1997 Seattle mayoral election

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1997 Seattle mayoral election
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  Seattle Mayor Paul Schell, 1999.jpg Charlie Chong, 1997.jpg
Nominee Paul Schell Charlie Chong
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote106,41481,683
Percentage56.57%43.43%
Mayor before election

Norm Rice
Nonpartisan

Elected Mayor

Paul Schell
Nonpartisan

The 1997 Seattle mayoral election took place on November 4, 1997, to select the Mayor of Seattle, Washington. Incumbent Mayor Norm Rice, who unsuccessfully ran for Governor in 1996, declined to seek re-election to a third term. [1] Eleven candidates ran to succeed him, including Port Commissioner Paul Schell, County Councilman Greg Nickels, and three members of the Seattle City Council: Charlie Chong, Cheryl Chow, and Jane Noland.

Contents

In the primary election, Schell placed first, winning 28 percent of the vote. Chong narrowly defeated Nickels for second place, winning 21 percent of the vote to Nickels's 20 percent, a result that took several days to determine as mail ballots were counted. [2] Schell ultimately defeated Chong by a wide margin in the general election, winning 57 percent of the vote. [3]

Primary election

Candidates

Results

Primary election results [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Paul Schell 31,396 28.14%
Nonpartisan Charlie Chong 23,725 21.26%
Nonpartisan Greg Nickels22,64220.29%
Nonpartisan Jane Noland17,63315.80%
Nonpartisan Cheryl Chow13,19211.82%
Nonpartisan Scott A. Breen7120.64%
Nonpartisan Mike The Mover6700.60%
Nonpartisan Gordon Herr5750.52%
Nonpartisan Jim (Davy Jones XLV) Guilfoil5560.50%
Nonpartisan Stan Lippmann2620.23%
Nonpartisan Max Englerius2270.20%
Total votes111,590 100.00%

General election

Results

1997 Seattle mayoral election [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Paul Schell 106,414 56.57%
Nonpartisan Charlie Chong81,68343.43%
Total votes188,097 100.00%

References

  1. ↑ "Seattle mayor won't seek third term". The Bellingham Herald . Bellingham, Washington. April 10, 1997. p. B1. Retrieved July 31, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "Chong's lead grows in bid to remain in mayoral race". The Spokesman-Review . Seattle, Washington. September 20, 1997. p. B5. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Schell beats Chong in race for mayor". The News Tribune . Tacoma, Washington. November 5, 1997. p. A7. Retrieved July 31, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Seattle mayor race may inspire turnout". The Everett Herald . September 14, 1997. p. 1B. Retrieved July 31, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 "Councilman Chong joins race for mayor". The News Tribune . Tacoma, Washington. July 21, 1997. p. B2. Retrieved July 31, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 "Local races the focus of today's primary elections". The Daily News . Longview, Washington. September 16, 1997. p. B4. Retrieved July 31, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 "Report Of Contributions and Expenditures In The 1997 City Election" (PDF). Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission. December 22, 1997. Retrieved July 29, 2025.


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