Richard M. Stredicke, a longtime former city councilman in Renton, died Aug. 13 in Los Angeles. He was 78.

Stredicke started in city politics in 1969 as a “term-limits” advocate. He stayed on the City Council for 26 years and is most remembered for his work in acquiring and building Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park.

His tenure in office is one of the longest for any regional city councilman. He retired in 1995 as effects of Multiple Sclerosis decreased his mobility and moved to Los Angeles where he eventually entered a rehabilitation center where he focused on his love of sports, politics, maple bars and a good game of chess or Scrabble, according to his brother Victor Stredicke.

Stredicke was an active advocate of council efforts to acquire land for what would become Gene Coulon Park, the construction of the Renton Library in the Highlands and he was an advocate of better communication with citizens.

A former newspaperman, Stredicke’s initial candidate brochure was a newspaper tabloid explaining the jobs of city officials and services offered City Council. He continued this “City of Renton Report” when in office until the city itself began a similar publication

Stredicke was also opposed to metering of 405 freeway access because he felt it just transferred the state’s problems onto the streets of the city by backing up cars on the ramp and beyond. After he left the council, we got metered freeway entrances.

Councilmember Randy Corman, who served two years on the council with Stredicke, remembered the former councilman’s efforts on Monday as he lamented the traffic problems and blockages today stemming from the meters.

Corman also told a story about his first visit to the council, prior to his election when an issue in his neighborhood led him to a meeting. At that meeting, Corman said, Stredicke was so helpful that Corman and his wife sent a thank you note. He also called Stredicke “very independent-minded” and said he recalled Stredicke sometimes voting the opposite of the council just so the minority voice would be considered for the record.

“I think the city’s a better place for all the time he spent here,” Corman said.

Before entering politics he published The Renton Enterprise which he later sold to the competing newspaper. Stredicke was a Highline High School graduate and attended Seattle University but left early to become news editor of the Highline Times in Burien.

He also served in the U.S. Army, stationed at Schofield Army Base, Oahu, Hawaii.

While news editor of the Highline Times, he met Janet McKinney, whom he married in 1959. The couple had two children, Diane Stredicke of Rhinebeck, N.Y., and Richard Stredicke Jr. of Kent. He is also survived by brothers Victor Stredicke of Seatac and Al Stredicke of Covington.

The family has suggestions memorial donations be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Donate.