James Everett Chase

James Everett Chase
35th Mayor of Spokane, Washington
In office 1982–1986
Preceded by	Ron Bair
Succeeded by	Vicki McNeill
Personal details
Born	March 29, 1914 Wharton, Texas
Died	Spokane, Washington
Spouse(s)	Eleanor Barrow Chase (1918–2002)
Profession	Politician
Religion	Episcopal

James Everett Chase (March 29, 1914 – May 19, 1987) was an American politician. He was elected mayor of Spokane, Washington by a landslide 62 percent to 38 percent margin in 1981, becoming Spokane's first African American mayor. Prior to his election as mayor, Chase was a longtime city council member, a seat which he won in 1975, becoming the first African American city council member in Spokane's history. Chase is famed for the Chase Youth Commission, a group advocating youth issues within Spokane, including the Chase Youth Awards and the Chase Youth issues forum. The youth commission is considered as a city commission and allows 8 adults and 7 youth to join every year. Chase Middle School in Spokane is named after him. Note: Daniel K. Oliver was erroneously cited in the 1979 history of the Black presence in Spokane, funded by the NAACP, as being the city's first black councilman in 1896-1897. This error has since been corrected and reported to the Washington State Historical Society.