Seattle politician Norman Blann Rice (1943-) was first elected to the Seattle City Council in 1978. Rice served eleven years, participating as chairs of the Energy, Finance, and Budget committees, and was Council President for one term. From 1989 to 1997 Rice served two terms as the 49th mayor, becoming Seattle's first African-American mayor. Rice has remained a civic leader as CEO and then president of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle from 1998 to 2004, and then CEO of the non-profit Seattle Foundation from 2009-2013.

In this image Norm Rice stands with his wife, Dr. Constance Williams Rice (1945-), and son, Mian Rice (1970-), following the official swearing-in at City Council chambers as Seattle's new mayor. Afterward Rice hosted a free public inaugural event at Union Station where he asked attendees to repeat together his "Pledge for Seattle," vowing, "When I see the homeless, the sick or the needy, I'll take a stand. I won't look the other way. I won't say I'm too busy. I won't say it's not my problem. I'll take a stand. For Seattle's future."

Caption information source: The Seattle Times, November 10, 1989, page C3
Caption information also derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of the photograph.