Far and Away One of the Best Candidates

By Josh Feit, Friday, May 22, 2009 at 9:05 AM
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fizz242

1. At last night’s  46th District Democrats candidate forum in North Seattle, the only candidate to hold up the ‘Yes’ card when asked if they’d ever contributed to a Republican (gasp!) was Robert Rosencrantz. 

I’m reporting this fact not to bust Rosencrantz—at least he’s honest—but to bust on Sally Bagshaw, who held up the ‘No’ card.

Bagshaw, who helped raise money for Republican King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg (her husband has given $900 to Satterberg), has donated $150 to GOP Attorney General Rob McKenna.

P.S. to Robert Rosencrantz:  Despite his conservative politics, former Seattle City Attorney Mark Sidran is not a Republican. But yes,  former K.C. County Prosecutor Norm Maleng is. Rosencrantz has donated $700 and $400 respectively. 

2. I’ll give a bigger report on last night’s forum later, but one other observation for now: Jessie Israel—far and away one of the best candidates of this year’s huge pack (15 candidates)—should switch races. Now. She’s running against popular incumbent Nick Licata. She will not beat Nick Licata. 

She could jump into the race for Richard Conlin’s seat (where she’d have a slightly better chance), or better: She could jump into the race for Richard McIver’s open seat. That’s a packed contest—there’s six candidates vying for the seat—but in addition to being a standout in general, the promising Israel would be the only woman among that mostly lackluster crew. 

3. I ran into some longtime Mayor Nickels’ adversaries last night: Seattle City Council Members Richard Conlin and Nick Licata, and former Seattle City Council Member Peter Steinbrueck. I asked all three if they planned to endorse their colleague Jan Drago against Mayor Nickels. 

Conlin: “I don’t make endorsements when I’m on the ballot.”

Licata: Burst out laughing. (Licata’s been a Drago adversary longer than he’s been a Nickels adversary.)

Steinbrueck: “Not now. I’m not endorsing anybody until after the primary. I want to see if there’s some traction. But she does have the best shot at taking the bastard out.”

4. Given that the qualified field of Democrats running for King County Executive is making it difficult for Democratic voters to choose—PubliCola has asked each campaign to submit an op/ed from a prominent local Democrat supporting their candidate. The series begins later today. 

P.S. to the Hunter campaign: ?

P.P.S. to the Phillips campaign: Got anybody lined up yet?

  • Christi S
    Licata has been a stalwart for transparency. I'd love to hear the narrative turn to that. Jessie?
  • Chad @ 36

    Dude, way to tell it! Seriously though, your forum was the best run of any of the forums this cycle. The candidates actually answered questions instead of just giving opening statements. Nice work! We look forward to competing for the endorsement of the 46th, and would be honored to earn it.

    -Andrew Lewis, Licata 2009
  • Re: #33

    Huh?! Real debate is when people show up to defend what they believe in. I usually speak for myself. What on Earth are you talking about? Contact me off-blog if you have a question or concern. No wonder I've been getting nearly 100% approval for membership decisions. You haven't been there.
  • LH
    I don't know where this rap about Nick comes from. It is completely divorced from reality. Here's a snapshot of the last 3 years:

    In 2007,Nick tied w/ Councilmembers Clark and Godden for being on the winning side of the most votes. Nick voted alone in 2007 on only 2 pieces of legislation.

    In 2008 of scores of pieces of legislation, Licata voted alone on only 3 issues (five separate votes).

