Paul Schell
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Paul E. S. Schell (born Paul Ervin Schlachtenhaufen; October 8, 1937 – July 27, 2014) was an
American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...
lawyer and politician who served as the 50th mayor of Seattle, Washington from 1998 to 2002.


Early life and education

The oldest of six children of
Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched th ...
minister Ervin Schlachtenhaufen and nurse Gertrude Reiff Schlachtenhaufen, Paul Schell grew up in the small farm town of
Pomeroy, Iowa Pomeroy is a city in Calhoun County, Iowa, United States. The population was 526 at the time of the 2020 census. History Pomeroy was platted in 1870 in anticipation of the railroad being built through the settlement. It was named for Charles P ...
and graduated from Roosevelt High School in
Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines () is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, ...
. He attended
Wartburg College Wartburg College is a private Lutheran liberal arts college in Waverly, Iowa. It has an additional campus, Wartburg West, in Denver, Colorado. History Wartburg College was founded in 1852 in Saginaw, Michigan, by Georg M. Grossmann, a nati ...
in
Waverly, Iowa Waverly is a city in Bremer County, Iowa, United States. The population was 10,394 at the time of the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Bremer County and is part of the Waterloo– Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The sister cit ...
, where he played linebacker on the school football team. He also worked as a short-order cook and a fireman. Schell transferred to the
University of Iowa The University of Iowa (UI, U of I, UIowa, or simply Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is org ...
where he completed his undergraduate degree. After graduation he went on to law school at
Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
in New York. There he met his future wife, Pam, a
registered nurse A registered nurse (RN) is a nurse who has graduated or successfully passed a nursing program from a recognized nursing school and met the requirements outlined by a country, state, province or similar government-authorized licensing body to o ...
. They married on the day he graduated from law school — a double celebration scheduled so his father would have to pay for only one plane ticket.


Career

In New York, Schell took a position at the Dewey Ballantine law firm, where he specialized in
corporate finance Corporate finance is the area of finance that deals with the sources of funding, the capital structure of corporations, the actions that managers take to increase the Value investing, value of the firm to the shareholders, and the tools and anal ...
. During his time there, he shortened his surname "Schlachtenhaufen" to "Schell," a change he described as "practical, not political," since the longer name wouldn't fit on computer punch cards used at the time. He worked as a summer law clerk in Portland. In 1967, Paul and Pam Schell moved to Seattle so he could take a job with the
Perkins Coie Perkins Coie is an American multinational law firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1912, it is recognized as an Am Law 50 firm. It is the largest law firm headquartered in the Pacific Northwest and has 20 offices across the Un ...
law firm, practicing business and securities law. Their daughter Jamie joined the family in January 1971. After a few years with the Perkins firm, Schell left to help form a new law firm: Hillis, Schell, Phillips, Cairncross, Clark and Martin. He also engaged in civic activism. He joined other urban activists with
Allied Arts of Seattle Allied Arts of Seattle is a non-profit organization in Seattle, Washington, USA. The organization advocates for public funding of the arts, better urban planning and architecture, and other civic improvements.Walt CrowleyAllied Arts of Seattle Histo ...
in the 1971 campaign to save the
Pike Place Market Pike Place Market is a public market in Seattle, Washington, United States. It opened on August 17, 1907, and is one of the oldest continuously operated public farmers' markets in the United States. Overlooking the Elliott Bay waterfront on Pu ...
from a proposed redevelopment. He left legal practice for civic affairs in 1973, when Mayor
Wes Uhlman Wesley Carl Uhlman (born March 23, 1935) is an American attorney and politician who served as the 47th mayor of Seattle, Washington. Early life and education Uhlman was born in Cashmere, Washington. He attended Aberdeen High School, Seattle Pacif ...
appointed him as director of the Seattle Department of Community Development. During his term with DCD, Schell oversaw the Market's preservation and rebuilding. As President of
Allied Arts of Seattle Allied Arts of Seattle is a non-profit organization in Seattle, Washington, USA. The organization advocates for public funding of the arts, better urban planning and architecture, and other civic improvements.Walt CrowleyAllied Arts of Seattle Histo ...
, he led the successful effort to establish "One Percent for Art" in 1973 — with Seattle becoming one of the first cities to adopt a program to fund public art, which has since become the national standard. A member of the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...
, Schell first ran for mayor in 1977, but lost to
Charles Royer Charles T. Royer (born August 22, 1939) is an American news reporter and politician who served as the 48th mayor of Seattle, Washington (U.S. state), Washington from 1978 to 1990. After serving as mayor of Seattle, Royer became the director of t ...
. In 1979 he founded Cornerstone Development Company, serving as president 1979-87. Among projects located in Seattle, Tacoma, and Portland, Cornerstone developed Waterfront Place, a 6-block mixed-use project located on Seattle's central waterfront and incorporating six restored buildings, the new 22-story Watermark Tower, and the Alexis Hotel. In 1989, Schell developed the highly successful Inn at Langley, and later the Boatyard Inn, on
Whidbey Island Whidbey Island (historical spellings Whidby, Whitbey, or Whitby) is the largest of the islands composing Island County, Washington, in the United States, and the largest island in Washington State. (The other large island is Camano Island, ...
. He also played a key role in establishing the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts. In 1989 Schell won election as Commissioner for the
Port of Seattle The Port of Seattle is a government agency overseeing the seaport and airport of Seattle, Washington, United States. With a portfolio of properties ranging from parks and waterfront real estate, to one of the largest airports and container t ...
. He became commission president in 1995. He accepted appointment as Dean of the University of Washington College of Architecture and Urban Planning, serving 1993-96. During that time he established the UW's Office of Sustainability and enhanced the Rome Studies Program. He also supported the initiation of the Real Estate program and the Center for Environment, Education, and Design Studies. Schell succeeded in being elected to serve a four-year term as mayor commencing January 1, 1998.Mayors of the City of Seattle
Seattle City Archives. Retrieved April 8, 2010.
J. Martin McOmber, in the cited article "Paul Schell: Midnight At Midterm?..." counts him as the 54th mayor. Presumably the difference is in how those who served non-successive terms are counted."5279-00: Paul Schell"

