Bruce Harrell seeks to etch his name in Seattle’s history books, aiming to be the first mayor to be re-elected in nearly a decade and a half. His intention to continue his work has been formally declared through the launch of his re-election campaign already. “The One Seattle initiative has been a significant contributor in bringing about noteworthy advancements during my initial tenure,” Harrell proudly claims, failing to mention the troubling areas where his governance fell short.
Harrell continues to tout his administration’s perceived victories, claiming to have ‘delivered public safety solutions, ensured open parks and sidewalks while providing people with shelter and housing services, injected historic amounts into affordable housing, prioritized a safety-focused transportation system and pushed through top-of-the-line climate legislature’. Disguised in his chest-thumping are careful omissions about the challenges that Seattle continues to grapple under his leadership.
Interestingly, Harrell openly admits there is ‘more work to do’ but conveniently avoids diving into the crux of what that work entails. The only hint he provides about his steps for the future is a vague assertion, which lacks any specific objectives, stating Seattle needs to keep ‘moving forward as a city that is welcoming, affordable and safe’.
Harrell’s campaign, in an attempt to sway public sentiment, seeks to interrupt Seattle’s unstable pattern of electing new mayors every term. The last mayor to serve more than a single term in office was Greg Nickels (2002-2010). Mike McGinn, in contrast, merely served one term and encapsulates Seattle’s faltering record of recent mayoral performances.
Adding to Seattle’s political turmoil, Mayor Ed Murray found himself caught in a scandal and resigned in 2017 amidst allegations linked to past sexual abuse charges. Harrell, seizing the politically convenient opportunity, stepped in to act as mayor for a week. However, his short-lived role was quickly succeeded by Councilmember Tim Burgess, who held office for a few weeks before Jenny Durkan took over. Durkan, following the trend, served only one term.
In the 2021 mayoral race, Harrell triumphed over his council colleague Lorena González, securing almost 59% of the votes. His re-election campaign revels in these numbers but conveniently fails to shed light on several of Gonzalez’s commendable policies which were overlooked in the process.
While his campaign exaggerates achievements such as increased shelter referrals, about 80% reduction in tent encampments, and an estimate 60% decrease in RVs, it shirks away from citing the actual number of people who have found permanent housing. This crucial omission paints a misleading picture of Seattle’s current state of homelessness.
The Harrell administration boasts about wage increases for human service providers and the establishment of ‘a dual public health and public safety approach to the crisis of fentanyl’. They glorify these acts as if they were revolutionary solutions, yet they fail to acknowledge the long-standing issues in public health and safety that they merely put a band-aid on.
A smokescreen created by his campaign, Harrell’s efforts are highlighted in forming the Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) department. This move merged 911 response with behavioral health providers, providing an appearance of progress. However, this organizational change fails to address the root causes of the behavioral health emergency in Seattle.
Amidst a current shortage in law enforcement officers, Harrell’s campaign conveniently declares that job applications for the Seattle Police Department are at a decade’s high. However, one must question the effectiveness of these applications and the actual improvement in law enforcement’s functionality because of them.
Harrell is also quick to attribute Seattle’s $1.5 billion ‘Keep Seattle Moving’ transportation levy to his administration. However, it is rather brash of him to credit his tenure solely for these advancements, given the multi-faceted nature of civic affairs.
Additionally, he claims responsibility for a number of climate initiatives and his Downtown Activation Plan, developed in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. These plans, however, have yet to demonstrate tangible benefits for Seattle’s citizens.
A particular focus of his Downtown Activation Plan was addressing rampant crime and drugs in the downtown core. While Harrell and his supporters trumpet its success, critics opine that this issue has been merely shifted to the Chinatown-International District.
The District has experienced a surge in violent crimes ranging from shootings to a mass stabbing spree, which stands as a stark witness to the short-sighted fickleness of Harrell’s activation plan. While Harrell remains complacent, the District grapples with a terrifying rise in violence.
As Harrell’s re-election campaign takes off, his list of endorsements coincidentally comprises primarily of local officials affiliated with the Democratic Party. This bears the question, are these endorsements genuine support or just political maneuvering at its best?