John Spellman
Encyclopedia
John Dennis Spellman was the 18th Governor of Washington between 1981 and 1985; before that, he was a member of the King County, Washington
, County Commission from 1967 to 1969 and the King County Executive
from 1969 to 1981. He was a Republican and his opponent in the 1980 election was then-State Senator Jim McDermott
. Spellman was a 1949 graduate of Seattle University
and a 1953 graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center
.
During Governor Spellman's four-year term of office, Washington's economy suffered a serious recession
marked by rising unemployment and disappointing tax revenue
s. The State Legislature
was deeply divided over how to address an alarming revenue shortfall, but did agree to an increase in Washington's statewide sales tax
rate from 5.5% to 6.5%.
One of Governor Spellman's memorable policy stands was his strong commitment to environmental protection
. Against enormous pressure from business groups and many legislators, he ultimately used his authority to prevent permitting for an environmentally-risky development project by Chicago Bridge & Iron in a sensitive shoreline area of Whatcom County
.
At the mid-term elections, the Democratic Party
captured a major increase of seats in the House and Senate.
In September 1983, upon the untimely and unexpected death of U.S. Senator Henry M. Jackson
, Governor Spellman used his authority to appoint former Republican governor Daniel J. Evans
to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat. While the Democratic party protested the appointment of a Republican to fill the seat vacated by a Democrat, Spellman's appointment was considered lawful under the then-current statutes. As state law required an immediate primary
and general election for the remaining U.S. Senate seat term, a primary election was held just three weeks after Evans' interim appointment. At the general election in November 1983, appointed Senator Daniel J. Evans defeated a vigorous challenge by Democratic Congressman Mike Lowry
.
In 1984, Spellman ran for a second term of office, facing voter anxiety about the weak economy. After a vigorous Democratic primary between then-State Senator Jim McDermott
, former state Representative John Jovanovich, and then-Pierce County Executive Booth Gardner
, Governor Spellman faced a difficult battle in the general election against Democratic nominee Gardner. In the November 1984 general election, voters decisively replaced Spellman with Gardner.
Leaving office in January 1985, Governor Spellman returned to private law practice. In 1990 he ran for election as a justice of the Washington Supreme Court
, but was not elected.
Governor Spellman was awarded the James R. Ellis Regional Leadership Award from The Municipal League of King County on June 8, 2006. Spellman, , is the last Republican to serve as governor of Washington state. And with Kentucky
in 2003 electing its first Republican governor since 1967, Washington now has the nation's longest streak of not having elected a GOP chief executive.
King County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
, County Commission from 1967 to 1969 and the King County Executive
King County Executive
The King County Executive is the highest elected official representing the government of King County, Washington, USA. The post was established with the implementation of the Home Rule Charter for King County on November 5, 1968...
from 1969 to 1981. He was a Republican and his opponent in the 1980 election was then-State Senator Jim McDermott
Jim McDermott
James Adelbert "Jim" McDermott is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The 7th District includes most of Seattle and Vashon Island, and portions of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Burien.He serves on the House Ways and Means...
. Spellman was a 1949 graduate 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...
and a 1953 graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
.
During Governor Spellman's four-year term of office, Washington's economy suffered a serious recession
Recession
In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction, a general slowdown in economic activity. During recessions, many macroeconomic indicators vary in a similar way...
marked by rising unemployment and disappointing tax revenue
Revenue
In business, revenue is income that a company receives from its normal business activities, usually from the sale of goods and services to customers. In many countries, such as the United Kingdom, revenue is referred to as turnover....
s. The State Legislature
Washington State Legislature
The Washington State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a bipartisan, bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives, composed of 98 Representatives, and the upper Washington State Senate, with 49 Senators.The State Legislature...
was deeply divided over how to address an alarming revenue shortfall, but did agree to an increase in Washington's statewide sales tax
Sales tax
A sales tax is a tax, usually paid by the consumer at the point of purchase, itemized separately from the base price, for certain goods and services. The tax amount is usually calculated by applying a percentage rate to the taxable price of a sale....
rate from 5.5% to 6.5%.
One of Governor Spellman's memorable policy stands was his strong commitment to environmental protection
Environmental protection
Environmental protection is a practice of protecting the environment, on individual, organizational or governmental level, for the benefit of the natural environment and humans. Due to the pressures of population and our technology the biophysical environment is being degraded, sometimes permanently...
. Against enormous pressure from business groups and many legislators, he ultimately used his authority to prevent permitting for an environmentally-risky development project by Chicago Bridge & Iron in a sensitive shoreline area of Whatcom County
Whatcom County, Washington
Whatcom County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. Its name ultimately derives from the Lummi word Xwotʼqom, meaning "noisy water." As of 2010, the population was 201,140. The county seat is at Bellingham, which is also the county's largest city...
.
At the mid-term elections, the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
captured a major increase of seats in the House and Senate.
In September 1983, upon the untimely and unexpected death of U.S. Senator Henry M. Jackson
Henry M. Jackson
Henry Martin "Scoop" Jackson was a U.S. Congressman and Senator from the state of Washington from 1941 until his death...
, Governor Spellman used his authority to appoint former Republican governor Daniel J. Evans
Daniel J. Evans
Daniel Jackson Evans served three terms as the 16th Governor of the state of Washington from 1965 to 1977, and represented the state in the United States Senate from 1983 to 1989....
to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat. While the Democratic party protested the appointment of a Republican to fill the seat vacated by a Democrat, Spellman's appointment was considered lawful under the then-current statutes. As state law required an immediate primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
and general election for the remaining U.S. Senate seat term, a primary election was held just three weeks after Evans' interim appointment. At the general election in November 1983, appointed Senator Daniel J. Evans defeated a vigorous challenge by Democratic Congressman Mike Lowry
Mike Lowry
Michael Edward "Mike" Lowry served as the 20th Governor of the U.S. state of Washington from 1993 to 1997. Lowry is a Democrat.Lowry was born and raised in St. John, Washington, and graduated from Washington State University in 1962...
.
In 1984, Spellman ran for a second term of office, facing voter anxiety about the weak economy. After a vigorous Democratic primary between then-State Senator Jim McDermott
Jim McDermott
James Adelbert "Jim" McDermott is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The 7th District includes most of Seattle and Vashon Island, and portions of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Burien.He serves on the House Ways and Means...
, former state Representative John Jovanovich, and then-Pierce County Executive Booth Gardner
Booth Gardner
Booth Gardner , an heir to the Weyerhaeuser fortune, was the 19th Governor of the U.S state of Washington between 1985 and 1993. He also served as the ambassador of the GATT. He is a Democrat. Before serving as governor, Gardner was Pierce County Executive...
, Governor Spellman faced a difficult battle in the general election against Democratic nominee Gardner. In the November 1984 general election, voters decisively replaced Spellman with Gardner.
Leaving office in January 1985, Governor Spellman returned to private law practice. In 1990 he ran for election as a justice of the Washington Supreme Court
Washington Supreme Court
The Washington Supreme Court is the highest court in the judiciary of the U.S. state of Washington. The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Justices. of the Court are elected to six-year terms...
, but was not elected.
Governor Spellman was awarded the James R. Ellis Regional Leadership Award from The Municipal League of King County on June 8, 2006. Spellman, , is the last Republican to serve as governor of Washington state. And with Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
in 2003 electing its first Republican governor since 1967, Washington now has the nation's longest streak of not having elected a GOP chief executive.