Calvin Goings

Calvin W. Goings (born April 3, 1973) is the Director of Finance and Administrative Services for the City of Seattle, and a former politician. He was the youngest member to ever serve in the Washington State Legislature representing Puyallup at 22 years old.

Goings also served for over seven years as a member of President Obama's economic development team leading the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in the Pacific Northwest, where he focused on expanding SBA support to small businesses owned by women, immigrants and minorities.

Life and education

Calvin Goings grew up in Puyallup, Washington as the youngest of four children and attended Franklin Pierce High School.

He earned his undergraduate degree from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington.

Elected official

At 18, Goings ran for Fire Commissioner of Central Pierce Fire and Rescue and became one of the state's youngest elected officials. In 1995, at age 22, he was appointed to the Washington State Senate and was the youngest State Senator in the nation at that time. The following year Goings was elected outright to continue in that office. Goings Represented the 25th Legislative District. He was named to fill the vacancy left when Senate Majority Leader Marc Gaspard resigned. He served as Vice Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.

In 2000, Goings was elected to the Pierce County Council. He was also a gubernatorial appointee to the State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB). During his time on the Pierce County Council he was the prime sponsor of the first domestic partner benefits equity legislation for Pierce County employees.

In 2008, Goings ran for Pierce County Executive but lost to Pat McCarthy.

Professional career

In 2010, Goings was appointed by President Obama to serve as Regional Administrator of Region X (Pacific NW Region) of the U.S. Small Business Administration. He served for seven years in this role as a member of Obama's economic development team.

Goings currently serves as the Director of Finance and Administrative Services for the City of Seattle. In this role, Goings serves as a member of Mayor Jenny Durkan's Cabinet.

Previously, Goings was the Chief of Staff for Seattle City Light.

In the private sector, Goings led the statewide Washington Credit Union Foundation.

Outside of work, Goings served as a past member of the Board of Directors for the Greater Seattle Business Association, the nation's largest LGBTQ chamber of commerce.

Personal life

Goings lives Seattle's Belltown neighborhood.