10/17/2008 11:29:00 AM The Rainier Valley's diverse political roots run deep
George Fleming addresses a protest on the capitol steps, circa 1975. Photo courtesy of George Fleming.
Representative Sam Smith, his wife Marion Smith, and Governor Albert Rosellini pose for a photo during a meet and greet session circa 1960. Photo courtesy of Albert Rosellini.
From the brave members of the first Columbia Town Council, who built a city from scratch, to John L. O'Brien, the longest-serving state representative in U.S. history, to Ron Sims, who holds the highest office any African American has achieved in Washington, Rainier Valley has been home to an impressive array of public servants. Many of them have overcome hardship and adversity and pushed for equality and opportunity for all, once in power. As the November 4th election approaches, the Rainier Valley Historical Society is putting these citizens and their accomplishments on display in its storefront window on Ferdinand Street. The display is funded in part by a generous donation from the Rainier Beach Community Club.
The 37th District has produced many firsts - the first African American in the State House (Charles Stokes), State Senate (George Fleming), and Seattle City Council (Sam Smith). Albert Rosellini was the first Italian American governor west of the Mississippi, breaking through the Catholic barrier four years before John F. Kennedy was elected President. Gary Locke was the first Asian governor on the mainland, and the only Chinese American governor the United States has seen so far.
Being first can be a lonely proposition - and certainly these men knew what it was to stand alone at times. But they also supported and mentored each other, in part because of their shared experience as outsiders. John O'Brien and Albert Rosellini were both the sons of immigrants, representing Seattle's heavily Irish and Italian neighborhoods in the legislature during the Great Depression. Later, these two Democrats helped Sam Smith when he became the second African American to serve in the Legislature (replacing Republican Charles Stokes, who was the first). Smith in turn encouraged and mentored George Fleming, who made a conscious effort to bring people of color on his staff - among them Ron Sims and Gary Locke.
Of course, the Rainier Valley's historic diversity turned the whole outsider concept on its head. In the 1930s, being Irish or Italian was a huge electoral boon here: Rosellini moved to the Rainier Valley to run for office knowing his ethnic identity would win him votes there. (And he chose to run for State Senate because "there was already another guy with an Italian name" running for the House seat.)
Similarly, in the 1950s, being African American in the 37th District was hardly a political liability. At the height of his career, Sam Smith carried 100 percent of the votes in some of his precincts. Smith grew up in Jim Crow-era Louisiana, and he saw his father turned away from the polls year after year. At 14 he announced his intention to hold public office, and his sister asked, "How are you going to get into politics, when you can't even vote?"
"I'll go somewhere where you can vote," he replied.
Smith was stationed in Seattle briefly during WWII, and he decided to begin his political career here after the war. Smith worked hard to establish himself as a leader in the African American community (which, at the time, was concentrated in the Central District), and encouraged black voters to flex a little political muscle within the Democratic Party. He eventually became such a powerful force in the legislature that when the Republicans took over the House in 1967 after years of Democratic control, then-Representative Slade Gorton unthinkingly noted that "Mr. Smith doesn't know what it feels like to be in the minority." Smith, the only black face in the room, drew laughter from both sides when he piped up, "Oh, yes I do!"
When Sam Smith left the House to become Seattle's first African American City Councilman, he encouraged George Fleming to run for his seat. Fleming was a well-known college football player, having helped the Huskies win the Rose Bowl in 1960 and '61. He was able to leverage his statewide name recognition to help his long and successful political career, along with the lessons he learned on the football field about teamwork, leadership, and perseverance.
If George Fleming's gridiron experience prepared him well for public office, Ruby Chow's path to politics was even more colorful. She was the matriarch of Seattle's Chinese community and a tireless advocate for justice, bi-lingual education, and the International District, which she always called Chinatown.
Her restaurant at Broadway and Jefferson drew Seattle's movers and shakers of all ethnic backgrounds. Chow wasn't versed in formal politics - it wasn't until she ran for King County Council in 1973 that she thought about party affiliation.
"I felt that I belonged in the Democratic Party because it is more people-oriented," she later said. "I discovered I had been a Democrat all my life and hadn't realized it."
Chow's culinary connections served her in public office: she once delivered a roast duck to Senator Warren Magnuson in Washington, D.C. in a successful effort to keep a work-release facility out of Chinatown. She died in her home on Seward Park Avenue in June.
These are just a handful of the many passionate and charismatic men and women who have served the Rainier Valley in public office over the years. The Rainier Valley Historical Society's window display is definitely a work in progress and not intended to be a comprehensive list. Stop by for a visit and let us know if we have missed your favorite South End politician!
Mikala Woodward is the director of the Rainier Valley Historical Society. She may be reached via editor@southseattlebeacon.com or by visiting www.rainiervalleyhistory.org.
