Mayor of Seattle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mayor of Seattle
Incumbent Bruce Harrell since January 1, 2022
Government of Seattle
Style	The Honorable
Term length	4 years
Inaugural holder	Henry A. Atkins
Formation	December 2, 1869

The Mayor of Seattle is the head of the executive branch of the city government of Seattle, Washington. The mayor is authorized by the city charter to enforce laws enacted by the Seattle City Council, as well as direct subordinate officers in city departments. (The Seattle City Council, the legislative branch of city government, is led by the council president.)

The mayor serves a four-year term, without term limits, and is chosen in citywide, two-round elections between nonpartisan candidates.

Since the appointment of Henry A. Atkins in 1869, 56 individuals have held the office of mayor. The city elected Bertha Knight Landes, the first female mayor of a major U.S. city, in 1926. Several mayors have served non-consecutive terms, while others have resigned or faced recall elections. Charles Royer holds the record for longest mayoral tenure in the city's history, serving three full terms from 1978 to 1990.

Bruce Harrell took office as mayor on January 1, 2022, becoming the first Asian-American and second African-American mayor in Seattle's History.

History

Seattle was initially incorporated as a town on January 14, 1865, by the Washington Territorial Legislature, governed by a board of trustees. Charles C. Terry served as president of the board of trustees, which remained unchanged until the town's disincorporation on January 28, 1867. The town of Seattle was incorporated a second time on December 2, 1869, with a new city charter that established the position of mayor. Henry A. Atkins was appointed as the first mayor of Seattle by the Territorial Legislature, and was elected to the office on July 11, 1870.

A new city charter, the Freeholders Charter, was adopted in 1890 and extended the mayor's term in office from one year to two years, but barred consecutive terms. The charter also moved elections to the first Monday in March and required the mayor to be at least 30 years of age and live within the city for two years.

A new city charter that was approved by the city's voters in 1946 lengthened the term of office for mayors from two years to four years, starting with the 1948 elections. In 1969 the age and residence requirements were removed from the charter.

Duties and powers

The mayor is the head of the executive branch of Seattle's municipal government, charged with the appointment and management of 25 department and commission heads that work directly for the mayor. In the event of an absence of the mayor, the president of the Seattle City Council assumes the duties of the position as mayor pro tem until their return, but a notification is not necessary under the city charter.

Elections and succession

The mayor is elected in a citywide election held every four years, composed of two stages: a primary election in August and a general election between the top two candidates in November. Elections are officially non-partisan.

If the office of mayor becomes vacant, the president of the city council becomes mayor for a five-day period to immediately fill the position. If the president of the city council declines to remain mayor, the city council is authorized to vote to appoint a councilmember to the role of mayor. The councilmember appointed to the position under both scenarios will forfeit their position on the city council until the next election. A mayor-elect can also take office earlier than the official inauguration date (January 1), upon certification of the election results and a decision by the city council to replace the appointed mayor.

A two-thirds majority vote of the city council can remove the mayor from office for a willful violation of duty or an offense involving moral turpitude.

