Ann Davison came to Seattle in 1996 to work for the Seattle SuperSonics front office in basketball operations. She is now an attorney and mother of two elementary-aged kids who were born in Seattle.
Ann holds a JD from Willamette and a BA in Sociology from Baylor. She was a Court Certified Law Clerk at the Marion County District Attorney’s Office in Salem, OR, where she managed assigned criminal cases by conducting bench trials, analyzing crime, and negotiating plea deals. Ann established her own practice out of law school, becoming one of Seattle’s many small business owners. After building a book of business, she took it to a small downtown law firm where her practice areas included civil litigation, immigration, sports, contracts and business transactions. She has practiced in Seattle since 2005, at times navigating the balance of becoming a mother, and does so now at Functional Legal Solutions, focusing on sports, business, employment, contracts, intellectual property, and other general civil areas. Ann has also been an arbitrator for numerous cases over her 16 year legal career.
Ann currently serves on the executive board for the Seattle Youth Soccer Association as the VP of Recreational Development and is also on the Board for a nonprofit that assists clients who have mental illness re-enter community. Previously Ann served as co-chair of a volunteer committee for a public elementary school fundraiser that raised over $200,000. She has also served as a co-operative preschool Board member and was a volunteer tutor through CAYA (Central Area Youth Association), helping refugee and immigrant students. Ann lives in north Seattle with her family where she coaches kids’ soccer teams. She has spent time volunteering with people recently released from incarceration, with people experiencing homelessness, and led an event known as Hunger Awareness Week. Ann has spent time working in Australia helping at-risk youth, immigrants and refugees. Ann also helped the UN Border Relief Operation to do a survey in a Cambodian refugee camp along the Thai/Cambodian border in Thailand.
Ann is also a teacher. She taught conversational English to Thai college students at Yonok College in Lampang, Thailand. Currently, she teaches International Business Law in the Global Business Program to international students at the University of Washington Continuum College.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Ann worked as a caseworker in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D. C., assisting constituents in matters regarding their military service, medicare, medicaid and social security. Also in D.C., she started her career in sports at a pro sports representational agency before her time in the front office for the Seattle SuperSonics from 1996 to 2001.
Ann was a political newcomer when she ran for Seattle City Council in 2019, driven by conversations for years with her young kids about the obvious plight of people alongside the roadways of Seattle, with elected people doing nothing meaningful about it and allowing for the suffering of people and the degradation of the environment. Ann garnered 40% of the vote in the general election of 2019, after securing the endorsement of the Seattle Times over the incumbent. Ann continued her efforts to see change within Seattle and Washington state, seeing a need for political balance that stemmed from Seattle and ran for Lieutenant Governor for Washington state from her convictions about the same issues that spurred her initial political involvement in 2019.
UNIVERSITY SUNRISE ROTARY
10/21/21
MEETING MINUTES
Our Speaker this morning was Ann Davison, running for office of Seattle City Attorney (SCA).
Worked for the Sonics (but I don’t think as an attorney)
Graduated with Juris Doctor
Started Functional Legal Solutions PLLC, consulting supporting business.
Participated in youth soccer, currently a soccer coach.
Participated in Hunger Awareness Week
Taught English in Thailand
Previously campaigned for the office of Lt. Governor and Seattle City Council
Understands the office of SCA is to provide legal advice to city government officials and to represent city functionaries, empowering them to make decisions in support of city policies.
Ann Davison then fielded QUESTIONS:
- Lee Raaen: Should the SCA represent the city agencies or the interests of its citizens?
A: Ms. Davison stated, the SCA makes the determination of “What’s best for the City”. The SCA helps set policy / guidelines.
- Tom Ranken: What is your thought on the pursuit of minor crimes?
A: Laws are a reflection of City values. Intervention / supervision in the forefront of public safety. “Crime Matters”.
- Bob Wiley): What is your position on shoplifting?
A: Ms. Davidson stated that offenders need to be prosecuted as shoplifting puts workers at risk. There are usually other crimes involved during the execution of a shoplifting action. Proponent of a SCA retail theft focus.
- Paul Weibel: What will be your focus on entering the Job?
A: Understanding the needs of all the departments. Engender collaboration across all City departments. Police reform needed – opposition to dismantling the Police Department – raising civility and respect.
- Isaac McNalley: What can we do to help the campaign?
A: Contribute time and money.
- Mike Madden: What do you see as the role of SCA to a multi-approach solution to crime?
A: Obligation to the recidivism of offenders. Interdiction of repeat offenders VS re-entry into society. “We own the process of recidivism”. Espousing programs to measure outcomes.
- John Pierce: Have you any support from Seattle law firms?
A: 30 past City judges endorse the campaign.
- Jim Horrigan : What is your position on “safe injection sites”?
A: SCA should provide the legal framework to carry out City policy. Ms. Davison stated that her personal opinions are not relevant.
- Jim MIller: What is your position on gun violence?
A: Ms. Davison stated “Intervention and prosecution”.
