Wesley C. Uhlman

Wesley C. Uhlman
Uhlman in 1969
Mayor of Seattle, Washington
In office 1969–1978
Preceded by	Floyd C. Miller
Succeeded by	Charles Royer
Member of the Washington House of Representatives for the 32nd district
In office 1959–1967
Member of the Washington State Senate for the 32nd district
In office 1967–1969
Personal details
Born	(1935-03-23) March 23, 1935 Cashmere, Washington, United States
Political party	Democratic

Wesley Carl Uhlman (born March 23, 1935) was the 47th mayor of Seattle.^[1]

Biography

Uhlman was born in Cashmere, Washington. He attended Aberdeen High School, Seattle Pacific College, and the University of Washington. In 1958, as a 23-year-old UW law student, he won election as the youngest member of the Washington State House of Representatives. He served four terms before running for, and winning, a seat in the Washington State Senate. He was elected mayor of Seattle, Washington in 1969 and reelected in 1973. At 34, he was Seattle's youngest mayor.^[2] Among his accomplishments are the preservation of the historic Pioneer Square district and expansion of services for senior citizens. Uhlman ran for governor of Washington in 1976 but was defeated in the Democratic primary by Dixy Lee Ray, in a three-way race.^[1] In 1977, Uhlman proclaimed Seattle's first Gay Pride Week and in 1978 he opposed repeal of the city's civil rights protections for gays and lesbians. After 1978, Uhlman largely retired from politics, turning his attention to land development. He later opposed expanded legal rights for renters.^[1]

Wes Uhlman in Pike Place Market, 1976.

He had a non-speaking cameo in the movie Harry in Your Pocket released in 1974 where he played a "victim" of the pickpocketing main character "Harry".^[3]

Notes

External links

• Wes Uhlman, Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project, University of Washington. Includes numerous video clips from 2005 interview.
• Guide to the Wesley C. (Wes) Uhlman Mayoral Records at the Seattle Municipal Archives