Changes

==Political career==

==Political career==

Spellman ran unsuccessfully for [[mayor]] of Seattle early in 1964.<ref>"Seattle Election Returns," ''The Seattle Times,'' February 12, 1964, p. 4.</ref>Then he campaigned for [[Daniel Evans|Daniel Jackson Evans]] in Evans' successful bid to become governor which came despite the heavy losses sustained by the [[Barry Goldwater]] presidential campaign later in 1964. Spellman was elected to the three-member King County Commission in 1967. With the home-rule charter adopted in 1968, the office of County Executive was established and Spellman was elected in 1969 as the county's first executive. He defeated Albert Dean Rosellini (1910-2011), who had preceded Dan Evans as governor.<ref name="Fox"/>

Spellman ran unsuccessfully for [[mayor]] of Seattle early in 1964.<ref>"Seattle Election Returns," ''The Seattle Times,'' February 12, 1964, p. 4.</ref>Then he campaigned for [[Daniel Evans|Daniel Jackson Evans]] in Evans' successful bid to become governor which came despite the heavy losses sustained by the [[Barry Goldwater]] presidential campaign later in 1964. Spellman was elected to the three-member King County Commission in 1967. With the home-rule charter adopted in 1968, the office of County Executive was established and Spellman was elected in 1969 as the county's first executive. He defeated Albert Dean Rosellini (1910-2011), who had preceded Dan Evans as governor.<ref>

{{cite web|url=https://www.q13fox.com/news/former-washington-governor-john-d-spellman-dies-at-91|title=Former Washington governor John D. Spellman dies at 91|publisher=q13fox.com|date=January 16, 2018|accessdate=August 15, 2021}}

Spellman worked to consolidate departments and to replace the old patronage system with one based on  merit.<ref name="Tribune"/> Spellman supervised the building the domed station, the Kingdome, that provided the first home for the former [[Seattle Seahawks]] and the current [[Seattle Mariners]], and initiated early efforts to deal with uncontrolled growth in the sprawling county.<ref name="OPB"/> He was re-elected as the county executive in 1973 and 1977.<ref name="Seattle"/>

Spellman worked to consolidate departments and to replace the old patronage system with one based on  merit.<ref name="Tribune"/> Spellman supervised the building the domed station, the Kingdome, that provided the first home for the former [[Seattle Seahawks]] and the current [[Seattle Mariners]], and initiated early efforts to deal with uncontrolled growth in the sprawling county. He was re-elected as the county executive in 1973 and 1977.<ref name="Seattle"/>

Spellman first ran for governor in 1976 and was the top Republican in the state's blanket primary, but he lost the general election to Democrat [[Dixy Lee Ray]] even thoug [[Gerald Ford]] carried Washington State in his campaign against [[Jimmy Carter]]. In 1980, Spellman defeated state Representative Duane Lyman Berentson (1928-2013) in the gubernatorial primary. Berentson campaigned for Spellman in the general election against Dixy Lee Ray. [[Ronald Reagan]] won the presidential election and is the last Republican presidential nominee to have carried Washington State.<ref>Richard W. Larsen and Lee Moriwaki, "From rivals to  friends: Berentson stumps for Spellman," ''The Seattle Times, September 18, 1980.</ref>  

Spellman first ran for governor in 1976 and was the top Republican in the state's blanket primary, but he lost the general election to Democrat [[Dixy Lee Ray]] even thoug [[Gerald Ford]] carried Washington State in his campaign against [[Jimmy Carter]]. In 1980, Spellman defeated state Representative Duane Lyman Berentson (1928-2013) in the gubernatorial primary. Berentson campaigned for Spellman in the general election against Dixy Lee Ray. [[Ronald Reagan]] won the presidential election and is the last Republican presidential nominee to have carried Washington State.<ref>Richard W. Larsen and Lee Moriwaki, "From rivals to  friends: Berentson stumps for Spellman," ''The Seattle Times, September 18, 1980.</ref>  

During Spellman's four-year term, Washington's economy endured a major [[recession]] marked by rising unemployment and disappointing tax revenues.<ref name="Tribune"/> The state legislature was deeply divided over how to address the revenue shortfall but voted to increase the state [[sales tax]] rate from 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent.<ref name="Tribune"/> Despite campaign promises that he was opposed to higher taxes, Spellman raised $2.5 billion in new taxes to address the shortfalls.<ref>Bill Dietrich, "Will the real John Spellman please stand up?,"  ''The Seattle Times,'' January 9, 1983.</ref>

During Spellman's four-year term, Washington's economy endured a major [[recession]] marked by rising unemployment and disappointing tax revenues.<ref name="Tribune"/> The state legislature was deeply divided over how to address the revenue shortfall but voted to increase the state [[sales tax]] rate from 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent.<ref name="Tribune"/> Despite campaign promises that he was opposed to higher taxes, Spellman raised $2.5 billion in new taxes to address the shortfalls.<ref>Bill Dietrich, "Will the real John Spellman please stand up?,"  ''The Seattle Times,'' January 9, 1983.</ref>

Spellman was strongly committed to environmental protection. He vetoed a bill that would have permitted a development project in a sensitive shoreline area of Whatcom County, but the state Senate overrode him.<ref>"Senate votes to override oil-rig veto," ''The Seattle Times,'' April 9, 1982.</ref> He successfully blocked a proposed oil pipeline sought by the Norther Tier Pipeline Company which would have dredged under the [[Puget Sound]]. Spellman maintained that the pipeline could cause potential damage to the ecology of the waterway and persisted in his stance despite much popular opposition.<ref>Eric Pryne, "Spellman refuses to read 7,500 letters on Northern Tier," ''The Seattle Times,'' March 28, 1982.</ref>

Spellman was strongly committed to environmental protection. He vetoed a bill that would have permitted a development project in a sensitive shoreline area of Whatcom County, but the state Senate overrode him.<ref>"Senate votes to override oil-rig veto," ''The Seattle Times,'' April 9, 1982.</ref> He successfully blocked a proposed oil pipeline sought by the Norther Tier Pipeline Company which would have dredged under the [[Puget Sound]]. Spellman maintained that the pipeline could cause potential damage to the ecology of the waterway and persisted in his stance despite much popular opposition.<ref>Eric Pryne, "Spellman refuses to read 7,500 letters on Northern Tier," ''The Seattle Times,'' March 28, 1982.</ref>

In September 1983, upon the death of [[U.S. Senator]] [[Henry M. Jackson]], Spellman appointed Republican former Governor [[Daniel J. Evans]] to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat.  The appointment aroused fierce Democratic opposition.  As state law required an immediate election for the remainder of the Senate term. A primary election was held just three weeks after Evans' interim appointment.<ref>

In September 1983, upon the death of [[U.S. Senator]] [[Henry M. Jackson]], Spellman appointed Republican former Governor [[Daniel J. Evans]] to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat.  The appointment aroused fierce Democratic opposition.  As state law required an immediate election for the remainder of the Senate term. A primary election was held just three weeks after Evans' interim appointment.<ref>Richard Larsen and Dick Clever, " "Evans to replace Jackson in Senate," ''The Seattle Times,'' September 8, 1983.</ref>

Richard Larsen and Dick Clever, " "Evans to replace Jackson in Senate," ''The Seattle Times,'' September 8, 1983.</ref>

==Later years==

==Later years==