Jenny Durkan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jenny Durkan
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| 56th Mayor of Seattle | |
| In office November 28, 2017 – December 31, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Tim Burgess |
| Succeeded by | Bruce Harrell |
| United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington | |
| In office October 1, 2009 – September 30, 2014 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | John McKay |
| Succeeded by | Brian T. Moran |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jenny Anne Durkan
May 19, 1958 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Dana Garvey |
| Relatives | Martin Durkan (father) |
| Education | University of Notre Dame (BA) University of Washington (JD) |
Jenny Anne Durkan, born on May 19, 1958, is an American lawyer and politician. She served as the 56th mayor of Seattle, Washington. Before becoming mayor, she worked as a federal prosecutor.
Durkan is a member of the Democratic Party. After finishing law school in 1985, she started her career as a lawyer. In October 2009, President Barack Obama chose her to be the United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington. She held this important role until September 2014.
In 2017, Durkan was elected mayor of Seattle. She was the city's first female mayor since the 1920s. She was also the first elected mayor born in Seattle. She and her partner, Dana Garvey, have two sons.
Durkan faced challenges during her time as mayor, including protests in Seattle. In December 2020, she announced that she would not run for mayor again. Her term ended on December 31, 2021.
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Early Life and Education
Jenny Durkan was born in Seattle on May 19, 1958. She grew up in a large family with eight siblings. Her family lived in different areas near Seattle, including Mercer Island and Bellevue, before settling in Issaquah.
Her father, Martin Durkan, was a well-known lawyer and politician in Seattle. He served 16 years in the state Senate. Her mother was a homemaker who later became an editor for a local newspaper.
Durkan attended Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, a private Catholic school for girls. She spent part of her junior year of high school studying abroad in London. She enjoyed traveling through Europe during that time.
She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1980. After college, Durkan spent two years teaching high school English in Alaska. She also coached a girls' basketball team.
Durkan then went to the University of Washington School of Law, where she earned her law degree in 1985. She had wanted to be a lawyer since she was very young.
Legal Career and Public Service
While in law school, Durkan worked with the public defender's office. She helped people who were charged in Seattle's city court. After law school, she moved to Washington, D.C., to work at a law firm.
In 1991, Durkan returned to Seattle. She joined a law firm and focused on defending people in criminal cases. She also worked on cases for people who had been harmed.
From 1993 to 1996, Durkan served on the Washington State Sentencing Guidelines Commission. She also advised on the creation of special courts for drug and mental health cases.
In 1994, Durkan became a legal and political advisor to Washington Governor Mike Lowry. She later returned to her law firm.
One of her important cases was in 2005. She helped defend Governor Chris Gregoire's election victory in a lawsuit. Gregoire's win was upheld.
In January 2017, Durkan helped families at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. She worked with other lawyers to get a federal court order. This order stopped the deportation of people who had arrived from certain countries.
After serving as U.S. Attorney, Durkan joined a new law office in Seattle. She focused on internet and online security issues. She also helped investigate issues related to a global corruption case involving FIFA.
U.S. Attorney Role
In May 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Durkan to be the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington. This district covers 19 counties and includes most of Washington state's population. The United States Senate approved her nomination, and she was sworn in on October 1, 2009.
As U.S. Attorney, Durkan created a Civil Rights Department in her office. This department handled civil rights cases and helped veterans. She also supported efforts to improve the Seattle Police Department.
Durkan advised the U.S. Attorney General on important issues. She led a committee focused on cybercrime and protecting intellectual property. She worked to prosecute cybercrimes like hacking and identity theft. She also helped schools teach kids about internet safety.
She focused on national security and terrorism cases. Her office also worked to reduce gun violence by prosecuting people who illegally possessed firearms.
In September 2014, Durkan was considered a possible candidate to become the U.S. Attorney General. However, Loretta Lynch was nominated instead.
Response to Protests
The 2012 May Day protests in Seattle included some violent actions and damage. Durkan's office led the prosecution of those who vandalized the William Kenzo Nakamura U.S. Courthouse. Several people were charged after the protests.
Federal investigations followed these events. Some individuals refused to testify before a grand jury. They were sent to jail for refusing to answer questions. This action was criticized by groups like the National Lawyers Guild and the ACLU. They raised concerns about free speech and political intimidation.
2017 Mayoral Election
Durkan announced she would run for Seattle mayor on May 11, 2017. This was after the previous mayor, Ed Murray, ended his reelection campaign.
Durkan was seen as a strong candidate. She received support from many groups and leaders. These included labor unions, the Governor, and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.
In the August primary election, Durkan came in first place. She then faced urban planner Cary Moon in the general election. Durkan raised a lot of money for her campaign, breaking previous records. Large companies also contributed to a political organization supporting her.
After the November 7 general election, Durkan received over 60% of the votes. Cary Moon then conceded, and Durkan became the next mayor.