, Seattle City Archives. Retrieved April 8, 2010.
During Schell's mayoral term, the City of Seattle built its new City Hall, the Seattle Justice Center, and several libraries, including the downtown library (via a $196 million Libraries for All bond campaign); invested $200 million in new parks and added six new community centers; rebuilt the Opera House and Seattle Symphony Hall, developed QWest Field, passed 26 new neighborhood plans, with resulting improvements via a $198 million levy for parks and the zoo. He also championed a $72 million effort that combined public and private dollars to renovate the Seattle Center Opera House and community centers, and initiated development of the Olympic Sculpture Park. In addition, he helped gain the transactions that resulted in Vulcan's development of South Lake Union. Mayor Schell also participated in the design charrette for the new Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Traffic Control Tower, commissioned in 2004. The Schells' engagement in Seattle cultural life included major support to the rise of The
Intiman Theatre Intiman Theatre Festival in Seattle, Washington, was founded in 1972 as a resident theatre by Margaret "Megs" Booker, who named it for August Strindberg's Stockholm theater.
. Also during his term the WTO Meeting of 1999 took place, accompanied by widespread violent protests that gained national attention. It caused the resignation of Seattle police chief
Norm Stamper Norman Harvey Stamper (born 1944) is an American former chief of police, writer, law enforcement consultant, and advocate for criminal justice reform. Biography Stamper is known for his role as Chief of the Seattle Police Department (1994-2000) r ...
; Stamper said that was a previously planned retirement.Kit Oldham
WTO Meeting and Protests in Seattle (1999) – Part 2
HistoryLink, 2009-11-13. Retrieved April 8, 2010.
A particularly violent
Mardi Gras Mardi Gras (, ) refers to events of the Carnival celebration, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is known as Shrove Tuesday. is French for "Fat ...
celebration in 2001 left 20-year-old Kris Kime fatally injured; Police Chief
Gil Kerlikowske Richard Gil Kerlikowske (born November 23, 1949) is a former Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He assumed office on March 6, 2014 and retired January 20, 2017. He also served as the Director of the Office of National Drug Cont ...
ordered officers not to intervene.Violence at Mardi Gras
''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'' Special Report. See especially Lewis Kamb
'No more Fat Tuesday,' mayor declares
''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'', 2001-03-01 and Kery Murakami
Nickels on Mardi Gras: 'It's about leadership'
''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'', 2001-03-09. Retrieved April 8, 2010.
Arguably, the WTO meeting and the Mardi Gras violence played a role in Schell's coming in a distant third behind two other Democrats in the 2001 mayoral
primary election Primary elections, or direct primary are a voting process by which voters can indicate their preference for their party's candidate, or a candidate in general, in an upcoming general election, local election, or by-election. Depending on the ...
, as did
Boeing The Boeing Company () is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and product ...
's relocation of its headquarters to Chicago.Timothy Egan
Primary Voters Reject Seattle Mayor After One Term
''The New York Times'', 2001-09-20. Retrieved April 8, 2010.
It was the first time in over 65 years that an incumbent Seattle mayor had failed to survive a primary election. During the campaign, Schell was assaulted by a political opponent, a fringe mayoral candidate named James Garrett (a.k.a. Omari Tahir-Garrett). Garrett struck Schell in the face with a bullhorn he had been using to heckle the mayor, breaking bones under his right eye. Garrett was later convicted of second-degree assault and sentenced to 21 months in prison. His mayoral predecessor Charles Royer assessed Schell's term in a January 2002 interview in ''The Seattle Times''; "Paul is smart. Maybe the smartest mayor we've ever had. ... his one term, Paul Schell got more done than any first-term mayor has a right to expect. The former developer not only got the new City Hall complex started, he led an impressive effort to build a new and important downtown library, rebuild the branches and renovate and build the community centers. He led the effort to fund a record $200 million in new parks, rebuilt the aging Opera House, and in a stunning victory that future generations will celebrate, preserved the 90,000 acres of the pristine Cedar River watershed."


