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Mark Sidran Subject Files, 1990-2002

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle (Wash.). Law Dept.
Title
Mark Sidran Subject Files
Dates
1990-2002 (inclusive)
Quantity
13.4 cubic feet, (34 boxes)
Collection Number
4400-02
Summary
Records from Mark Sidran's tenure as Seattle's city attorney.
Repository
Seattle Municipal Archives
Seattle Municipal Archives
Office of the City Clerk
City of Seattle
PO Box 94728
98124-4728
Seattle, WA
Telephone: 2062337807
Fax: 2063869025
archives@seattle.gov
Access Restrictions

Records are open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for processing this record series was provided through a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
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Biographical Note

Born in 1951, Mark Sidran grew up in Seattle's Seward Park neighborhood, attending Franklin High School and serving as president of his senior class. After earning a BA in government at Harvard, he received his law degree from the University of Washington in 1976. He worked for the King County Prosecutor's Office from 1975 to 1985, and was a partner in the law firm of McKay & Gaitain from 1986 to 1989. In 1990, he became Seattle's City Attorney, holding that office through 2001.

During Sidran's tenure, one of his signature issues was the impoundment of cars of people caught driving with suspended licenses. He endorsed the law as promoting responsibility and increasing public safety, while his critics claimed the practice disproportionately affected the poor. Sidran's advocacy of "civility laws" - ordinances outlawing aggressive panhandling and sitting on sidewalks - caused a great deal of controversy, as did his crackdowns on problem nightclubs.

In 2001, Sidran chose to run for mayor instead of seeking a fourth term as city attorney. After losing the mayoral race to Greg Nickels, Sidran practiced with McKay Chadwell and served as chair of the Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission. He ran unsuccessfully for Washington State Attorney General in 2004.

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Content Description

Sidran's subject files cover the routine work of the City Attorney's Office as well as specific programs and priorities of the agency during his tenure. A program to impound the cars of persons caught driving with suspended licenses is documented extensively. His office's work on problem nightclubs is also covered, including both general policy initiatives and files on specific clubs. Materials on the street civility laws include a good deal of correspondence and feedback from citizens and businesses. Other topics covered in depth include parks exclusion, land use code enforcement, graffiti, and liquor issues.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Mark Sidran Subject Files, Record Series 4400-02. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

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Administrative Information

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Finding aid prepared by Julie Kerssen
2009

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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