style with a lack of energy.A graduate of Western Washington University, Mr. McIver worked for the Washington Association of Community Economic Development and at the Tacoma Housing Authority before being appointed to the City Council.He was selected in 1997 from 114 candidates to complete the term of John Manning, a former Seattle police officer who resigned after pleading guilty to domestic violence. Mr. McIver was then elected to three four-year terms.He did not run for re-election in 2009, saying, “I want to go home and sit down.”His decision came after a period of difficult personal problems. Mr. McIver had recently undergone colon surgery, after other health problems. In 2007, he was arrested after his wife reported he assaulted her. The charges were later dropped.In 2008, he used city money to pay a $1,000 fine from the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission for violating the city’s conflict-of-interest law. Mr. McIver ended up paying the fine himself.Mr. McIver was a key figure in the creation of the$50 million Rainier Valley Community Development Fund that since 2006 has loaned more than $10.8 million to 19 small businesses and real-estate developers.He became interim executive director of the fund after leaving the City Council.”He flunked retirement,” his wife, Marlaina Kiner-McIver, joked Sunday. The couple had invited friends and family to a dual celebration on April 13. It would have been their 39th wedding anniversary, and they were celebrating Mr. McIver’s regaining his ability to walk after suffering strokes almost three years ago.”He was thinking about what he could do next,” his wife said.Mr. McIver, who had other health problems, had been hospitalized recently for low blood pressure.Godden said Mr. McIver never forgot being stopped by police in 1999 during the World Trade Organization unrest”He said he was a city councilman, and the policeman didn’t believe him and made him spread-eagle against the car. He never forgot that, not so much because of the indignity to him, but that others did not believe an African American might be a city councilmember,” Godden said.Bruce Harrell, a city councilmember who was in the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity with Mr. McIver and for two decades lived two houses away from his family, recalls the elder councilman’s advice when a homeless-advocacy group camped out in front of their houses a few years ago.”He said, ‘Bruce, you have to understand something. They don’t have money to do newspaper advertisements or billboards. This is how they’re advocating for what they want, and we have to respect that.’ “Mr. McIver also is survived by his daughter, Mimi McIver, and grandson Michael, both of Texas. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Ex-Seattle City Councilman Richard McIver, who died at 71 on Saturday night, was the last politician at City Hall who took deep pleasure in being politically incorrect.He was the only Council member ever to become a movie character played by Cedric the Entertainer.McIver was for years a heavy smoker, joked that the bar at the Four Seas in the International District was his second office and did not relinquish his laid-back style even when putting then-King County Councilman Dwight Pelz on the canvas in his last successful reelection race.”When legislation outlawed smoking in bars, he joked that the only legal place to smoke would be standing in the middle of the street on the yellow line: Amazingly, though he did eventually quit smoking and never told the staff,” said Paul Elliott, who worked 8 1/2 years as McIver’s chief of staff.McIver was remembered Monday as a character and a contributor. “Richard was warm, funny, well-loved and dedicated to his city,” said Mayor Mike McGinn, who will never claim the mantle of political incorrectness.City Council colleague Jean Godden, described McIver as a “mentor” who often stopped by her office, a task made more difficult by the configuration of Seattle’s arid new City Hall. Segregated space replaced the shared space (conducive to news leaking) of the old city hall.”Richard never forgot the mistreatment he experienced during the World Trade Organization demonstrations,” Godden related. “En route to an official dinner, he was stopped by a Seattle policeman who did not recognize him as a council member, refused to believe he was a public official, and insisted on making him stand spreadeagled up against his car.”McIver, who was driving to a WTO event, was stopped by a Seattle Police Officer who did not recognize him. The officer did not believe McIver was a public official and made his stand spread-eagle against his car while the officer frisked him.McIver is remembered for one central achievement, creation of the $50 million Rainier Valley Community Development Fund, which has loaned more than $10 million to local businesses. He was deeply worried about light rail’s impact on immigrant- and minority-owned businesses along Rainier Avenue.McIver was known for his last two successful campaigns. He was opposed in 2001 by music critic-turned-monorail booster Grant Cogswell. McIver was reelected, but Cogswell campaign manager Phil Campbell immortalized the insurgency with his book “Zioncheck for Mayor.’ It was later made into the movie “Grassroots.”Cedric the Entertainer, playing McIver, reenacted a famous – and true – coming together story. Richard McIver gave the carless Grant Cogswell a ride to the polls – we had polls then – on Election Day, and waited while Cogswell voted for Cogswell.”He was an unbelievably easy boss to work for,” Elliott recalled. “He was a go-with-the-flow guy who almost never raised his voice. I think, in more than eight years, there was not one occasion in which we ever yelled at each other.”McIver DID raise his voice just a bit when Pelz came after him in 2005. The challenger did not sugar coat his message: McIver was over the hill. In response, McIver told debate audiences: “Don’t mistake cool for fool.” He related with pride a lifetime of community-development work and his pride at being a fifth generation Seattlite. (The vanquished Pelz went on to become Democratic State Chairman.McIver had a difficult last term. He underwent colon surgery. Seattle police were called to the McIver home on a domestic-violence call that was later dropped. He was fined $1,000 by the Seattle Elections Commission, a cobra-like entity that will strike at anything.He had a history of health problems, in recent months suffering from swollen ankles, low blood pressure and kidney ailments. In earlier times, McIver was known for suggesting to aides that they go eat at McDonald’s or KFC. After his first heart attack, McIver found himself being lectured on healthy foods by a nutritionist, and told her: “No self-respecting black man would ever eat a diet like this.”He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Marlaina, and a child by a previous marriage and grandchild, who live in Texas.Plans for a memorial service are pending.