Viva La Cola!

Founded in January 2009, PubliCola is a blog about Seattle written by journalists who are dedicated to non-partisan, original daily reporting that prioritizes a balanced approach to news. Started by longtime local editor and award-winning reporter Josh Feit, PubliCola is the first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

People were afraid that blogging would change journalism. Instead, we believe journalism can change blogging. Twenty-first century journalism may look and feel different, and yes Erica isn't afraid to get cranky, but we're committed to making sure online news still delivers independent, reliable, even-keeled coverage. And most of all, we're committed to making sure the coverage sparks honest civic debate.

Bringing you cola for the people, PubliCola is named after Publius Valerius PubliCola, the alias for the authors of the Federalist Papers—the original bloggers.

The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Sims Said to Accept Post in Obama Administration

King County Executive Ron Sims has accepted a post in the Obama administration, according to a source in D.C. Details are sketchy, but Sims, who has been KC Executive since 1996, is reportedly going to D.C. for a job at HUD, the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Calls to the Sims office were not immediately returned this morning. And of course, I have a Facebook message into Sims. 

The news would not only shake up the race for King County Executive, which was shaping up to be a throwdown between longtime King County Council Member Larry Phillips and Sims, who was set on running for a fourth term this year, but it would likely set off a free-for-all among the council members for Sims’ immediate replacement. 

Sims, who ran for U.S. Senate in 1994, losing to Republican Slade Gorton, and for Governor in 2004, losing in the Democratic primary to then-Attorney General Christine Gregoire, initially backed Hillary Clinton in the heated 2008 race for the Democratic Presidential nomination.


  • http://www.kirkdorffer.com/ontheroadto2008/ Daniel K

    Interesting. I wonder if we’ll be hearing about other local politicos finding jobs in D.C.

    Any rumors?

  • http://www.kirkdorffer.com/ontheroadto2008/ Daniel K

    Interesting. I wonder if we’ll be hearing about other local politicos finding jobs in D.C.

    Any rumors?

  • Kato

    Goodbye, good riddance!

  • Kato

    Goodbye, good riddance!

  • Wilford Brimley

    Gee, I wonder how you got this scoop.

  • Wilford Brimley

    Gee, I wonder how you got this scoop.

  • busdrivermike

    I wonder what Sims would say at a confirmation hearing about shifting dedicated transit taxes into the general fund?

    He admitted to it, let him explain it to some conservative Republican Senators.

  • busdrivermike

    I wonder what Sims would say at a confirmation hearing about shifting dedicated transit taxes into the general fund?

    He admitted to it, let him explain it to some conservative Republican Senators.

  • Seabecker

    Bad news for the USA. Great news for King County!

  • Seabecker

    Bad news for the USA. Great news for King County!

  • Wilford Brimley
  • Wilford Brimley
  • TIIN

    Good riddance to the king of incompetence and tax hikes. Too bad he won’t be leaving the country.

  • TIIN

    Good riddance to the king of incompetence and tax hikes. Too bad he won’t be leaving the country.

  • CANDACE ONEILL

    The rudeness of the above comments astounds me. Executive Sims has been outstandstanding. His performance should be applauded. Selfishly, I hope he remains in Seattle but I would not blame him if he wanted to get away from simpletons like these bloggers.

  • CANDACE ONEILL

    The rudeness of the above comments astounds me. Executive Sims has been outstandstanding. His performance should be applauded. Selfishly, I hope he remains in Seattle but I would not blame him if he wanted to get away from simpletons like these bloggers.

  • RC

    Candace…..you must be new around here!

  • RC

    Candace…..you must be new around here!

  • Paladin

    Candace, I’d love to live in your world.
    Mine is filled with an exuctive bent on catering to a select few at the expense of the rural residents. Of imposing his social engineering on the rest of us and of being a far left demagogue.

  • Paladin

    Candace, I’d love to live in your world.
    Mine is filled with an exuctive bent on catering to a select few at the expense of the rural residents. Of imposing his social engineering on the rest of us and of being a far left demagogue.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    Glad to see a thread starting up here. A request: Keep it civil.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    Glad to see a thread starting up here. A request: Keep it civil.

  • MF

    You know, if all rumors reported on blogs were true, Tim Ceis would be president of the Port of Seattle today!