List of mayors

#	Photo		Mayor	Took office	Left office	Election results and notes
1			Atkins, Henry A.Henry A. Atkins	1869-12-02 December 2, 1869	1871-07-31 July 31, 1871	Appointed on December 2, 1869. Elected July 11, 1870.
2			Jordan, John T.John T. Jordan	1871-07-31 July 31, 1871	1872-07-29 July 29, 1872	Elected July 10, 1871.
3			Stone, Corliss P.Corliss P. Stone	1872-07-29 July 29, 1872	1873-02-23 February 23, 1873	Elected July 8, 1872. Left office on February 23, 1873, due to alleged embezzlement of funds.
			Jordan, John T.John T. Jordan	1873-04-05 April 5, 1873	1873-06-05 June 5, 1873	Appointed to fill position until special election.
4			Maddocks, Moses R.Moses R. Maddocks	1873-06-05 June 5, 1873	1873-08-03 August 3, 1873	Won special election on June 5, 1873, to serve the rest of Stone's regular term.
5			Collins, JohnJohn Collins	1873-08-03 August 3, 1873	1874-08-02 August 2, 1874	Elected on July 14, 1873.
6			Yesler, HenryHenry Yesler	1874-08-02 August 2, 1874	1875-08-02 August 2, 1875	Elected July 13, 1874.
7			Gatzert, BaileyBailey Gatzert	1875-08-02 August 2, 1875	1876-07-31 July 31, 1876	Elected August 2, 1875.
8			Weed, Gideon A.Gideon A. Weed	1876-07-31 July 31, 1876	1878-07-29 July 29, 1878	Elected July 10, 1876, and re-elected July 9, 1877.
9			Brown, BeriahBeriah Brown	1878-07-29 July 29, 1878	1879-08-03 August 3, 1879	Elected July 8, 1878.
10			Jacobs, OrangeOrange Jacobs	1879-08-03 August 3, 1879	1880-08-02 August 2, 1880	Elected July 14, 1879.
11			Smith, Leonard P.Leonard P. Smith	1880-08-02 August 2, 1880	1882-07-31 July 31, 1882	Elected July 12, 1880.
12			Struve, Henry G.Henry G. Struve	1882-07-31 July 31, 1882	1884-08-03 August 3, 1884	Elected July 10, 1882, and re-elected on July 9, 1883.
13			Leary, JohnJohn Leary	1884-08-03 August 3, 1884	1885-08-03 August 3, 1885	Elected July 14, 1884.
			Yesler, HenryHenry Yesler	1885-08-03 August 3, 1885	1886-08-02 August 2, 1886	Elected July 13, 1885, to a non-consecutive second term.
14			Shoudy, William H.William H. Shoudy	1886-08-02 August 2, 1886	1887-08-01 August 1, 1887	Elected July 12, 1886.
15			Minor, Thomas T.Thomas T. Minor	1887-08-01 August 1, 1887	1888-07-30 July 30, 1888	Elected July 11, 1887.
16			Moran, RobertRobert Moran	1888-07-30 July 30, 1888	1890-08-03 August 3, 1890	Elected July 9, 1888, and re-elected July 8, 1889.
17			White, HarryHarry White	1890-08-03 August 3, 1890	1891-12-09 December 9, 1891	Elected July 14, 1890, to an abbreviated term under 1890 charter. Resigned on November 30, 1891.
18			Hall, George W.George W. Hall	1891-12-09 December 9, 1891	1892-03-31 March 31, 1892	Appointed.
19			Ronald, James T.James T. Ronald	1892-03-31 March 31, 1892	1894-03-19 March 19, 1894	Elected March 8, 1892.
20			Phelps, ByronByron Phelps	1894-03-19 March 19, 1894	1896-03-16 March 16, 1896	Elected March 12, 1894.
21			Black, Frank D.Frank D. Black	1896-03-16 March 16, 1896	1896-04-06 April 6, 1896	Elected March 9, 1896. Resigned after three weeks in office.
22			Wood, W. D.W. D. Wood	1896-04-06 April 6, 1896	1897-07 July 1897	Appointed to fill unexpired term. Resigned in July 1897 to participate in the Klondike Gold Rush.
23			Humes, Thomas J.Thomas J. Humes	1897-11-19 November 19, 1897	1904-03-21 March 21, 1904	Elected by City Council to fill unexpired term.
24			Ballinger, Richard A.Richard A. Ballinger	1904-03-21 March 21, 1904	1906-03-19 March 19, 1906	Elected March 8, 1904.
25			Moore, William HickmanWilliam Hickman Moore	1906-03-19 March 19, 1906	1908-03-16 March 16, 1908	Elected March 6, 1906.
26			Miller, JohnJohn Miller	1908-03-16 March 16, 1908	1910-03-21 March 21, 1910	Elected March 3, 1908.
27			Gill, Hiram C.Hiram C. Gill	1910-03-21 March 21, 1910	1911-02-11 February 11, 1911	Elected March 8, 1910. Recalled in special election held February 9, 1911.
28			Dilling, George W.George W. Dilling	1911-02-11 February 11, 1911	1912-03-18 March 18, 1912	Elected February 7, 1911.
29			Cotterill, George F.George F. Cotterill	1912-03-18 March 18, 1912	1914-03-16 March 16, 1914	Elected March 5, 1912.
			Gill, Hiram C.Hiram C. Gill	1914-03-16 March 16, 1914	1918-03-18 March 18, 1918	Elected March 3, 1914.
30			Hanson, OleOle Hanson	1918-03-18 March 18, 1918	1919-08-28 August 28, 1919	Elected March 5, 1918. Resigned August 28, 1919, to move to California.
