Sue Donaldson (politician)

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Sue Donaldson
Sue Donaldson 1997.jpg
President of the Seattle City Council
In office
1998–1999

Sue Donaldson was a member of the Seattle City Council from 1990 to 2000 and served as council president from 1998 to 1999.

Contents

Seattle city council

Appointment and elections

Donaldson was appointed to the council on January 19, 1990, to fill the first of two years of Norm Rice's remaining term, after he was elected Mayor of Seattle. [1] [2] [3] She would run in the 1990 special election with David Moseley, a political adviser and community activist, her primary opponent. [4] In the November general election, Donaldson defeated Mosely in a landslide, 73% to 27%. [5]

In 1991, Donaldson ran for reelection with three challengers, with Freedom Socialist Party member Yolanda Alaniz moving past the September primary. [6] [7] In the November general election, Donaldson again won in a landslide earning 82% of the vote. [5] [6]

Donaldson faced two challengers during her 1995 reelection bid, and she advanced through the primary with University of Puget Sound professor Jordan Brower. [8] Brower sued the city of Seattle in October 1995 for allegedly misusing federal housing money for the new Nordstrom flagship store, which Donaldson voted in favor of. [9] [10] In the general election, Donaldson would win in another landslide, 77% to 23%. [5] '

Tenure

Over her tenure, Donaldson chaired the Land Use Committee and Public Grounds and Recreation Committees. [1] She was considered "establishment" and voted for legislation that favored downtown businesses, including Nordstrom's, and voted for socially conservative legislation, such as the drug loitering ordinance. [9] [10] [11]

Donaldson was council president from 1998 to 1999. [1] [12] As president, she lobbied the United States Department of State to host the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference of 1999. [13] During the conference, people protested the event, which led to rioting through downtown Seattle, sometimes referred to as the Battle of Seattle. [13] In her final month in office, Donaldson oversaw the response to the riot and the investigation into the city's failed response. [14] [15] Police chief Norm Stamper resigned after the riots, which Donaldson opposed and placed blame on Mayor Paul Schell saying, "It is unfortunate that the mayor has taken this action at this time." [16]

In 1999, Donaldson announced that she would not seek reelection. [2] [10]

Post-council

After serving on the council, Donaldson worked at the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance and University of Washington. [1] [2] She also hosted an interview radio show called "The Bridge" with fellow former city councilmember Jean Godden, which is on hiatus due to the pandemic. [17] [18]

Personal life

Donaldson is a graduate of Harvard University and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Washington. Before running for city council, she was a property lawyer for Perkins Cole. [1] [2]

Donaldson is married to Dr. Paul Fletcher, and they have three daughters. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Sue Donaldson Subject Files, 1974-1999". Archive West. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Goldsmith, Steven (February 15, 2000). "Former City Council leader Sue Donaldson joins UW". UW News. University of Washington. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Comptroller File 297592". Seattle City Clerk. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  4. ↑ Nelson, Robert T. (July 20, 1990). "David Moseley Joins Race For City Council". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 "General and Special elections". Seattle Municipal Archives. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Raftery, Isolde (November 5, 2013). "Why Socialist Kshama Sawant's Campaign Matters, Win Or Lose". KUOW. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  7. ↑ Kamb, Lewis (August 11, 2013). "Growing wealth gap spurs on socialist in Seattle council race". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  8. ↑ Angelos, Constantine; Westneat, Danny; Chiem, Phat X. (August 31, 1995). "Municipal League Favors Commons, But Leaves Ballpark Up To Voters - - Incumbents Generally Fare Well In Ratings Of Candidates". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Lawsuit Alleges City Misused Housing Funds". The Seattle Times. October 26, 1995. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 Feit, Josh (July 11, 2002). "Where Are They NoW". The Stranger. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  11. ↑ Grendon, Timothy (September 14, 1990). "Moseley supportive of Gay rights". Seattle Gay News. Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  12. ↑ "1946-2015". Seattle Municipal Archives. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  13. 1 2 MURAKAMI, KERY (June 15, 2001). "City may tighten rules on new events in wake of WTO". Seattle Post Intelligencer. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  14. ↑ "news Council votes 5-3 to retroactively ratify Schell's orders". DailyUW. December 7, 1999. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  15. ↑ Wilma, David. "Seattle City Council hearing on WTO unrest, the first, lasts eight hours on December 8, 1999". HistoryLink. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  16. ↑ "`I Don't Feel Like The Fall Guy' -- In Wake Of WTO, Police Chief Stamper Announces He'll Retire". The Seattle Times. December 7, 1999. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  17. ↑ Farr, Sheila (July 22, 2020). "Godden, Jean (b. 1931)". HistoryLink. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  18. ↑ Godden, Jean (May 15, 2024). "Micro-casting Radio: SPACE101 for the Community". Post Alley. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
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