Thank you.
In preparing for today, I spent some time in reflection,
and one of the thoughts that kept coming back to me was,
I wish I had appreciated this moment a little bit
more the past four years.
And that led me to creating a short list of things that
I wish I had appreciated during my first four years
as a general manager for Seattle Public Utilities.
And therefore, these are things that I hope to
cherish more in the next three and a half, four years.
So the first one, I wish I had appreciated more the
incredible privilege of working with our Seattle electeds.
This city is so blessed to have electeds who genuinely
care about our city, the environment, and those
that are most vulnerable.
And I count it one of my greatest career experiences
to work alongside our electeds in addressing our
greatest city challenges.
Number two, I wish I'd appreciated more of the
power that comes from voices in our community.
The past four years, it's the voice of community
and the power of that community that has motivated
and empowered our department, Seattle Public
Utilities, to do more.
Whether that's working with the Duwamish River
Community Coalition to address sea level rise
and contaminated sediment in the Duwamish,
or tirelessly working with the Muckleshoot Indian tribe
to restore the Sock I run on the Cedar River.
Number three, I wish I had appreciated more
the value of my peers.
Our job as directors of city departments
can be lonely at times, and I've definitely
underappreciated the value of the incredible wealth
and knowledge and experience of my peers.
but more than just their knowledge and experience,
what I've underappreciated is their friendship, their
empathy, and their support.
Number four, I wish I'd appreciated more the
amazing power that we have to transform neighborhoods
when we work together.
In the past four years, I've seen departments come together
to revitalize the downtown core, to address public
safety issues through our coordinated approach in Little
Saigon, and to work to mitigate sea level rise in the Duwamish.
And I've underappreciated the incredible power we have when we
combine our resources together and work to focus on
neighborhood transformation.
Number five, I wish I'd appreciated more of the
the support that I've received from my colleagues at SPU
during difficult times.
A little more than two years ago, my life was thrown into
complete disarray when my 20-year-old son passed away.
My SPU family stepped up in so many ways, and the city
family stepped up in so many ways to support me through
that time, and it's a debt that I can never repay.
Number six, I wish I'd appreciated more of the strength
that I receive from my wife and and my children to
step out every day.
I've heard it said that when your marriage is strong,
the world around you can be falling apart,
but you'll be able to step out in strength.
And I've underappreciated the gift of my wife and children
and giving me the strength each day to step out
and to serve our city.
And then lastly, I wish I'd appreciated more of the hope
that I have from my faith in God.
I've had good moments and not so good moments
over the last four years, but through it all,
my greatest strength and hope has come from my faith in God,
and that is something I know I never fully appreciate.
I want to close just by saying a heartfelt thank you
to Mayor Wilson, to our council members,
for allowing me to continue serving in this role
as the general manager and CEO for Seattle Public Utilities.
I'll do my best these next four years to truly cherish
and appreciate the incredible privilege and responsibility
that I've been entrusted with.
Thank you.
All right.
Can you raise your right hand and repeat after me, please?
All right.
I, Andrew Lee.
Swear that I possess all of the qualifications.
Prescribed in the Seattle City Charter.
prescribed in the Seattle City Charter
and the Seattle Municipal Code
for the position of Director of Seattle
Public Utilities
that I will support the Constitution
of the United States
and the Constitution of the State of Washington
and the Charter and Ordinances of the City of Seattle
and that I will faithfully conduct myself
And that I will faithfully conduct myself.
As the director of SPU.
Congratulations.