    Licata has not once voted alone in 2009 and the single instance this year that he wasn't on the winning side of a vote he was joined by 2 other Councilmembers. Finally, only 3 Councilmembers have won more votes than Licata this year last I counted (about a month ago).
  • eddiew
    renee at 31:
    the streetcar desires of Nickels-Drago-SDOT will probably die of their own fiscal weight when not supported by the billions of Vulcan. there are several strategic flaws in the Nickels-Drago-SDOT approach. First, unlike streetcars in Tacoma and Portland, they did not line up the service subsidy first, but intend to take it from southeast Seattle bus routes in September 2009; in Portland, they use parking revenue to subsidize their streetcar. Second, in Portland, the streetcar line is long enough to penetrate downtown and extend to Portland State University. the Seattle SLU is too short; it does not penetrate downtown Seattle or extend to the University District; as a result, it provides pedestrians too little advantage. It is a toy, a distraction, and a real estate marketing devise for Vulcan. Third, the proposed lines are too short and do not provide enough pedestrian advantage or only substitute for the clean quiet transit mode Seattle already has: the electric trolleybus. They are aimed at trips that could be carried by existing bus routes or could be walk or bike trips.
    You have the germ of a concept in your note. If SDOT wanted to build a useful streetcar, one could be found. It would be longer than the SDOT proposals; it would substitute for a diesel bus route; and, it would complement urban villages and new sidewalks. How about a Interurban redux: extend the SLU line to the Bitterlake urban village via Westlake, Fremont, Phinney Ridge, and Greenwood. Sidewalks are needed along Greenwood north of North 90th Street; Linden Avenue North needs sidewalks too. there is redevelopment potential, especially in Greenwood. Route 5 has been a diesel since 1963. Note the irony in Seattle using the former Interurban ROW along Westlake for free parking.
  • padua
    so Chad thinks he can twist everything to what he "thinks" is our consensus. This is why I do not atten the 46th anymore. NO room for actual debate.
  • Andrew Lewis
    @ 30,

    Feel free to use that cliché' campaign slogon (I think three people are using already this year anyway. If you want to have a larger policy discussion you'll have to use you name, I don't debate mystery people.
  • Guest
    @28 eddiew - Thank you for your comments regarding pedestrian infrastructure and Northgate. I agree with you 200%.

    Many would like to see sidewalks and other pedestrian infrastructure added to any streetcar funding packages. Perhaps this could be done through a Transportation Benefit District. We should think big and should start first with urban villages, the areas being asked to take on the greatest density.

    In terms of Northgate, perhaps the most ambitious thing we could do there would be to find a new owner for the mall (Simon is going through severe cash flow issues right now) and redevelop the site as mixed-use housing/retail/office in the spirit of the transit oriented location that it is and not the rural auto-oriented community that the location once was.
  • Jessie Israel has cultural val
    @ 29 Hi Andrew! Perhaps "Jessie Israel Moving Seattle Forward" would be a more accurate depiction of what she would do on the City Council (and thank for endorsing that slogan--can she quote you on campaign lit? hehe).

    I selected the title because of Nick Licata's classic characterization of the Seattle Sonics as having "zero cultural value." In fact, they engaged in substantial amounts of community service in and around Seattle as well as providing good role models to Seattle kids growing up in one of the premier basketball corridors of the country. In turn, have the "More Important Things" Nick Licata has championed for a over a decade impacted our youth in equally significant ways? Do the kids at Rainier Beach HS or Washingon Middle School even have funding for a theater program? Are our inner city youth engaged in free or low-cost drama camps during the summer? How about after-school programs? Any poetry clubs funded by the city? How is that Key Arena lease looking now that we have few tenants?

    I know Nick tried to walk that back but he was being honest when he said it, regardless if he was trying to come up with a fun, snarky soundbite for the reporter. At that embodies his agenda--narrowly focused and not cognicent of the bigger picture to large segment of his constituency. Maybe Jessie Israel wasn't a fan of Key Arena renovations either, but at least she's aware of the climate around her.
  • @25 "Jessie Israel Has Cultural Values"

    Hey, thanks for the hair shout out! I try, and never really know if it's something people like... thanks for the compliment!

    btw, "Jessie Israel Has Cultural Values"? Really? Is she running for a spot on the Church Council Board? Wouldn't you rather have something like "Jessie Israel Moving Seattle Forward"? Oh well, once again! Thanks for the shout out! And be sure to vote for Nick Licata!
  • eddiew
    Chad: excellent job.

    I am sticking with Licata. We are well-served by having a smart, populist, skeptic on the Council.

