UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                      PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                                    02/16/05
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

                               SAFECO CORPORATION
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in Charter)

           WASHINGTON              1-6563             91-0742146
         (State or other        (Commission           (IRS Employer
         jurisdiction of        File Number)        Identification No.)
         incorporation)

                     Safeco Plaza, Seattle, Washington    98185
              (Address of principal executive officers) (Zip Code)

                                 (206) 545-5000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if  the  Form 8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation to the registrant under any of the
following provisions:


|_|  Written  communications  pursuant  to  Rule 425  under the  Securities  Act
     (17 CFR 230.425)

|_|  Soliciting   material  pursuant  to  Rule 14a-12  under  the  Exchange  Act
     (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

|_|  Pre-commencement   communications   pursuant  to  Rule 14d-2(b)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

|_|  Pre-commencement   communications   pursuant  to  Rule 13e-4(c)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal  Officers;  Election of Directors;
Appointment  of Principal  Officers

On February  16,  2005,  Safeco's  Board of  Directors  appointed  Gary Locke as
director.    Mr.  Locke  will  serve as a Class I  director  and will  stand for
election at our 2005  shareholders  meeting with incumbent  directors  Joseph W.
Brown, Phyllis J. Campbell and Kerry Killinger.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

Exhibit 99.1 - Press release  "Former  Washington  Gov. Gary Locke  Appointed to
Safeco Board of Directors" dated February 18, 2005.





Signature

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                      SAFECO CORPORATION
                                      --------------------------------------
                                      Registrant

    Dated: February 18, 2005
                                      /s/ Stephanie Daley-Watson
                                      --------------------------------------
                                      Stephanie Daley-Watson
                                      Vice President and Secretary