31			Fitzgerald, C. B.C. B. Fitzgerald	1919-08-28 August 28, 1919	1920-03-14 March 14, 1920	Appointed to fill unexpired term.
32			Caldwell, Hugh M.Hugh M. Caldwell	1920-03-14 March 14, 1920	1922-06-05 June 5, 1922	Elected March 2, 1920.
33			Brown, Edwin J.Edwin J. Brown	1922-06-05 June 5, 1922	1926-06-07 June 7, 1926	Elected May 2, 1922, and re-elected March 4, 1924.
34			Knight Landes, BerthaBertha Knight Landes	1926-06-07 June 7, 1926	1928-06-04 June 4, 1928	Elected March 9, 1926. First female mayor.
35			Edwards, Frank E.Frank E. Edwards	1928-06-04 June 4, 1928	1931-07-14 July 14, 1931	Elected March 6, 1928, and re-elected March 4, 1930. Recalled in special election held July 13, 1931.
36			Harlin, Robert H.Robert H. Harlin	1931-07-14 July 14, 1931	1932-06-04 June 4, 1932	Appointed to finish unexpired term.
37			Dore, John F.John F. Dore	1932-06-04 June 4, 1932	1934-06-04 June 4, 1934	Elected March 8, 1932.
38			Smith, Charles L.Charles L. Smith	1934-06-04 June 4, 1934	1936-06-01 June 1, 1936	Elected March 6, 1934.
			Dore, John F.John F. Dore	1936-06-01 June 1, 1936	1938-04-13 April 13, 1938	Elected March 3, 1936. Relieved of office on April 13, 1938, due to sickness. Died on April 18, 1938.
			Scavotto, JamesJames Scavotto	1938-04-13 April 13, 1938	1938-04-27 April 27, 1938	Appointed to fill position until city council decision.
39			Langlie, Arthur B.Arthur B. Langlie	1938-04-27 April 27, 1938	1941-01-11 January 11, 1941	Elected March 8, 1938. Appointed as mayor-elect due to relieving (and death) of Mayor Dore. Re-elected May 5, 1940. Resigned January 11, 1941, to become Governor of Washington.
40			Carroll, John E.John E. Carroll	1941-01-27 January 27, 1941	1941-03-27 March 27, 1941	Appointed until special election.
41			Millikin, EarlEarl Millikin	1941-03-27 March 27, 1941	1942-06-01 June 1, 1942	Elected March 4, 1941, to finish unexpired term.
42			Devin, William F.William F. Devin	1942-06-01 June 1, 1942	1952-06-01 June 1, 1952	Elected March 3, 1942. Re-elected on March 7, 1944, March 5, 1946, and March 2, 1948.
43			Pomeroy, AllanAllan Pomeroy	1952-06-01 June 1, 1952	1956-06-04 June 4, 1956	Elected March 4, 1952.
44			Clinton, GordonGordon Clinton	1956-06-04 June 4, 1956	1964-04-06 April 6, 1964	Elected March 6, 1956, and re-elected March 8, 1960.
45			Braman, James d'OrmaJames d'Orma Braman	1964-04-06 April 6, 1964	1969-03-23 March 23, 1969	Elected March 10, 1964. Resigned to accept appointment as Assistant Secretary of Urban Systems and Environment in the U.S. Department of Transportation.
46			Miller, Floyd C.Floyd C. Miller	1969-03-23 March 23, 1969	1969-12-01 December 1, 1969
47			Uhlman, Wesley C.Wesley C. Uhlman	1969-12-01 December 1, 1969	1978-01-01 January 1, 1978	Elected November 4, 1969, and re-elected November 6, 1973. Survived recall attempt on July 1, 1975.
48			Royer, CharlesCharles Royer	1978-01-01 January 1, 1978	1990-01-01 January 1, 1990	Elected November 8, 1977. Re-elected on November 3, 1981, and November 5, 1985.
49			Rice, NormNorm Rice	1990-01-01 January 1, 1990	1998-01-01 January 1, 1998	Elected November 7, 1989, and re-elected November 2, 1993. First African-American mayor.
50			Schell, PaulPaul Schell	1998-01-01 January 1, 1998	2002-01-01 January 1, 2002	Elected November 4, 1997.
51			Nickels, GregGreg Nickels	2002-01-01 January 1, 2002	2010-01-01 January 1, 2010	Elected November 6, 2001, and re-elected November 8, 2005.
52			McGinn, MichaelMichael McGinn	2010-01-01 January 1, 2010	2014-01-01 January 1, 2014	Elected November 3, 2009.
53			Murray, EdEd Murray	2014-01-01 January 1, 2014	2017-09-13 September 13, 2017	Elected November 5, 2013. Resigned. First gay mayor.
54			Harrell, BruceBruce Harrell	2017-09-13 September 13, 2017	2017-09-18 September 18, 2017	Appointed through position as City Council President to finish unexpired term, declined to accept appointment and therefore a replacement was selected by City Council. First Asian-American mayor and second African-American mayor.
55			Burgess, TimTim Burgess	2017-09-18 September 18, 2017	2017-11-28 November 28, 2017	Appointed by Seattle City Council to finish unexpired term.
56			Durkan, JennyJenny Durkan	2017-11-28 November 28, 2017	2022-1-1 January 1, 2022	Elected November 7, 2017.
57			Harrell, BruceBruce Harrell	2022-1-1 January 1, 2022	Incumbent	Elected November 2, 2021.