James Everett Chase

James Everett Chase (March 29, 1914 – May 19, 1987) was an African American politician in Spokane, Washington. He was elected mayor in 1981 by a landslide 62 percent to 38 percent margin, and became the state's second African American mayor.

Early life and work Chase was born in Wharton, Texas and grew up in Ballinger, Texas. He came to Spokane in 1934, accompanied by two friends from Ballinger, Harry Blackwell and Elmo Dalbert. The three men moved to Spokane after completing a term of service with the Civilian Conservation Corps—after taking up residence in the city, they found employment in a hotel.

Civic involvement For the entirety of the 1960s, Chase was the president of Spokane's branch of the NAACP. Under his leadership, the NAACP focused their attention in the specific areas of discrimination in housing, public accommodations, and employment. Chase and the NAACP of Spokane campaigned for investigations into claims of housing discrimination based on color. They went before the Washington State Board Against Discrimination (WSBAD) on May 4, 1961. The Board found several real estate companies guilty of discriminatory practices. In the 1960s in Spokane, some businesses "continued to restrict black trade." Chase and the NAACP took up the case of a visiting student at Gonzaga University who was denied service at a barber shop. Although this student was visiting, Chase and the NAACP used the opportunity to "bring exposure to this local public accommodations incident." The NAACP of Spokane, under Chase, encouraged African Americans to "file their employment complaints with the WSBAD."

Service on the Spokane city council He entered politics with his first run for city council in 1969, losing narrowly to Republican Margaret Leonard, who two years earlier had become the first woman elected to the council. to become the first African American city council member in Spokane's history.

Chase quickly established himself as a critic of the council's inefficiency, raising objections at council meetings over the slow pace of the council's agenda and the wasted money that resulted from the council's inaction. He became well known for his emphasis on transparency in government, and for his advocacy for social services, particularly for young people: in both 1978 and 1979, Chase was very vocal in defense of the Spokane Area Youth Committee when the council considered cutting its funds, and at one point threatened to resign from the council if the measure had prevailed. He was re-elected in 1979 by a three-to-one margin and was the first council member to retain a seat in six years.

Service as Spokane's mayor On November 3, 1981, Chase became Spokane's first African American mayor. In a "low key" campaign against Wayne Guthrie, James Chase "garnered 72 percent of the vote." Mayor Chase had a leadership style that was different from anyone else. He was considered steady and honest with good helping of common sense, along with "dignity." Chase was extremely "careful to avoid political confrontations with his constituents."

With Chase's landslide victory, Spokane ushered in a new era of civil rights. His election gave hope to Black Spokanites, particularly elders in the community. His funeral at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral was attended by over one thousand mourners from all walks of life, and he was buried at Fairmount Memorial Park.