  • MF

    You know, if all rumors reported on blogs were true, Tim Ceis would be president of the Port of Seattle today!

  • tcon

    Maybe he’ll get his chance to build some sorely needed national bike paths.

  • tcon

    Maybe he’ll get his chance to build some sorely needed national bike paths.

  • Duffman

    Fooling the public like that with unsubstantiated rumors is not demonstrating ‘good home training’. :)

  • Duffman

    Fooling the public like that with unsubstantiated rumors is not demonstrating ‘good home training’. :)

  • busdrivermike

    It took me 3 minutes to really ponder whether I should vote for Gregoire for Governor, or just leave it blank.

    It will not take me more time than a stroke of a pen to vote for a Republican for KC exec next time around.

    Time to drain the swamp.

  • busdrivermike

    It took me 3 minutes to really ponder whether I should vote for Gregoire for Governor, or just leave it blank.

    It will not take me more time than a stroke of a pen to vote for a Republican for KC exec next time around.

    Time to drain the swamp.

  • Seattlite

    Busdriver Mike — please tell us what you know about when funds were improperly shifted to the general fund, and how much. Please fill us in with some details — I’m really curious! Thanks!

  • Seattlite

    Busdriver Mike — please tell us what you know about when funds were improperly shifted to the general fund, and how much. Please fill us in with some details — I’m really curious! Thanks!

  • asdf

    bent on catering to a select few at the expense of the rural residents

    Wouldn’t allowing the filling of wetlands and clearcutting of steep hillsides be catering to a “select few” wealthy landowners in rural areas, at the expense of all King County residents?

  • asdf

    bent on catering to a select few at the expense of the rural residents

    Wouldn’t allowing the filling of wetlands and clearcutting of steep hillsides be catering to a “select few” wealthy landowners in rural areas, at the expense of all King County residents?

  • John Smith

    If this turns out to be a false rumor, I will strongly suspect you are publishing hyperbole to get Publicola on the blogosphere radar.

    If it turns out to be true, I’ll still suspect the same.

  • John Smith

    If this turns out to be a false rumor, I will strongly suspect you are publishing hyperbole to get Publicola on the blogosphere radar.

    If it turns out to be true, I’ll still suspect the same.

  • busdrivermike

    Dude, I am not alive to do research for you, or be your personal assistant. It is public knowledge that Ron Sims admitted to in the Seattle Times awhile ago. It is called “google”, use it.

  • busdrivermike

    Dude, I am not alive to do research for you, or be your personal assistant. It is public knowledge that Ron Sims admitted to in the Seattle Times awhile ago. It is called “google”, use it.

  • John Bailo

    Please, siphon off all these featherbedders to a home in DC.

  • John Bailo

    Please, siphon off all these featherbedders to a home in DC.

  • Harolynne Bobis

    I’ve known Ron Sims for at least 15 years and think he is one of the most effective public servants Seattle has had.

    But I also understand why some people don’t think so. Too bad.

    I think King County will lose with a Republican County Executive and frankly, I want a leader who leads – not one who just says “can’t do it.”

  • Harolynne Bobis

    I’ve known Ron Sims for at least 15 years and think he is one of the most effective public servants Seattle has had.

    But I also understand why some people don’t think so. Too bad.

    I think King County will lose with a Republican County Executive and frankly, I want a leader who leads – not one who just says “can’t do it.”

  • Seattlite

    Thanks, Busdriver Mike. Knowing it’s in the Times will help my search. “Sims” and “transit taxes” are pretty broad search terms. And I’m not a dude, by the way. But I am hooked up with people who watchdog these types of things. I’m on your side. So I’ll chalk up your rudeness to having a bad day — hope you feel better now.

  • Seattlite

    Thanks, Busdriver Mike. Knowing it’s in the Times will help my search. “Sims” and “transit taxes” are pretty broad search terms. And I’m not a dude, by the way. But I am hooked up with people who watchdog these types of things. I’m on your side. So I’ll chalk up your rudeness to having a bad day — hope you feel better now.

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    Неплохая подборка в блоге, хорошо сделано, автору спс.

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    Неплохая подборка в блоге, хорошо сделано, автору спс.

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    i don’t true nothing about sims

  • http://www.cdkeyhouse.com rafael ascanio

    i don’t true nothing about sims

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