City Councilman Compton set to announce retirement

Seattle City Councilman Jim Compton plans to announce his retirement from the council today, a full two years before his term was supposed to expire, a fellow councilman confirmed late Tuesday.

STORY UPDATE

Compton made it official at a Wednesday morning news conference. Read the story

Rumors about Compton's early departure were confirmed by colleague Nick Licata when reached at his home Tuesday evening. Licata said he had heard that Compton was planning an announcement for today, but didn't want to say anything further until then.

Compton did not return messages left on his home and cell phones Tuesday.

It is not clear why he decided to step down now. Licata would not confirm word in Democratic Party circles that Compton decided to accept a Fulbright scholarship to study in Romania.

Council President Jan Drago said Tuesday night she plans this afternoon to outline the initial process for filling the vacancy.

Councilwoman Jean Godden said she couldn't confirm that Compton was resigning, but she added that she had heard he was expected to make some sort of announcement today.

"This will be quite interesting; I am happy for him," said Godden. "I am surprised, shocked really. My impression is that it happened very quickly."

Compton, 64, was first elected to the council in 1999 after a long career in journalism.

He spent 35 years as a journalist, most recently as correspondent for PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, according to his City Council Web page biography. He also worked as a correspondent for NBC News from 1977 to 1979, reporting from the Middle East and then as a war correspondent for the TV network.

Later, Compton returned to KING/5, where in 1985 he created and anchored The Compton Report, a weekly news feature program.

Compton previously was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for study in Romania in 1969-70.

While on the council, Compton pushed for new leadership and other changes at Seattle City Light, and has led the council in technology and environmental issues, especially in connection with the city's utilities.

Compton launched the city's broadband and telecommunications task force to explore the possibility of creating a municipally owned wireless system.

He got himself in hot water politically before his 2003 re-election, in part for taking campaign contributions from people involved in the "Strippergate" scandal over the zoning of a Lake City strip club parking lot.

He also failed to disclose that he took a ride on Paul Allen's private jet and accepted tickets to see the billionaire's basketball team, the Trail Blazers, play in Portland.

Councilman Richard McIver, reached at his home late Tuesday, said he hadn't heard the news of Compton's upcoming departure.

"If that's the case, I'll certainly miss him," McIver said. "He's brought a reasonable head to the council. He's very thoughtful."

McIver said that while some critics have claimed that Compton has not been as present since his 2003 re-election, "he's certainly carried his share of the load."

Said McIver: "If you find yourself focusing on other things, you want to do the honorable thing and step aside. You don't want a vacant chair there."

P-I reporter Sam Skolnik can be reached at 206-448-8334 or samskolnik@seattlepi.com.

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