Bruce Harrell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bruce Harrell
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Harrell in 2022
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| 54th and 57th Mayor of Seattle | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Jenny Durkan |
| Acting September 13, 2017 – September 18, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Ed Murray |
| Succeeded by | Tim Burgess |
| President of the Seattle City Council | |
| In office January 5, 2016 – January 5, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Tim Burgess |
| Succeeded by | Lorena González |
| Member of the Seattle City Council | |
| In office January 3, 2008 – January 6, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Peter Steinbrueck |
| Succeeded by | Tammy Morales |
| Constituency | District 2 (2016–2020) Position 3 (2008–2016) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Bruce Allen Harrell
October 10, 1958 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Joanne Harrell
(m. 1992) |
| Residences | Seward Park, Washington, U.S. |
| Education | University of Washington (BA, JD) City University of Seattle (MS) |
Bruce Allen Harrell (born October 10, 1958) is an American politician and lawyer. He is currently the 57th mayor of Seattle, Washington. Before becoming mayor, he was a member of the Seattle City Council from 2008 to 2020. He also served as the president of the city council from 2016 to 2020. In 2017, he was acting mayor for a short time. He was elected mayor in 2021. He is Seattle's second Black mayor and its first African-Asian American mayor.
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Bruce Harrell's Early Life and Education
Bruce Harrell was born in Seattle in 1958. His father was African American and worked for Seattle City Light. His mother was Japanese American and worked for the Seattle Public Library. During World War II, his mother and her family were sent to an internment camp in Idaho.
Bruce grew up in the Central District of Seattle. This was a neighborhood with many different cultures. He went to Garfield High School. He was a great football player there and was even named to the all-Metro team. In 1976, he graduated as the best student in his class.
After high school, Bruce went to the University of Washington on a football scholarship. He played for the Washington Huskies football team from 1976 to 1979. He received several awards for his skills and academic achievements.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1980. Later, in 1984, he got his law degree from the University of Washington School of Law. In 1994, he earned a master's degree from City University of Seattle.
The University of Washington has honored Bruce Harrell several times. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2007. In 2012, he won the Timeless Award. He was also added to the NW Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
Bruce Harrell's Legal Career
After finishing law school, Bruce Harrell started working at US West in 1987. This company is now known as Lumen Technologies.
He served as a chief legal advisor for several community groups. These included the Rainier Valley Community Development Fund. He also advised the First A.M.E. Church.
Bruce Harrell on the Seattle City Council (2008-2020)
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Bruce Harrell was first elected to the Seattle City Council in 2007. In 2011, he suggested that police officers in Seattle should wear body cameras.
In 2014, the City Council voted to allow more housing to be built near the Mount Baker Light Rail Station. This is called "upzoning." Bruce Harrell was the only council member to vote against this plan. He wanted more time to study the idea and to build less housing.
Later, the way council members were elected changed. Instead of being elected by the whole city, they were elected by specific districts. Bruce Harrell was reelected to represent District 2. On January 4, 2016, he became the president of the City Council. In 2016, he supported a plan to try and bring back the Seattle SuperSonics basketball team, but the plan did not pass.
Acting Mayor of Seattle
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In September 2017, Bruce Harrell became the acting mayor of Seattle for five days. This happened after the previous mayor left office. After his five days, the city council chose Tim Burgess to be acting mayor until the next election. Bruce Harrell decided not to continue as acting mayor because it would have meant giving up his seat on the city council.
Mayor of Seattle (2022-Present)
In 2021, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced she would not run for reelection. Bruce Harrell then decided to run for mayor. He won the election in November 2021. He officially became the 57th mayor of Seattle on January 1, 2022.
Key People and Staff
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As mayor, Bruce Harrell has appointed many people to important roles. He promoted Greg Wong to deputy mayor in 2022. He also made Adrian Diaz the permanent chief of the Seattle Police Department. Gino Bettis was appointed to lead the Office of Police Accountability.
He also named Gregg Spotts as the director of the Seattle Department of Transportation. Parks Anthony-Paul Diaz became the Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent. His niece, Monisha Harrell, was a senior deputy mayor from 2021 to 2023.
Important Issues
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Housing in Seattle
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In 2023, a new state law allowed more types of housing, like fourplexes, to be built in areas that used to be only for single-family homes. This law aimed to help with the housing shortage. Mayor Harrell wanted to limit how much this new law would apply in Seattle. His team said they were concerned about changes in neighborhoods and people being forced to move.
In July 2022, Seattle had a very hot heat wave. Mayor Harrell's team received criticism for continuing to clear homeless camps during this dangerous weather.
Getting Around Seattle
In July 2022, Mayor Harrell's team changed a rule about parking tickets. The previous mayor had allowed the Department of Transportation to issue parking tickets. Mayor Harrell reversed this decision. This led to about 200,000 parking tickets being canceled. Seattle also promised to refund almost $5 million to people who had already paid these fines.
Protecting Our Planet
In September 2022, Mayor Harrell signed new laws related to the Green New Deal in Seattle. These laws set aside $6.5 million for projects that help the environment. This funding includes efforts to stop using fossil fuels in city-owned buildings by 2035.
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Bruce Harrell's Personal Life
Bruce Harrell and his wife, Joanne, got married in 1992. They have three children and live in the Seward Park neighborhood of Seattle. His niece, Monisha, worked for him as a senior deputy mayor for a few years.
In 2022, Bruce Harrell was honored by Gold House. This organization celebrates people of Asian Pacific descent. They recognized him and other mayors for their important work in advocacy and policy.
Images for kids
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Harrell in 2022
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Councilman Harrell meeting with African American leaders
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Harrell being sworn in as acting mayor
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Harrell meeting President Joe Biden in the Oval Office
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Harrell during an October 2022 press announcement
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Harrell with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman in 2022
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Harrell with U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh in March 2022
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Harrell with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel during a November 2022 trip to Japan
See also
- Washington Huskies football statistical leaders
