The White House announced today that Greg Nickels has been appointed by President Obama as the Alternate Representative of the United States of America to the Sixty-fifth Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations.
The White House bio for Greg Nickels notes that:
Greg Nickels is currently a Distinguished Urban Fellow for Living Cities, a collaboration of 22 of the largest philanthropies and financial institutions in America. In the spring of 2010, Nickels was appointed as a fellow-in residence at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University. Prior to that, he served as the 51st Mayor of the City of Seattle from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2009 and as an elected member of the King County Council for 14 years. From 1978 to 1987, he served as legislative assistant to then-City Councilmember Norm Rice. In 2009 Nickels was elected the 67th President of the United States Conference of Mayors.
Greg Nickels on his Facebook page comments on his new position.
Tuesday, when the 65th Session of the UN General Assembly was gaveled to order, I was sitting “behind the flag”, i.e. behind the placard that read “United States”. That seat is reserved for the country’s senior person in attendance. As I looked around the massive chambers and the huge UN logo behind the rostrum, it was… surreal to think I was representing our country to the world.
A once in a lifetime honor!
Yes, It is an honor and we are fortunate to have one of our own from Washington State and Seattle representing us to the World.
