SPOKANE, Wash.– A portrait of Jim Chase, Spokane’s first Black mayor, was unveiled today by the City of Spokane and City Council President Betsy Wilkerson.
The portrait will be displayed outside the City Council Chambers.
Chase, who moved to Spokane in 1934, began his career by shining shoes before opening an auto-body shop that supported Fairchild AFB during WWII. He was elected to the City Council in 1975 and as mayor in 1981, he was known for his advocacy and the “1% for Art” program, which continues to benefit the city. Chase chose not to seek re-election in 1985 and died due to cancer in 1987.
