City Hall's War Over the Fire Chief
The Seattle City Council rejects the fire commission's nominee for chief, escalating a power struggle over the city's charter and municipal control.
The story, cleaned up
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The city council met in joint convention last night to receive the nomination by the fire commission of a chief for the fire department. City Clerk Stoneman announced that the board of fire commissioners nominated Gardner Kellogg. Dr. Kloeber stated it was an unpleasant duty to oppose another branch of the city government but characterized it as a shame that the board would send in such a communication. Kloeber criticized the chief's recent actions, specifically the 'tyrannical' deposition of Captains Miller and Hunt for personal reasons. He argued the charter mandates that no chief be appointed without council confirmation. A resolution was passed refusing to approve Kellogg and accusing the fire commission of intending a direct insult to the council. Delegate Coryell dissented, suggesting that the public generally supported Kellogg and that rejecting him would be a mistake. The council adopted the resolution, and the mayor is expected to convene the fire commissioners today to seek a new nominee.
“This council can consider it in no other manner than as a direct and intended insult to this body on the part of the fire commission.”
This 1892 standoff over municipal control and administrative appointments mirrors the chronic friction between Seattle’s legislative and executive branches. The language of 'tyrannical' firings and 'legislative independence' remains a hallmark of Seattle politics to this day.
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