Schell praised for handling of WTO situation

While some of the 140 protesters and vandals arrested Thursday would undoubtedly disagree, Mayor Paul Schell is winning plaudits for his role in handling the day of celebration and night of confrontation.

Last year's flawed response to World Trade Organization protests overwhelmed the Seattle police and left the city awash in tear gas, broken glass and recriminations. Some civic leaders called for Schell's resignation, and others wondered whether he could survive the political fallout.

Yesterday, after a night that saw riot police again massed on city streets but showing great restraint, even some of his harshest critics were praising Schell.

"I think Paul Schell did a good job this time," said Bill Hanson, executive director of the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs. "I was critical of him the first time. I think I have to be big enough to say he did a good job this time."

In fact, Hanson, who was then president of the Washington State Patrol Troopers Association, and Mike Patrick, whom he succeeded as director of WACOPS, had co-authored an open letter calling on Schell to resign.

"The city needs a new mayor to heal its wounds and move the city forward," the two wrote last year. "It has been painfully evident over the past few weeks that Paul Schell is not up to the task."

What a difference a year makes.

"I think they did a good job under difficult circumstances," Hanson said. "I think Mayor Schell probably realized what could happen and probably learned from what happened last time, and that's to his credit."

Yesterday, at a press conference held in front of a Christmas carousel in Westlake Park, Schell praised the hundreds of city, county and state police officers who handled the demonstrations -- and the demonstrators, as well.

"I think the city should be proud," Schell said, repeating a familiar theme that he wants Seattle to tolerate lawful expression of opinion while protecting the safety and property of others.

"This time, we were really well-prepared, and so were the protesters," Schell said yesterday.

On Thursday, Schell purposely maintained a low profile, staying at City Hall until about 4 p.m., then going to the police operations center through the evening. He made no public appearances.

"I did not want to provoke anything, and there are people who think -- erroneously -- that I am the one who caused people to be teargassed (last year)," Schell said.

Schell did go late in the evening to Harborview Medical Center to visit Capt. Ron Mochizuki, who suffered a severe eye injury.

"We worked for weeks beforehand to develop policies and strategies, but in the end, this was a police issue. It isn't a mayor's job," Schell said.

Hanson agreed, saying police Chief Gil Kerlikowske "seems to have handled things wonderfully" while Schell, "to his credit, he let his police chief handle the situation."

Kate Joncas, president of the Downtown Seattle Association, also praised both Schell and Kerlikowske.

"It's clear the city learned a lot after last year -- and of course it helps that it was 2,000 (demonstrators), not 50,000."

Although Schell likely didn't win many points among the estimated 2,000 protesters who jammed Westlake Center, it's equally likely that their continued animosity won't cut into his traditional political base. Schell is a former developer and academic, and his backing tends to come from downtown and establishment business interests.

One relationship was strained by the events, however. Late Thursday night Steve Williamson, executive secretary of the King County Labor Council, and two other labor activists were helping lead protests when they were arrested for failing to follow police orders to disperse.

Williamson was one of hundreds of demonstrators pushed north from Westlake Center along Fourth Avenue to the 2200 block, where they were surrounded and arrested. When the demonstrators realized they were trapped, Williamson and others attempted to call Schell to negotiate, offering to call it a night if they were not arrested.

As he was being loaded onto a Metro bus to be taken to jail, the angry labor leader -- a friend of Schell and a member of the mayor's "kitchen Cabinet" -- expressed his displeasure.

"We made it very clear we were peaceful," he said.

Williamson did not respond to requests for comment yesterday, but Schell said Williamson was back on the telephone -- and still angry -- after being released from custody.

Schell praised the labor leaders for helping ease tensions through the day, and said he's urged Williamson to "stay calm and examine what happened."

Asked whether the rift will heal, Schell responded with a shrug.

"We're friends," he said. "I didn't arrest him."

James G. Wright can be reached at 206-448-8062 or jameswright@seattle-pi.com