Biography
On Monday, January 7, 2008, King County Councilmember Larry Gossett was sworn in to begin serving his 6th term on the Metropolitan King County Council. In 2009, he will serve on the following committees: • Chair of Budget and Fiscal Management
• Member of Law, Justice, Health and Human Services, Government Accountability and Oversight, Physical Environment, Board of Health Committees
Born and raised in Seattle, Larry has been a dedicated servant of the people for over 40 years. After graduating from Franklin High School, he became a VISTA volunteer in Harlem (1966-1967). Councilmember Gossett attended the University of Washington, where he was one of the original founders of the Black Student Union (BSU). As a respected student activist he fought to eliminate racial discrimination and increase the enrollment of African Americans and other students of color at the University. After graduation, he became the first supervisor of the Black Student Division, in the Office of Minority Affairs.
In the summer of 2008 the University of Washington Alumni Association gave him the esteemed honor of being selected as one of the “Wonderous 100,” that is, as one of the most influential U.W. graduates over the past 100 years.
From April 1979 until December 1993, he was the Executive Director of the Central Area Motivation Program (CAMP), one of the oldest and largest community action agencies in the City of Seattle.
In 1993, Councilmember Gossett was elected to the King County Council, representing District Two (formerly District Ten), which encompasses many Seattle neighborhoods and portions of unincorporated King County in the Skyway neighborhood. He was overwhelmingly re-elected in 1995, 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007.
Councilmember Gossett is a highly respected community leader who has long advocated for the underrepresented and underprivileged in King County for his entire career. He has long been an advocate for programs that help inner-city youth and reduce racial and class disparities in our local criminal justice system. He has also spearheaded efforts to eliminate black-on-black violence and other manifestations of self-hatred by poor and disenfranchised populations.
Councilmember Gossett has represented the King County Council on various promotional trade missions around the world. His destinations include Japan, Canada, Russia, England and Nicaragua. He has represented the King County Council on various trade missions to Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, India, South Korea, China, several countries in South America, South Africa, and most recently, Kent County England.
Councilmember Gossett is a dynamic speaker, prolific writer, administrator and political activist. He has the ability to motivate and inspire people of all races and walks of life. He is dedicated to the cause of equal rights and economic freedom for all people.
He is married with three children and two grandchildren.