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Randy Revelle
PoliticianAdvocate
United States1941–2018
Randy Revelle was a Seattle politician who served on the Seattle City Council and as King County Executive from 1981 to 1985. After his political career, he became a prominent advocate for health-care reform and greater insurance coverage for mental-health treatment. [1]
Career and work
Revelle was elected to the Seattle City Council in 1973 and served two terms, working on public safety, health, utilities, and energy policy. In 1981, he was elected King County Executive. During his four-year term, his administration completed a county comprehensive plan, expanded farmland preservation, created Cougar Mountain Wilderness Park, increased highway funding, and made changes to mental-health care at Harborview Medical Center. [1]
After leaving elected office, Revelle focused much of his career on health-care policy. He led Washington state health-care reform bodies in the early 1990s, later joined the Washington State Hospital Association, and helped lead a long campaign for mental-health insurance parity that resulted in legislation signed into law in 2005. [1]
What has been publicly discussed
Sources and other resourcesExpand to view the sources used in this profile and resources to learn more.
Sources used for this profile
The following sources contain information that supports the claims made on this page.
HistoryLink“Revelle, Randall ‘Randy’ (1941–2018)” Detailed biography covering Revelle’s political career, bipolar disorder, health-policy work, and mental-health advocacy.
Association of Health Care Journalists“Mental health: Reporting beyond the labels” Recounts Revelle’s description of his bipolar diagnosis and psychotic experiences in 1977.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer“Mentally ill seek equal coverage” Profiles Revelle’s public disclosure of bipolar disorder and leadership in the campaign for insurance parity.
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The Spokesman-Review“Mental health coverage gets equal footing” Covers Revelle’s diagnosis, hospitalization barriers, lithium treatment, experience of stigma, and advocacy.
The Seattle Times“Mental-health bill requires equality” Reports Revelle’s psychotic episode, hospitalization difficulties, lithium treatment, and campaign for mental-health parity.
Princeton Alumni Weekly“Lives: Randall ‘Randy’ Revelle ’63” Retrospective on Revelle’s political career and personal experience of bipolar disorder, hospitalization, and treatment.
Queen Anne & Magnolia News“2007: The Year in Review” Reports Revelle’s statement that he had not experienced another manic episode for approximately 30 years.
Washington State Legislature“HB 2501 — House Bill Report” Official legislative record documenting Revelle’s testimony on behalf of the Washington Coalition for Insurance Parity.
Learn more
Recommended books and other resources about Randy Revelle and their experiences.