Paul Schell
Encyclopedia
Paul Schell, born Paul Schlachtenhaufen on October 8, 1937, in Fort Dodge
, Iowa, was the 50th mayor of Seattle, Washington. His four-year term as mayor began on January 1, 1998.
The oldest of six children of a Lutheran
minister in a small Iowa farming town, Schell studied political science at the University of Iowa
and then received a law degree from Columbia University
in 1963 After working at a private law firm in New York City, he moved to Seattle in 1967, where he went to work for law firm Perkins Coie. In 1971 he played a prominent role in the fight to save Pike Place Market
. From 1975 to 1977 he was director of the City's Department of Community Development. He first ran for mayor in 1977, but lost to Charles Royer
. He then turned to real estate development, and finally won public office as a Port of Seattle
commissioner in 1989, becoming commission president in 1995. He was also dean of the University of Washington College of Architecture and Urban Planning
(now College of Built Environments) from 1992 to 1995.
Schell was mayor during the infamous WTO Meeting of 1999
. The conclusion by many in Seattle was that the WTO convention was not worth hosting due to the economic damage and lasting image problems it caused. Controversy over the city's lack of preparation and response to the protests
resulted in the departure of Seattle police chief Norm Stamper
from his position, in what Stamper said was a previously planned retirement.
In addition, Schell was mayor during a particularly violent Mardi Gras
celebration in 2001, which left 20 year old Kris Kime
fatally injured. During the riot, Schell's appointed Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske
ordered officers not to intervene. Arguably, the WTO meeting and the Mardi Gras violence played a role in Schell's stunning loss to Greg Nickels
and Mark Sidran in the 2001 mayoral primary election
, as did Boeing
's move of its headquarters to Chicago. It was the first time in over 65 years a Seattle mayor had failed to survive a primary election. During the campaign, he was assaulted and seriously injured by fringe mayoral candidate James Garrett (a.k.a. Omari Tahir-Garrett). Garrett was later convicted of second-degree assault and sentenced to 21 months in prison.
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge is a city and county seat of Webster County, Iowa, United States, along the Des Moines River. The population was 25,206 in the 2010 census, an increase from 25,136 in the 2000 census. Fort Dodge is a major commercial center for North Central and Northwest Iowa. It is located on U.S...
, Iowa, was the 50th mayor of Seattle, Washington. His four-year term as mayor began on January 1, 1998.
The oldest of six children of a Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
minister in a small Iowa farming town, Schell studied political science at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
and then received a law degree from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1963 After working at a private law firm in New York City, he moved to Seattle in 1967, where he went to work for law firm Perkins Coie. In 1971 he played a prominent role in the fight to save Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market is a public market overlooking the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle, Washington, United States. The Market opened August 17, 1907, and is one of the oldest continually operated public farmers' markets in the United States. It is a place of business for many small farmers,...
. From 1975 to 1977 he was director of the City's Department of Community Development. He first ran for mayor in 1977, but lost to Charles Royer
Charles Royer
Charles Royer was the 48th mayor of Seattle, Washington from 1978 to 1990. After serving as mayor of Seattle, Royer became the director of the Harvard Institute of Politics.-Career as a reporter:...
. He then turned to real estate development, and finally won public office as a Port of Seattle
Port of Seattle
The Port of Seattle is a port district that runs Seattle's seaport and airport. Its creation was approved by the voters of King County, Washington, on September 5, 1911, authorized by the Port District Act. It is run by a five-member commission. The commissioners' terms run four years...
commissioner in 1989, becoming commission president in 1995. He was also dean of the University of Washington College of Architecture and Urban Planning
University of Washington College of Built Environments
The College of Built Environments or CBE at the University of Washington is the new name, as of January 1, 2009, of the college formerly called the College of Architecture and Urban Planning. The old name was adopted in 1957-58 when the college had only two departments, architecture and planning...
(now College of Built Environments) from 1992 to 1995.
Schell was mayor during the infamous WTO Meeting of 1999
WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999 protest activity
Protest activity surrounding the WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999, which was to be the launch of a new millennial round of trade negotiations, occurred on November 30, 1999 , when the World Trade Organization convened at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, Washington,...
. The conclusion by many in Seattle was that the WTO convention was not worth hosting due to the economic damage and lasting image problems it caused. Controversy over the city's lack of preparation and response to the protests
WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999 protest activity
Protest activity surrounding the WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999, which was to be the launch of a new millennial round of trade negotiations, occurred on November 30, 1999 , when the World Trade Organization convened at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, Washington,...
resulted in the departure of Seattle police chief Norm Stamper
Norm Stamper
Norm Stamper is a former Chief of the Seattle Police Department and an author. He is best known for his role in the Seattle's response to the protests of the WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999, which eventually led to his resignation....
from his position, in what Stamper said was a previously planned retirement.
In addition, Schell was mayor during a particularly violent Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
celebration in 2001, which left 20 year old Kris Kime
Kris Kime
Kristopher Kime was a 20-year-old Auburn, Washington resident and Highline Community College student who was knocked down and beaten to death during the Mardi Gras riots that occurred in Seattle's Pioneer Square district early in the morning of February 28, 2001.-The Incident:Kime was bending over...
fatally injured. During the riot, Schell's appointed Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske
Gil Kerlikowske
Richard Gil Kerlikowske is the current Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, a position generally referred to as the United States "Drug Czar". He assumed office on May 7, 2009....
ordered officers not to intervene. Arguably, the WTO meeting and the Mardi Gras violence played a role in Schell's stunning loss to Greg Nickels
Greg Nickels
Gregory J. "Greg" Nickels was the 51st mayor of Seattle, Washington. He took office on January 1, 2002 and was reelected to a second term in 2005. In August 2009, Nickels finished third in the primary election for Seattle mayor, failing to qualify for the November 2009 general election, and...
and Mark Sidran in the 2001 mayoral primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
, as did Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
's move of its headquarters to Chicago. It was the first time in over 65 years a Seattle mayor had failed to survive a primary election. During the campaign, he was assaulted and seriously injured by fringe mayoral candidate James Garrett (a.k.a. Omari Tahir-Garrett). Garrett was later convicted of second-degree assault and sentenced to 21 months in prison.