See Ya

David Heurtel, who has worked for Seattle Center as a marketing and deputy director since 2005, plans to leave his post sometime this fall. The move comes during a tumultuous time at the center when plans for its revival by the Century 21 Committee have raised concerns about open space and a proposal to raze Memorial Stadium has raised the ire of Bumbershoot promoters. But Heurtel says simply that it is time for him to move on.

"There's a lot of things going on at the center. I wouldn't pinpoint my decision to one event or one thing," he says. "I started the process a few weeks ago. Thought it was a good time for me to move on." 

Heurtel is credited with helping to bring the Vera Project and the Seattle International Film Festival to the aging center and often in the news as its spokesman. Fuze Music owner Dave Meinert, who served on the board for the Vera Project says his exit is a big loss for the center. "He's a visionary and an entrepreneur, but probably not a good bureaucrat," he says. "Seattle Center is a city-run thing with rules and processes. Visionary people who want to move things forward get frustrated with the slow pace of the bureaucracy." Meinert says he hopes Heurtel stays in Seattle and stays involved in a non-profit, arts-type organization.

Heurtel says he's not sure what's next. He'll stay at Seattle Center at least through September.