2005 Seattle Elections

Primary Elections Voters' Guide

Seattle Form of Government

The City of Seattle is a Charter City that has a Mayor/Council form of government. Both Mayor and Council are full-time, nonpartisan, elected officials, who are elected to four-year terms. Together the Mayor and Council are responsible for the conduct of City government. The only other elected position is the City Attorney, who is also elected at-large.. Elections for these and all local government positions are held in odd-numbered years.

Candidates for these offices must be U.S. Citizens and registered voters in the City of Seattle at the time they file their declaration of candidacy.

All City office elections are non-partisan, which means the top two vote-getters in the primary election are placed on the general election ballot. This is true regardless of whether or not one candidate received a majority of the primary vote. If two people or less file declarations of candidacy for any of these offices, that office does not appear on the primary election ballot, but does appear on the general election ballot. Parties do not nominate candidates to appear on the ballot and the ballots do not identify the candidates by party. Parties can and do endorse and support certain candidates, but play no other role in nominating candidates or determining who is placed on the primary or general election ballot.

The Mayor of the City of Seattle is the chief executive officer of the City and is charged with the enforcement of City and state law, of City contracts, and the maintenance of order. The Mayor directs and controls all subordinate officers of the City, unless otherwise provided for by the City Charter. Departments in the City of Seattle include two major utilities, Seattle Public Utilities and Seattle City Light. Administrative Departments such as the Department of Finance and the Department of Fleets and Facilities, as well as public safety, such as the Police and Fire Departments and the social service providers such as the Department of Housing and the Department of Human Services. All of these operate under the Mayor's direction and control. In addition, the Mayor's office is responsible for application for federal funds and preparation of the entire City budget.

The Mayor appoints, subject to the approval of the City Council, most of the heads of departments. He or she also appoints some of the members of several boards and commissions. The Mayor has the authority to veto ordinances passed by the City Council, but the Council may override such vetoes by a two-thirds majority vote.

The Seattle City Council is the City's elected legislature. The nine members determine City policy through enactment of ordinances and the adoption of resolutions. The Council authorizes public improvements and expenditures, provides for public safety and health, adopts regulations, levies taxes, controls the finances and property of the City and performs many related legislative tasks.

Four Council positions will be on the ballot in 2005: positions 2, 4, 6, and 8.