tickets. 1946 – The new Charter created the four-year term. 2013 – City voters pass measure changing councilmember elections to a mostly-district-based scheme. 2015 – First councilmember elections held under new combined district/at-large scheme. Salary In 2006, Seattle City Council salaries exceeded $100,000 for the first time. This made Seattle's city council among the highest paid in the United States, behind only Los Angeles and Philadelphia. In 2010, Councilmembers Sally Bagshaw, Richard Conlin, Nick Licata and Mike O'Brien earn $117,533.52 annually. Councilmembers who were re-elected in 2011, Tim Burgess, Sally J. Clark, Jean Godden, Bruce Harrell, and Tom Rasmussen, will earn an annual salary of $119,976.48, effective January 1, 2012. Their salary will remain at this level through December 31, 2015. In January 2017, salaries of councilmembers are authorized to be $59.08 per hour (councilmembers are paid monthly salaries, however the published compensation plan are presented as hourly rates). This is equivalent to an annualized pay of $123,359.04 , salaries of councilmembers are authorized to be $62.11 per hour, an increase of 5% from 2017. This is equivalent to an annualized pay of $129,685.68. As of 2021, salaries of district councilmembers are authorized to be $65.32 per hour. Annually, councilmembers make as much as $140,000. Council President The Seattle City Council picks among its peers a Council President to serve a two-year term, beginning January 1 of the year following an election. The Council President serves as the official head of the City's legislative department. In addition, they are tasked with: Establishing of committees and appointment of committee chairs and members. Presiding over meetings of the full council. Assuming the duties and responsibilities of Mayor if the Mayor is absent or incapacitated. Notable past council members Paul J. Alexander, council member 1956-1969, newspaper publisher George Benson, promoter of the Waterfront Streetcar Bruce Chapman, council member 1971–1975, Secretary of State of Washington, Director of the United States Census Bureau, United States Ambassador to the United Nations Organizations in Vienna. Charlie Chong, council member 1996–1997, West Seattle populist Arthur A. Denny, council member 1877–1879, leader of the Seattle pioneers known as the Denny Party Bailey Gatzert, council member 1872–1873 and 1877–1878, in between was elected the city's first (and, , the only) Jewish mayor Hiram Gill, council member 1898–1902, 1904–1910, then mayor. Famous as an "Open Town" advocate, he later allied with "Closed Town" reformers. Jean Godden, council member 2003–2015, newspaper columnist