Seattle Forward

Mayor McGinn and the History of Mayoral Vetoes

Mayor McGinn has declared that he will veto Council legislation likely to be adopted today that will allow us to protect our interests as the state proceeds with construction of the downtown deep-bore tunnel.  If he follows through, the veto will be the second of his first 14 months in office.

There have been eight mayoral vetoes in the past 20 years, McGinn's will be the ninth.  In the past 20 years, the Council has overridden a Mayor's veto twice, five times the Council has sustained a Mayor's veto, and one time the Council did not reconsider.

Here's the list of previous mayoral veteos:

Council Bill 108078 related to city retirement policies.  Adopted by Council July 9, 1990; Mayor's veto overridden on August 6, 1990.

Council Bill 113302 related to teen dancing restrictions.  Adopted by Council on August 21, 2000; Mayor's veto sustained on September 18, 2000.

Council Bill 113803 related to public restrooms and automatic public toilets.  Adopted by Council on August 20, 2001; Mayor's veto overridden on September 10, 2001.

Council Bill 113818 related to parking regulations.  Adopted by Council November 5, 2001; Mayor's veto sustained on December 10, 2001.

Council Bill 114147 related to transition housing.  Adopted by Council on June 24, 2002; Mayor's veto sustained on July 22, 2002.

Council Bill 114183 related to a contract land rezone.  Adopted by Council on June 24, 2002; Mayor's veto sustained on July 22, 2002.

Council Bill 115986 related to the regulation of nightlife.  Adopted by Council on September 17, 2007; Mayor's veto never reconsidered by Council.

Ordinance 116807 related to regulation of public conduct, specifically aggressive solicitation.  Adopted by Council on April 19, 2010; Mayor's veto sustained on May 24, 2010.

The Sally's

Got squeezed between the Sally's on TV last week.  It's amazing what C. R. Douglas can pry out of us.  We covered a host of issues.

Seattle Channel Video can be played in Flash Player 9 and up

Snapshot of Mayoral Vetoes Past 20 Years

On Monday the Council will reconsider and vote on Council Bill 116807, the aggressive solicitation measure the Council adopted 5-4 on April 19, 2010.  Mayor McGinn vetoed this legislation on April 26, 2010 and returned it to the Council.

The City Charter requires the Council to "reconsider and vote" on whether to sustain or override the Mayor's veto.  

There have only been eight mayoral vetoes in the past 20 years; twice the Council overrode the Mayor's veto, four times the Council sustained the Mayor's veto, one time the Council did not reconsider, and the eighth reconsideration will be Monday.  Here's the list:

Council Bill 108078 related to city retirement policies.  Adopted by Council July 9, 1990; Mayor's veto overridden on August 6, 1990.

Council Bill 113302 related to teen dancing restrictions.  Adopted by Council on August 21, 2000; Mayor's veto sustained on September 18, 2000.

Council Bill 113803 related to public restrooms and automatic public toilets.  Adopted by Council on August 20, 2001; Mayor's veto overridden on September 10, 2001.

Council Bill 113818 related to parking regulations.  Adopted by Council November 5, 2001; Mayor's veto sustained on December 10, 2001.

Council Bill 114147 related to transition housing.  Adopted by Council on June 24, 2002; Mayor's veto sustained on July 22, 2002.

Council Bill 114183 related to a contract land rezone.  Adopted by Council on June 24, 2002; Mayor's veto sustained on July 22, 2002.

Council Bill 115986 related to the regulation of nightlife.  Adopted by Council on September 17, 2007; Mayor's veto never reconsidered by Council.

Ordinance 116807 related to regulation of public conduct, specifically aggressive solicitation.  Adopted by Council on April 19, 2010; Mayor's veto to be reconsidered on May 24, 2010.