The Battle for the City Charter
Seattle's charter revisers spar over whether to maintain a two-house council or consolidate power, highlighting deep tensions over political cliques and mayoral authority.
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The charter revisers had a hard task last night, as the main topic was whether there shall be two houses of the city council or one. The board of aldermen consists now of nine members, of whom five were elected to hold until 1896. This gives them the balance of power for two years more. Alderman Jordan's amendment provides that there shall be one house, to consist of the five hold-over aldermen and four others to be elected in 1894. Mayor Ronald, however, criticized the influence of these hold-overs, suggesting they act as a clique to block necessary legislation. The debate grew heated as members accused the Mayor of attempting a 'gerrymander' to get rid of aldermen he personally disliked. The meeting was eventually adjourned to Thursday to avoid further conflict.
“Mayor Ronald, replying to Mr. Jordan, said he thought it wrong that five men could block the legislation of the city.”
Debates over charter reform and the structural power of the City Council vs. the Mayor are as relevant today as they were in 1893. The specific 1893 anxiety over 'hold-over' power and ward redistricting underscores the perennial effort to balance representation against executive efficiency in Seattle governance.
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