Mayor of Seattle
As mayor, Durkan faced several big challenges. These included homelessness, the need for affordable housing, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Seattle's population had grown quickly, adding to these issues.
Early in her term, Durkan signed an order to create the Seattle Promise College Tuition Program. This program helps Seattle public school students get free access to college. She also proposed a plan to expand preschool and other education programs. In November 2018, Seattle voters approved this plan.
Durkan was a key supporter in bringing the NHL team, the Kraken, to Seattle. She also helped create a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights for people working in the industry. She signed new laws to raise pay for ride-share workers and to restrict gun use. In 2019, she was recognized for her work in promoting equality for all queer people.
Criticism of Donald Trump
Durkan often spoke out against President Trump during her time in office. Trump criticized Durkan's handling of protests in Seattle. He even threatened to send federal help if local leaders did not act. Durkan said that creating a police-free zone was an attempt to calm interactions between protesters and law enforcement.
The Trump administration also threatened to cut federal funding for Seattle. This was because Seattle was a "Welcoming City" and called an "anarchist jurisdiction." In September 2020, it was reported that the Department of Justice looked into criminal charges against Durkan. She called this "chilling."
Transportation Initiatives
During Durkan's term, the Seattle Department of Transportation canceled some planned bicycle lanes. This led to protests from cycling groups and city council members. Durkan also expressed concerns about scooter-sharing systems.
However, she did implement free transit passes for 15,000 high school and college students. Seattle became the largest U.S. city to offer free transit passes to high school students.
In March 2018, Durkan stopped planning for a streetcar project. This was due to unexpected cost increases.
Police Chief Selection
In May 2018, Durkan's choice for permanent chief of the Seattle Police Department caused some debate. Her initial list of finalists did not include interim chief Carmen Best. After criticism, Durkan nominated Best as a finalist. The city council confirmed Best as police chief in August 2018.
Workplace Conduct Concerns
In April 2019, reports surfaced that two of Durkan's staff members accused her of mistreatment. They described a difficult working environment. Durkan's office denied these claims.
COVID-19 Response
Durkan was mayor when the first U.S. case of COVID-19 appeared in Seattle in January 2020. Responding to the pandemic became a main focus of her term. Seattle's response resulted in one of the lowest death rates among large U.S. cities.
By March 2020, Durkan and other officials put in place some of the first mask mandates in the U.S. They also set up testing facilities. Durkan signed an emergency order to stop evictions for small businesses and residents.
In May 2020, Durkan closed over 20 miles of city streets to most vehicles. This allowed for more socially distanced walking and biking. Her administration also sent supermarket vouchers to families in need. They opened more shelter spaces for homeless people and gave grants to small businesses.
When Durkan left office in December 2021, about 90% of Seattle's eligible residents had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Addressing Homelessness
During the pandemic, Durkan proposed one of the country's first eviction bans for small businesses and residents. She was recognized for her leadership during the pandemic. However, she continued to clear homeless encampments. She stated these actions were for the safety of both residents and the community.
Durkan focused on homelessness during her term. In 2020, she created 600 new supportive housing units. In March 2019, she signed a bill to increase affordable housing and density in Seattle neighborhoods. She also signed a bill to make backyard cottages more available.
Education Initiatives
On November 19, 2017, Durkan signed an executive order to create the Seattle Promise College Tuition Program. This program helps Seattle public school students get free access to college. Seattle residents voted in November 2018 to approve a tax to pay for the program. Durkan said the program also included support to help students succeed in college. In 2021, she used COVID-19 relief funds to extend the program.
Protests and Recall Attempt
On June 1, 2020, during the George Floyd protests in Seattle, police used crowd control measures against protesters. On June 5, Durkan ordered a 30-day ban on tear gas. However, police continued to use pepper spray and other tools.
Some Seattle City Council members called for Durkan to resign. Protesters also marched to her home. A judge ruled that one allegation against Durkan had enough evidence for a recall election. However, the Washington State Supreme Court later dismissed the attempt to recall her.
On December 7, 2020, Durkan announced she would not seek reelection. On the same day, a judge ruled that the city of Seattle had violated an agreement by using crowd control weapons during the protests.
Missing Records Issue
Official text messages from Durkan from August 2019 to June 2020 were not kept. This was a violation of the state's Public Records Act. Communications from the Fire Chief and then-Police Chief were also missing. This prevented the public from reviewing decisions made during the protests.
In 2023, the City of Seattle paid $600,000 to settle a lawsuit. A federal judge found that Durkan and other officials had intentionally deleted text messages related to their handling of protests.
Personal Life
Jenny Durkan is a lesbian. She and her partner, Dana Garvey, have two sons. Dana Garvey has worked in cellular communications and later started her own companies.
See also
In Spanish: Jenny Durkan para niños
- List of mayors of the 50 largest cities in the United States
- List of United States political families
