Seattle - Rudy Giuliani addressed a crowd of over 850 people last night at The Westin - Seattle. The 107th mayor of New York City and author of the bestseller, Leadership, received the 2002 Columbia Award presented at Washington Policy Center's Annual Dinner on Tuesday, October 15th in his first visit to Seattle. His special appearance in Seattle highlighted his steadfast commitment to the principles of freedom and responsible government and his bold leadership and enduring strength in a time of national crisis.
Washington Policy Center is an independent research and education organization promoting free markets in Washington state. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Annual Dinner serves as a fundraiser for the Center's research projects.
"The dinner and Mr. Giuliani's appearance was a tremendous success," said Daniel Mead Smith, President of the Policy Center. "Not only was this by far our largest dinner, but the ideas Mr. Giuliani emphasized both as mayor and last night are the same reforms we need to implement in our state. The key to improving our state is bold ideas and leadership."
During his speech, Mr. Giuliani emphasized how important the research of an organization like Washington Policy Center is in formulating successful public policy. He told the crowd how he used the recommendations of New York City based Manhattan Institute, a fellow free-market think tank and State Policy Network member, to transform a city once reviled for it's high taxes, stifling regulations and dangerous streets, into one of the nations crown jewels. New York is now a city where small businesses flourish, taxes are down and tourists flock to the safe, clean streets in droves.
King County Sheriff Dave Reichert received Washington Policy Center's 2002 Stanley O. McNaughton Champion of Freedom Award, the local version of the Columbia Award.
The Center's Columbia Award is presented to a national figure that adheres to the Center's philosophy of promoting free markets and limiting the role of government so individuals can flourish in a free society.
This year the award definition was expanded to recognize Rudy Giuliani's leadership in a time of crisis.