    Detached assessory dwelling units should be legalized in all single-family zones. They would be good for the neighborhoods, the householders, and affordable housing. If we are concerned about parking and traffic, we should price and regulate the car, not the number of kitchens on a lot.

    One of the major issues in the 46th District is the lack of sidewalks. Whether they were promised is irrelevant. The issue is how to fund them. The public benefit from curb, gutter, and concrete sidewalk on arterial streets with schools, retail, multifamily housing, and transit service is high. The general city taxpayer should pay a higher portion of arterial sidewalks than local streets pathways. A portion may be paid by LID. local streets may not get full curb, gutter, and sidewalk. SDOT and SPU have done some intermediate projects in the 46th in Broadview and Pinehurst. 46th arterials without sidewalks include Sand Point Way, NE 95th Street, a portion of 15th Avenue NE, a portion of 1st Avenue NE, a portion of Meridian Avenue North, Aurora Avenue North, Greenwood Avenue North, and 3rd Avenue NW.

    The city may be making a big transportation ask in a few years as Nickels has promised to fund more than $900 million in projects related to the deep bore (e.g., seawall, surface streets, streetcar, and utility relocation). Perhaps the ask should be larger and include improvements to the sidewalk network. With the Pedestrian Master Plan, Nickels wants Seattle to be the most walkable city in the US. Well, Greenwood and Aurora avenues North will need sidewalks to fulfill that promise. Other cities provide tough competition.

    The Nickels' suggested upzone in Northgate is far too timid and focuses on the parcels on NE Northgate Way. It should include the mall, 5th Avenue NE parcels, and the area near the NTC.
  • Jessie Israel has cultural val
    @26 By no means did I intend to imply that Nick Licata is the ONLY well-intentioned idealogue standing in the way of progress. Licata is certainly the most liberal, but I think you'd have a hard time getting a "conservative" label to stick to a majority of the council members.
    Josh C, do you support the efforts of the Republican minority in Congress? They are doing essentially the same thing Nick Licata is from the opposite end of the spectrum. The City Council doesn't have a filibuster but you wouldn't know it from the (lack of) results.
  • Josh C
    @25 "It’s well-intentioned idealogues that are the reason Seattle can’t get anything done."

    That's a joke, right? Nick is one vote on a council of 9. One idealogue isn't the reason nothing gets done. It's 8 other moderate to conservative council members who are holding us back from getting the things done that the people Nick works for really need. These council members are in the pockets of downtown seattle interests, why would they ever want to change anything? All the money flows to the downtown developers right now, and they'd like it to stay that way.
  • Jessie Israel has cultural val
    @24, I agree we need people who aren't afraid to stand up for what they believe even if they are the only one, but Nick Licata has become consumed with being a cult-hero for standing pat instead of working with people to find middle ground. There is a delicate balance there that he has ignored throughout his past term on the Council.

    I don't think it's much of an exaggeration when I say "Nick Licata would vote to ban ice cream if someone gave him vanilla when he wanted chocolate." It's well-intentioned idealogues that are the reason Seattle can't get anything done. It took us how many years to do SOMETHING about the viaduct? In the end, nobody really got their way. But the Nick Licata's of the world were more concerned with endlessly debating the subject than tearing down a massive structure that had become an unequivicol hazard to the public.

    Jessie Israel would take on that ice cream issue and come up with the delicious chocolate/vanilla swirl you can get at Costco for like $1.25. Then Nick Licata could talk about how he was against ice cream all along because he was really fighting for the little people who support low-cost frozen yogurt. It's a shell game!!

    And don't lie to Josh or Publicola or the public at-large; you are voting for Nick Licata because Andrew Lewis has great hair. You know it's true! That's why Nick hired him to run his campaign. Marty has no chance while Andrew has the hair-voters locked up in Licata's corner. This is why Jessie Israel needs to stay in this race.
  • 40-year voter
    Chad @22, I became a "registered Democrat" when I filed for PCO and when I gave $$$ to my local district party organization. Don't get hung up on details.

