Brian Ebersole (politician)

Brian Ebersole
35th Mayor of Tacoma
In office
January 1, 1996 – January 1, 2001
Preceded byHarold Moss
Succeeded byMike Crowley (interim)
44th Speaker of the Washington House of Representatives
In office
January 11, 1993 – January 9, 1995
Preceded byJoseph E. King
Succeeded byClyde Ballard
Majority Leader of the Washington House of Representatives
In office
January 11, 1988 – January 11, 1993
Preceded byPat McMullen
Succeeded byW. Kim Peery
Minority Leader of the Washington House of Representatives
In office
January 9, 1995 – January 8, 1996
Preceded byClyde Ballard
Succeeded byMarlin Appelwick
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 29th district
In office
January 10, 1983 – January 1, 1996
Preceded byWendell B. Brown
Succeeded byCarl Scheuerman
Personal details
Born (1947-10-10) October 10, 1947 (age 77)
Tennessee, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
RelationsFather, Dr. Luke E. Ebersole, Vice Chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Mother, Margaret C. Ebersole, first grade teacher

Brian Ebersole (born October 10, 1947) was an American politician in the state of Washington. He served in the Washington House of Representatives from 1983 to 1997. He was Speaker of the House from 1993 to 1995.[1] He also served as mayor of Tacoma, Washington.

Originally from Tennessee, Brian Ebersole obtained a B.S. in political science from the University of Tennessee and a M.Sc. in educational psychology from the University of Connecticut. After graduation, he moved to Tacoma and worked as college administrator and teacher. He was first elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 1983 and served as House Majority Leader from 1987 to 1993 and as 41st Speaker of the House from 1993 to 1995.[2] He lost the speakership after 1994 elections, which saw Republican Clyde Ballard win the gavel. He then served as minority leader until May 1995, when he announced his intentions to run for mayor of Tacoma.[3] He won this election with around 65% of the vote and went on to serve from 1996 to 2001.[4] After his time as mayor, Ebersole worked as president of Bates Technical College from 2000 to 2003.[5] In 2018, he opened an art gallery in Tacoma.[6]

  1. ^ "State of Washington – Members of the Legislature 1889–2011" (PDF). 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  2. ^ Weatherly Sharp, Nancy (1997). American Legislative Leaders in the West, 1911-1994. Greenwood. p. 106. ISBN 978-0313302121.
  3. ^ "House Democrats Losing Minority Leader". The Spokesman-Review. May 26, 1995. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  4. ^ "Ebersole Claims Tacoma Win -- Former Speaker Elected Mayor". The Seattle Times. November 8, 1995. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  5. ^ "Brian Ebersole retires from Bates". Tacoma Daily Index. January 30, 2003. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  6. ^ "This former Tacoma mayor doesn't care if he makes money. He just likes art". The News Tribune. July 19, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2019.