Long-Time Seattle Community Leader Kip Tokuda Dies

A prominent leader in Seattle's Asian-American community has died.

Kip Tokuda passed away suddenly, according to a statement from his family. He was 66 years old.

Tokuda served four terms in the Washington State Legislature, representing the 37th District in Seattle. He was first elected in 1994.

Prior to that, he was a social worker. He held a master's degree in social work from the University of Washington.

Tokuda was a long-time community activist. He served as executive director of the Washington Council on the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. He was a founding member of the Asian Community Leadership Foundation.

In recent months, Tokuda had been working with Mayor Mike McGinn to reform the way police in the city are recruited. The effort is meant to make the city's police force more diverse and representative of the community. He was also a member of the newly created Seattle Community Police Commission.

In a statement, McGinn called Tokuda "an inspiration and mentor to many in the community, including me."

"Seattle was enriched by him, and we will miss him deeply," McGinn said.

Kip Tokuda's Testimonial For Referendum 74