Death

Schell died at the
Swedish Medical Center Swedish Health Services, formerly Swedish Medical Center, is the largest nonprofit health provider in the Seattle metropolitan area. It operates five hospital campuses (in the Seattle neighborhoods of First Hill, Cherry Hill and Ballard, and th ...
in
Seattle Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...
,
Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
following
heart surgery Cardiac surgery, or cardiovascular surgery, is surgery on the heart or great vessels performed by cardiac surgeons. It is often used to treat complications of ischemic heart disease (for example, with coronary artery bypass grafting); to corr ...
on July 27, 2014 at the age of 76.


Legacy

At the time of Schell's death, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray issued a statement with an appreciation of Schell's range of community service: "Schell will be remembered as one of the great city builders of the Pacific Northwest. As a citizen activist, lawyer, director of community development, port commissioner, dean of architecture and mayor he directly shaped the civic infrastructure of Seattle for more than 40 years. "Schell's greatest professional accomplishment has been the infrastructure that he built and influenced. The first Libraries for All campaign was a brainchild of Schell's, establishing and building a new downtown library and rebuilding branches throughout the city. He led the effort to fund Seattle's first parks levy, rebuild the opera house and was instrumental in building the Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle's City Hall and Justice Center. "During his time as mayor, Schell helped develop Seattle's 37 neighborhood plans, laying the foundation for the strong neighborhood system that is seen today. Schell was not only committed to the infrastructure, but also to the people of Seattle. He worked tirelessly to increase service for Seattle's homeless and immigrant communities, bringing them much-needed services."


See also

*
Timeline of Seattle The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Seattle, Washington, USA. Before the 19th century * Native Americans explore and settle throughout the Puget Sound region which includes the Seattle area. 19th century * 1851 – ** ...
, 1990s-2000s


References


External links


December 2001, Seattle Channel interview with Schell

"Life Lessons" a June 2014, Whidbey TV interview
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schell, Paul 1937 births 2014 deaths Mayors of Seattle Washington (state) Democrats University of Washington faculty University of Iowa alumni Columbia Law School Washington (state) lawyers Politicians from Fort Dodge, Iowa People from Calhoun County, Iowa 20th-century American lawyers Theodore Roosevelt High School (Iowa) alumni People associated with Perkins Coie