SEATTLE—August 8, 2007—Mayor Greg Nickels has appointed Nora Gibson and Juan Martinez to serve three year terms as Seattle Housing Authority Commissioners. Both appointees were approved on Tuesday, August 7 by the Housing, Human Services and Health Committee of the Seattle City Council.
The appointments will be presented to the full Council for confirmation on August 13. Gibson and Martinez will replace SHA Commissioners Jennifer Potter and Bettylou Valentine, both of whom have served on the Commission for two terms.
"We are very excited at the prospect of working with both Ms. Gibson and Mr. Martinez," said SHA Executive Director Tom Tierney. "They both have impeccable qualifications and I am sure they will add important skills and perspectives to our board."
Gibson is executive director of ElderHealth Northwest, the largest adult day health program in the Pacific Northwest. ElderHealth operates five adult day centers, two of which are located in Seattle Housing Authority buildings. Gibson's 30 year career has focused on providing community-based long-term care for aging adults.
At the City Council committee meeting on Tuesday, Gibson commented on the fact that the need for creative solutions to meeting the needs of low-income elderly residents is becoming more urgent. Her vision for a healthy future for SHA would include assisted living floors in some buildings along with partnerships to build smaller, clustered housing for elders.
Gibson is affiliated with a number of professional organizations and is currently a board member of the National Pioneer Network, the Brain Injury Association of Washington, Alzheimer's Association and Washington Adult Day Services Association.
Juan Martinez is the state field director for the Washington Tax Fairness Coalition where he works with community, education, labor, faith and human services organizations to advocate for a progressive tax system that will benefit working families. Martinez also spent five years working for the Department of Social and Health Services, where he worked as a case manager for a range of people seeking services. He also brings labor and political organizing experience.
Martinez has worked with U.S. Congressman Jim McDermott and served as the president of Local 843 Washington Federation of State Employees. Martinez also serves on the board of directors of the Seattle Central Community College Foundation.