Mark Sidran

{{short description|American lawyer}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Mark Sidran | office = Seattle City Attorney | term_start = January 1, 1990 | term_end = January 1, 2002 | predecessor = Douglas Jewett | successor = Tom Carr | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1951|07|07}} | alma_mater = Harvard University<br />University of Washington School of Law | party = Democratic | occupation = Lawyer<br />Politician }}

'''Mark Sidran''' (born July 7, 1951) is a former Seattle City Attorney, serving three terms from 1990 to 2002. He is remembered most for his controversial "civility" laws.<ref>[https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20010905/sidran05m/mark-sidran-not-your-seattle-stereotype Local News | Mark Sidran: Not your Seattle stereotype | Seattle Times Newspaper]</ref><ref>[http://www.seattleweekly.com/2004-03-31/news/the-return-of-mr-civility/ Seattle News and Events | The Return of Mr. Civility]</ref>

==Early life== Sidran grew up in the Rainier Valley neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. He attended Franklin High School alongside future-Governor Gary Locke and was elected Class President during his senior year.<ref>[http://dailyuw.com/archive/2001/10/30/imported/many-names-mark-sidran#.UeO4-mQY1F8 The many names of Mark Sidran | The Daily]</ref> In 1973, he graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in government. He then returned to Seattle to attend the University of Washington School of Law, graduating in 1976 with a Juris Doctor.<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=6943 Mark Sidran's Seattle – Seattle News – City – The Stranger, Seattle's Only Newspaper]</ref> Sidran is Jewish.<ref name=autogenerated2>[http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/51628/mark-sidran#.UeO47GQY1F8 Mark Sidran's Biography – Project Vote Smart]</ref>

==Legal career== Sidran spent ten years (1975-1985) as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Later, as head of the Juvenile Division, he played a major role in the child molestation prosecution of Judge Gary Little.<ref>[http://www.seattleweekly.com/1998-08-12/news/the-happy-martyr/ Seattle News and Events | The Happy Martyr]</ref>

From 1986 to 1989, Sidran was a partner at McKay & Gaitan.<ref>[http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv62585 Guide to the Mark Sidran Subject Files 1990-2002]</ref> He was also a Special Counsel to Governor Booth Gardner.<ref name=autogenerated2 />

In 1990, Sidran ran for and was elected Seattle City Attorney. Sidran was highly controversial for his "no broken windows" approach to law enforcement.<ref>[http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/San-Francisco-looks-to-Seattle-Did-sidewalk-888774.php San Francisco looks to Seattle: Did sidewalk sitting ban help? – seattlepi.com]</ref> He has been called the Rudy Giuliani of Seattle.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130717080507/http://old.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-lott091001.shtml Jeremy Lott on Mark Sidran on National Review Online]</ref> For example, he sponsored civility ordinances against public urination, public drinking, aggressive panhandling, sleeping in parks, sitting on sidewalks, and driving with a suspended license. His supporters have claimed that these ordinances cleaned up the city significantly, while detractors claim that they unfairly harass the homeless.<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref>[http://www.zipcon.net/~jvf4119/mark_sidran_rap_sheet.htm#thoughts The Mark Sidran Rap Sheet]</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Mitchell|first1=Don|title=The annihilation of space by law: the roots and implications of anti-homeless laws in the United States|journal=Antipode|date=1997|volume=29|issue=3|pages=303–335|doi=10.1111/1467-8330.00048|doi-access=free}}</ref>

==Political career== In 2001, Sidran became the Commissioner of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.<ref name=autogenerated2 />

In 2001, Sidran ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Seattle, losing to Greg Nickels.<ref>[http://www.seattleweekly.com/2001-10-24/news/legal-trouble/ Seattle News and Events | Legal trouble]</ref> Nickels won with 50.1 percent of the vote compared to Sidran's 48.4 percent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://historylink.org/File/3664|title=Seattle voters elect Greg Nickels mayor on November 6, 2001}}</ref> Both candidates had outpolled mayor Paul Schell in the primary. Nickels overcame Sidran's two-to-one fundraising advantage and near-monopoly on press endorsements.

In 2004, Sidran ran unsuccessfully for Attorney General of Washington, losing the primary to Deborah Senn who was in turn defeated by Republican Rob McKenna in the general election.<ref>[http://seattletimes.com/html/regionalpolitics/2002035867_ag15m.html The Seattle Times: Regional politics: McKenna wins, Senn leading in attorney general campaigns.]</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{S-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Douglas Jewett}} {{s-ttl|title=Seattle City Attorney|years=1990–2002}} {{s-aft|after=Tom Carr}} {{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sidran, Mark}} Category:1951 births Category:Living people Category:Harvard University alumni Category:University of Washington School of Law alumni Category:Politicians from Seattle Category:Seattle City attorneys Category:Franklin High School (Seattle) alumni