    And "Jessie Israel has cultural value" @20, you're dead wrong on Nick. We need political diversity on City Council (God knows with the all at-large system, getting any kind of minority voice on council is near impossible) and Nick provides that.

    I don't always agree with him, but dammit, I appreciate political leaders with thoughtful ideas who are willing to step outside the usual group-think. His losing vote today may very well lead to prevailing votes later.
  • Jamie K is a wackadoodle
    Yeah, take that Chad! What are you guys thinking over there? Is the 46th LD Democrats a partisan organization or something? WTF!!

    Why SHOULDN'T Democratic party organizations start considering Republican candidates for endorsement? Platform be damned! Screw "issues"--only people with decades of experience are qualified to run things. Just look at the job Bush and Cheney did!! Experience clearly guarantees quality leadership, regardless of what a person may stand for.
  • Re: #21

    That's very interesting that you are a "registered Democrat", Jamie. Where did you go to do that, since voter registration in Washington State is non-partisan?

    There are a large number of organizations like the Muni League and City Club where experience and capabilities trump everything else. I think that's great. It's important to have the voices of those organizations helping us judge the candidates and get the best candidates into office.

    However, the Democratic Party has a different role. Our mission is to enact an agenda, specifically the planks articulated in our Platform and the Resolutions we pass. We support candidates who support our platform, in order to help get that platform enacted into law. I can understand that might be different from what you expect, and of course you're more than welcome to endorse, support and vote for whomever you believe is the best candidate. But please allow us to fulfill our role in politics. If Sally and other candidates are able to convince our members that they will be able to enact the values and planks in our platform better than the other candidates in their race, then they deserve the endorsement and support of the 46th District Democrats. And who that is depends on the members who vote at the endorsement meeting on June 18th.

    That's the game. Game on.
  • Jamie K
    @17: I am so glad to hear the 46th is partaking in the extreme partisanship that has done our country so well over the past 8 years. Creating bitter divides down the aisle truly is the best way to getting anything done.
    I am a registered Democrat, but I will vote for whichever candidate I see as the best person for the job no matter what letter comes after their name on the ballot. Rob McKenna was by far and away a better candidate than his Democratic opponent. Good on Sally for having the foresight to support him instead of bowing under partisan pressure. Our city is not populated entirely by Dems or Repubs. I would be very glad to see someone who has a proven record of bi-partisanship step into office. Sally has my vote, along with all other candidates who are the best person for the position for which they are running. This race is about experience and capabilities, not partisan divides and finger pointing. I hate to break it to you, 46th, but adhering to your outdated, narrow minded views will quickly make you irrelevant to the average voter.
  • Jessie Israel has cultural val
    @ 16 & 19

    Someone has to get that bum Licata out of office. His politics of "just say no if you don't get everything just how you wanted it" is tired, divisive, and counterproductive. We need a collaborator on the City Council, not someone who's agenda is narrow and inflexible.

    Standing on principle is fantastic. But Nick Licata would vote to ban ice cream if someone gave him vanilla when he wanted chocolate.
  • Dan
    Max, is running against Nick what Cathy Allen told her to do? Most people I know agree with Josh, that she's a great candidate in the wrong race.
  • I_know_you
    Shouldn't all the exec candidates have req'd to submit their op eds at the same time to avoid giving others a chance to respond/total leg up?
  • Re: #13

    We asked that question for three reasons. First, we are a partisan organization. We want candidates that support our platform, and we want to support candidates who support other candidates that support our platform. Second, politics is polarized right now to the point that we might as well have asked "have you supported a far right conservative". See my first reason. And third, this is all public information, available from www.pdc.wa.gov. Nothing should be a surprise.

    Re: #14

    We asked different questions of each position because we wanted to provide the candidates with an understanding that we are not one-issue activists. There is a huge range of issues that we keep track and care about. With the number of candidates going for these four seats, we would have been able to only ask three questions of everyone, and that would not have given us as members the ability to really judge which candidate to support. Sort of like seeing reply after reply of "me too" on an email list. By asking different questions, we were able to highlight many more issues and provide more opportunity for a candidate to stand out on subjects and issues where they are strong.

