Bill Baarsma

Bill Baarsma (Democrat) was a mayor of Tacoma, Washington. He was elected mayor in 2002 and served until 2009. Prior to his election, he taught business and public administration at the University of Puget Sound. He served on the Tacoma City Council from 1992 to 1999. He has also served on two Tacoma charter review commissions, and the city's 1980 redistricting committee. He has a bachelor's degree in political science, a master's degree in government, and a doctorate in public administration. He lives in the North End with his wife, Carol.

He was a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.