David Levine (Seattle)
Encyclopedia
David Levine was a Seattle, Washington
politician. He served on the Seattle City Council
from 1931 to 1962 (with a one-year interruption in the mid-1930s) including several stints as council president. On retirement, he received the title of Council President Emeritus
, unique in the city's history.
in 1883, Levine came to Seattle in 1900. Prior to his political career, he worked as a jeweler and watchmaker. In 1929, he served on a City Planning Commission, a role he would play again from 1964 to 1970 after retiring from the city council. An active trade union
ist, as a young man he was a member of the Socialist Labor Party
and later was president of the Seattle Central Labor Council, international vice president of the Jewelry Workers' Union, (a role in which he continued while in public office) and editor of State Labor News. From 1953, he also served as a director of the Seattle Federal Savings & Loan Association. He was also a Freemason
, a member of the Order of the Eastern Star
and the Elks
Club, and of Temple de Hirsch, a Reform Jewish congregation. Despite his membership in a Reform congregation, he often attended an Orthodox
synagogue on the High Holy Days
.
In the 1920s, Levine had supported reformist mayor Bertha K. Landes and, according to his own account was surprised when he was appointed to the City Planning Commission by Mayor Frank E. Edwards, her successor who defeated her in an election. Levine was appointed to the city council July 14, 1931 to fill a vacancy left when Mayor Edwards was recalled
in a special election the previous day. The council elected its own president, Robert H. Harlin as mayor and Levine was selected to fill his unexpired council term.
He was repeatedly re-elected by the public, serving over three decades on the council, and serving as council president in 1934–35, 1938–39, 1941–42, 1950–54, and 1956-62. Nard Jones
describes him as having been "virtually mayor as far as power and action went." His sole electoral defeat came in 1935, when a political insurgency by a young men's group called the New Order of Cincinnatus
brought three new members to the council, including Arthur B. Langlie
, later governor.
Levine served over 250 times as the city's acting mayor and described himself as "flattered" by suggestions that he run for mayor, but he chose never to do so. On November 2, 1953, with Mayor Allan Pomeroy out of town, Levine as acting mayor signed the ordinances enacting the annexation to the city of the area from N 85th Street to N 145th Street, adding 40,800 people and 89.769 square miles (232.5 km²) to the city.
Levine played an important role in the management of the city's finances, to the point that A. A. Lemieux, president of Seattle University
dubbed him the "watchdog of the city treasury". The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce
described him in 1958 as having "specialized in municipal finance" and "credited [him] with saving the taxpayers millions of dollars"; four years later, upon his retirement, they praised his "prudence and thrift" on behalf of the city. At the time he announced his retirement, the Seattle Times said that "more than any other single individual" Levine had been responsible over the years for Seattle's "operation in the 'black'" and added that "His budget-balancing feats are widely recognized by municipal officials across the nation."
Levine was also known as a supporter of public housing
including, in particular, the pioneering Yesler Terrace
development.
After retiring from the council, he retained until 1968 a small office at city hall and what Jones characterizes as the "mostly honorary" title of "adviser to the mayor". During this era, by his own account, he never gave unsolicited advice, but "[i]f someone in city government asks my opinion on a question I'll give it…" He served on the boards of the Century 21 Exposition
(the 1962 Seattle World's Fair
), the Seattle Municipal League (the "Muni League"), and on the Seattle Center
Advisory Commission, the Metro Council, the Board of Administration, the City Employees' Retirement System, the Firemen's Pension Board, the Police Pension Board, and the city's Board of Investment.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
politician. He served on the Seattle City Council
Seattle City Council
The Seattle City Council is committed to ensuring that Seattle, Washington, is safe, livable and sustainable. Nine Councilmembers are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections and represent the entire city, elected by all Seattle voters....
from 1931 to 1962 (with a one-year interruption in the mid-1930s) including several stints as council president. On retirement, he received the title of Council President Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
, unique in the city's history.
Life
Born in KievKiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
in 1883, Levine came to Seattle in 1900. Prior to his political career, he worked as a jeweler and watchmaker. In 1929, he served on a City Planning Commission, a role he would play again from 1964 to 1970 after retiring from the city council. An active trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
ist, as a young man he was a member of the Socialist Labor Party
Socialist Labor Party of America
The Socialist Labor Party of America , established in 1876 as the Workingmen's Party, is the oldest socialist political party in the United States and the second oldest socialist party in the world. Originally known as the Workingmen's Party of America, the party changed its name in 1877 and has...
and later was president of the Seattle Central Labor Council, international vice president of the Jewelry Workers' Union, (a role in which he continued while in public office) and editor of State Labor News. From 1953, he also served as a director of the Seattle Federal Savings & Loan Association. He was also a Freemason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, a member of the Order of the Eastern Star
Order of the Eastern Star
The Order of the Eastern Star is a fraternal organization that both men and women can join. It was established in 1850 by Rob Morris, a lawyer and educator from Boston, Massachusetts, who had been an official with the Freemasons. It is based on teachings from the Bible, but is open to people of all...
and the Elks
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868...