    The questions were developed by a joint effort of the Elections Committee and Program Committee, with the final vetting of the brainstorm done by myself, Gerry Pollet, Sarajane Siegfreidt and Betty Means. Jeff Smith from the 41st was there as well as an observer. There was no intended bias towards any of the candidates.
  • Max Israel
    Just a quick comment about Jessie's choice of seat. (Jessie is my sister...clearly Jess got the deep end of the gene pool.) She might actually agree with you about another choice being perhaps more expedient. What I do know is that expediency wasn't her reason for choosing to run against Nick.
  • @13,

    I have to disagree. I think campaign contributions are an important part of someone's profile. Contributing money to someone is serious decision and voters should take that history into account when judging candidates' records.

    I'm glad the 46th District Democrats asked that question.
  • I live in the 46th
    Chad -

    Why did you ask candidates for council different questions for each position? There seems to be great bias in the choice of questions. Don't you want to know where everyone stands on all of these issues? Also, who wrote the questions?
  • Northgate's Keeper
    What is it with people and campaign contributions? I was at this forum last night as a member of the 46th. First of all, the question was inappropriate. So what if someone gives money to a Republican campaign? In Obama's spirit of bi-partisanship, what should this matter? If the candidate is the best person for the job, we should support them, REGARDLESS of party. Furthermore, we should not blame Sally Bagshaw for her mistake. If the check was written by her husband, and she gave to Lambert's campaign almost 5 years ago, I see it as a minor error. To distract from this race with petty contribution banter is misguided, JOSH.
  • Jeff
    Chad, did anyone record their yes/no answers? I'd love to see a list.
  • Thanks Jason! I'm looking forward to June 2nd at the Seattle Labor Temple, 6:30 start time. County Exec, Port of Seattle and Seattle Mayor. Should be as good if not better!
  • Sally Bagshaw
    Sorry Josh. On all fronts. No kidding.
  • Jason B
    Hey Chad - great job last night. Lots of positive reports back.
  • To see a list of the questions that were asked and a description of the format, here's a page on 46dems.com:

    http://46dems.com/2009/candidateforum521.php
  • One other error Sally: My name is Josh not John.
  • Sally Bagshaw
    John is right. I was wrong. My family donated $150 to Rob McKenna's campaign in 2007. This check was written by my husband, but it was written on our joint checking account and it shows up as such in the PDC report. I also contributed $40 to my friend Kathy Lambert's campaign 4.5 years ago. I was wrong to answer the question "Have you contributed in the last 5 years to a Republican" as I did. I definitely should have said YES when asked the question and will do so in the future. My humble apologies, I am truly embarrassed by my error.
  • Even though this post was only a cursory wrap up (and I'll do a longer one later), I certainly should mention that Mayor Greg Nickels did not show up last night.

    He was @ the SIFF opening night ceremonies.
  • Timothy
    I agree with the idea that one of the County Council candidates should switch to the Mayoral race. And, despite being his neighbor, I'd prefer it were Dow that made the jump.

    What's going to get interesting with the introduction of Drago to the race is now it is a question of splitting support. Drago's entrance has to be seen as incredible news for McGinn. Insofar as Drago splits Nickel's vote (and he dilutes her votes)...the game now is to get to "top two" and that becomes much easier with Drago in the race.
  • Steinbrueck's going off to the Other Coast on a fellowship.

    I wonder whether one of the two Seattle-based KC Executive candidates would consider a late switch to the mayoral race. I guess I mean Larry, because there's no way Dow would ever go up against his neighbor Greg. Still, having those two filling those two positions would be a damn sight better than what we're likely to get.
  • Steinbrueck really called Nickels a bastard? Why in hell isn't *he* running?
  • Craig
    I second the comments in this article regarding Ms. Israel; I have been nothing but impressed with her command of the issues and vision for our City.
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