Sanford Brown is one of the prominent clerics in Seattle Washington As executive director of the Church Council of Greater Seattle he is a frequent contributor to public debate about religion social justice and medical ethics Since becoming director of the Council over 150 articles in Seattle media have featured the work of his organization Brown is one of the few Washington citizens successfully to contest an election In 2000 the election of City of Wenatchee mayor Gary Schoessler was successfully contested by Brown and his associate Rev Kel Groseclose In 2005 Brown received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from his alma mater Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary The honor is given to a maximum of two G ETS graduates each year from among the school s 3500 graduates