Club, and of Temple de Hirsch, a Reform Jewish congregation. Despite his membership in a Reform congregation, he often attended an Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
synagogue on the High Holy Days
High Holy Days
The High Holidays or High Holy Days, in Judaism, more properly known as the Yamim Noraim , may mean:#strictly, the holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur ;...
.
In the 1920s, Levine had supported reformist mayor Bertha K. Landes and, according to his own account was surprised when he was appointed to the City Planning Commission by Mayor Frank E. Edwards, her successor who defeated her in an election. Levine was appointed to the city council July 14, 1931 to fill a vacancy left when Mayor Edwards was recalled
Recall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
in a special election the previous day. The council elected its own president, Robert H. Harlin as mayor and Levine was selected to fill his unexpired council term.
He was repeatedly re-elected by the public, serving over three decades on the council, and serving as council president in 1934–35, 1938–39, 1941–42, 1950–54, and 1956-62. Nard Jones
Nard Jones
-Life:According to Jones' self-description in "Puget Sound Profiles",he was born in Seattle and graduated with honors from Whitman College, beginning his career as a campus correspondent for the Walla Walla Daily Bulletin...
describes him as having been "virtually mayor as far as power and action went." His sole electoral defeat came in 1935, when a political insurgency by a young men's group called the New Order of Cincinnatus
New Order of Cincinnatus
The New Order of Cincinnatus was a young men's political organization established in Seattle, Washington in the 1930s. The short-lived "conservative and moralistic reform group" was a municipal party that challenged both the Democratic and Republican parties, electing David Lockwood and Frederick G...
brought three new members to the council, including Arthur B. Langlie
Arthur B. Langlie
Arthur Bernard Langlie served as the mayor of Seattle, Washington, from 1938 to 1941 and was the 12th and 14th Governor of the U.S. state of Washington from 1941 to 1945 and from 1949 to 1957.-Background:...
, later governor.
Levine served over 250 times as the city's acting mayor and described himself as "flattered" by suggestions that he run for mayor, but he chose never to do so. On November 2, 1953, with Mayor Allan Pomeroy out of town, Levine as acting mayor signed the ordinances enacting the annexation to the city of the area from N 85th Street to N 145th Street, adding 40,800 people and 89.769 square miles (232.5 km²) to the city.
Levine played an important role in the management of the city's finances, to the point that A. A. Lemieux, president of Seattle University
Seattle University
Seattle University is a Jesuit Catholic university located in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, USA.SU is the largest independent university in the Northwest US, with over 7,500 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within eight schools, and is one of 28 member...
dubbed him the "watchdog of the city treasury". The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce
Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce
The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce is a daily newspaper based in Seattle. Specializing in business, construction, real estate, and legal news and public notices, it began publication in 1895 as the Bulletin, later the Daily Bulletin and the Seattle Daily Bulletin...
described him in 1958 as having "specialized in municipal finance" and "credited [him] with saving the taxpayers millions of dollars"; four years later, upon his retirement, they praised his "prudence and thrift" on behalf of the city. At the time he announced his retirement, the Seattle Times said that "more than any other single individual" Levine had been responsible over the years for Seattle's "operation in the 'black'" and added that "His budget-balancing feats are widely recognized by municipal officials across the nation."
Levine was also known as a supporter of public housing
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
including, in particular, the pioneering Yesler Terrace
Yesler Terrace, Seattle, Washington
Yesler Terrace, a 22 acre public housing development in Seattle, Washington was, at the time of its completion in 1941, that state's first public housing development and the first racially integrated public housing development in the United States. It occupies much of the area formerly known as...
development.
After retiring from the council, he retained until 1968 a small office at city hall and what Jones characterizes as the "mostly honorary" title of "adviser to the mayor". During this era, by his own account, he never gave unsolicited advice, but "[i]f someone in city government asks my opinion on a question I'll give it…" He served on the boards of the Century 21 Exposition
Century 21 Exposition
The Century 21 Exposition was a World's Fair held April 21, 1962, to October 21, 1962 in Seattle, Washington.Nearly 10 million people attended the fair...
(the 1962 Seattle World's Fair
World's Fair
World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...
), the Seattle Municipal League (the "Muni League"), and on the Seattle Center
Seattle Center
Seattle Center is a park and arts and entertainment center in Seattle, Washington. The campus is the site used in 1962 by the Century 21 Exposition. It is located just north of Belltown in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood.-Attractions:...
Advisory Commission, the Metro Council, the Board of Administration, the City Employees' Retirement System, the Firemen's Pension Board, the Police Pension Board, and the city's Board of Investment.