| Mayor of Seattle | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Government of Seattle | |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Term length | 4 years |
| Inaugural holder | Henry A. Atkins |
| Formation | December 2, 1869 |
| Website | Official website |
The Mayor of Seattle is the head of the executive branch of the city government of Seattle, Washington. The mayor is authorized by the city charter to enforce laws enacted by the Seattle City Council, as well as direct subordinate officers in city departments.[1][2] (The Seattle City Council, the legislative branch of city government, is led by the council president.)
The mayor serves a four-year term, without term limits, and is chosen in citywide, two-round elections between nonpartisan candidates.
Since the appointment of Henry A. Atkins in 1869, 56 individuals have held the office of mayor. The city elected Bertha Knight Landes, the first female mayor of a major U.S. city, in 1926.[3] Several mayors have served non-consecutive terms, while others have resigned or faced recall elections.[4][5] Charles Royer holds the record for longest mayoral tenure in the city's history, serving three full terms from 1978 to 1990.[6]
Bruce Harrell took office as mayor on January 1, 2022, becoming the first Asian-American and second African-American mayor in Seattle's history.[7]
- ^ "Charter of the City of Seattle, Article V: Executive Department". Seattle City Clerk. November 5, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- ^ "Mayors of the City of Seattle". Seattle Municipal Archives. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- ^ Seattle City Council Members, 1869-Present Chronological Listing Archived September 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Seattle City Archives. Accessed online 19 July 2008.
- ^ Michel, Riley (September 12, 2017). "When did other Seattle mayors leave office?". KIRO 7 News. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- ^ Berger, Knute (May 10, 2013). "Seattle mayor's office: Hard to hold on to". Crosscut.com. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
- ^ Anderson, Ross (September 16, 2001). "City's 50 mayors range from leaders to losers". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on May 20, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- ^ "Bruce Harrell officially becomes Seattle's new mayor". FOX 13 Seattle. January 1, 2022. Archived from the original on January 2, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2022.