Rosemarie Ives

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Rosemarie Ives is the current mayor of Redmond, Washington.

Ives was born Rosemarie Moccia to Italian immigrants to the United States. She earned a History degree and was a social studies teacher before moving to Redmond in 1980. She was appointed to the Planning Commission in 1983 by Mayor Christine Himes and won election as Mayor against incumbent Doreen Marchione in 1991.

Ives has served Redmond during an incredible period of economic growth as Redmond is home to company facilities for such companies as Microsoft, Aerojet, Nintendo, Cingular Wireless, Medtronic, Eddie Bauer, Genie Industries and Safeco Insurance.

She has received some criticism for the way in which the new Redmond City Hall was financed as well as the scope of the project. The new city hall has been estimated to cost Redmond taxpayers between $60-80 million and has significant unused space.

In 2006 she convinced the Redmond City Council to support a Levy Lid Lift ballot measure to increase Redmond's property tax rate more than 50%. It was soundly defeated in a special election 61.77% to 38.23%. The city council approved a budget in late 2006 that increased only specific taxes and lowered the growth rate of the city budget.

Her term ends in 2007 and she has stated that she will not seek re-election^{[citation needed]}.