The City of Newcastle staff is saddened to learn of the recent passing of former Councilmember Bill Erxleben. A longtime resident, Mr. Erxleben was a passionate advocate for his vision of the City, dedicating significant time and experience to the community.  

Before becoming a Councilmember, Mr. Erxleben served a term on the Newcastle Planning Commission, where he was elected Vice Chair in 2001 and Chair in 2002. He resigned his Commission post to serve as Newcastle’s Position 3 Councilmember, a role he held from 2002 to 2007. In 2010, he was elected to Council again, this time to serve a four-year term in Position 6. At the time of his passing, he was an energetic citizen activist who fought hard for what he believed in.
 

Apart from his service to the City, Mr. Erxleben had a remarkable career in law and government. He was a former Washington State Assistant Attorney General as well as the Seattle Regional Director for the Federal Trade Commission, where he was awarded their Award for Distinguished Service. In keeping with his service-oriented career record, he was an award-winning teacher at the University of Washington’s Graduate School of Business and a guest lecturer at his alma mater, Stanford University.
 

The City of Newcastle staff sincerely appreciates the decades-long engagement and service of Bill Erxleben. Though his advocacy was frequently activated to oppose the positions of City Hall, he was a model of vital citizen engagement. We are grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside him, and we cherish the legacy he’s left the City: A blueprint for the informed, invigorated, engaged residents who are essential to both our democracy and local community. He will be missed.