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Chris Stearns
Chris StearnsElected in 2019, Councilmember Chris Stearns is committed to fighting for equity, justice, and public safety. Chris is the first Native American (Navajo) to be elected to the Auburn City Council in the City’s history.

Chris is proud to represent Auburn as Co-Chair of the WRIA-9 Watershed Ecosystem Forum for salmon recovery in the Green River, as well as serve on the King County Affordable Housing Committee, the Puget Sound Regional Council’s Equity Advisory Committee, the King County Flood Control District’s Advisory Committee, the National League of Cities’ Indigenous Municipal Officials, the King County Mental Illness and Drug Dependency Oversight Committee, and the Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force.

Prior to serving in elected office, Chris spent thirty years working as an attorney, government leader, and public policy advocate fighting for justice and human rights. He is Of Counsel to Hobbs Straus Dean & Walker, a national law firm specializing in representing Native American tribes across the United States. His work for Indian tribes in the field of gambling law led to his appointment to the Washington State Gambling Commission, where he served two terms as Chair.

His commitment to social justice led to serving two terms as Chair of the Seattle Human Rights Commission during the years the City of Seattle was going through police reform.  Chris has also served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Seattle Indian Health Board, one of the largest urban Native American health care providers in the nation.

While working in Washington, D.C., Chris was appointed by President Bill Clinton as the first-ever Director of Indian Affairs for the U.S. Department of Energy where he helped Secretary Bill Richardson create a national Indian energy portfolio. Prior to that, Chris served as Democratic Counsel for the Committee on Natural Resources in the U.S. House of Representatives where he oversaw national legislation on Native American issues such as tribal self-determination, health care, and gambling.

Chris graduated from the Lawrenceville School, received his B.A. with Honors in History from Williams College, and his law degree from Cornell Law School.

Chris lives with his wife, Pamela, in Auburn along with their wild dog, Lovey. They have two adult children, Alexandria and Stephanie (both graduates of Auburn High School), and one grandchild, Carter.

CONTACT:
Chris Stearns
c/o City of Auburn
25 West Main Street
Auburn, WA 98001

253-259-5531 (p)
253-288-3132 (f)
Email Chris Stearns (e)

Current term began: January 1, 2020
Current term ends: December 31, 2023