Mark Sidran

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.[3] 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.[4] Sidran is Jewish.[5]

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.[6]

From 1986 to 1989, Sidran was a partner at McKay & Gaitan.[7] He was also a Special Counsel to Governor Booth Gardner.[5]

In 1990, Sidran ran for and was elected Seattle City Attorney. Sidran was highly controversial for his "no broken windows" approach to law enforcement.[8] He has been called the Rudy Giuliani of Seattle.[9] 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.[4][10][11]

In 2001, Sidran became the Commissioner of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.[5]

In 2001, Sidran ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Seattle, losing to Greg Nickels.[12] Nickels won with 50.1 percent of the vote compared to Sidran's 48.4 percent.[13] 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 to Deborah Senn in the primary. [14]