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.

x close
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.

Hutchison Campaign Manager has Strong GOP Ties

News   June 3, 2009 at 2:25 pm Josh Feit

PubliCola has found FEC records showing that Susan  Hutchison’s campaign manager, Jordan McCarran, has worked for Mike Huckabee and Sen Sam Brownback. 

Whoops.

Hutchison, the former KIRO News anchor who’s running for King County Executive, likes to downplay her Republican credentials.

Indeed, when asked point blank by the press recently if Hutchison was a Republican, McCarran said: “She’s an independent thinker.” 

Cute. But PubliCola also found that McCarran works for Dresner, Wickers & Associates, a political consulting firm whose clients include Minnesota “Sen.” Norm Coleman and Washington state’s own conservative building industry lobby, the BIAW, which campaigned heartily for GOP gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi.

I have a call into Hutchison’s campaign to ask why, if she’s not a Republican, she’s using such a partisan operative.


  • 5c

    Wow – throw Limbaugh in there somewhere and you have pretty much all the ghouls. Geez.

  • 5c

    Wow – throw Limbaugh in there somewhere and you have pretty much all the ghouls. Geez.

  • Mikos

    I don’t think this is news to your readers. It may be to those older (much) who fondly remember her vacuous smile as she anchored KIRO news.

  • Mikos

    I don’t think this is news to your readers. It may be to those older (much) who fondly remember her vacuous smile as she anchored KIRO news.

  • fredster

    When, or if, she returns the call, could also ask when the “Rose Garden” campaign strategy will end?

  • sallymac

    another GOP turd…

  • sallymac

    another GOP turd…

  • Martha

    Why is the mainstream media letting her get away with a campaign in hiding? When will she come out?

  • Martha

    Why is the mainstream media letting her get away with a campaign in hiding? When will she come out?

  • swatter

    Sheesh, Josh, as successful as the Republican campaign people have been in King County, you would have shouted out in joy that she chose to work with those types. If I were a Republican, I would have hired a successful manager and that would mean a Democrat.

  • swatter

    Sheesh, Josh, as successful as the Republican campaign people have been in King County, you would have shouted out in joy that she chose to work with those types. If I were a Republican, I would have hired a successful manager and that would mean a Democrat.

  • fredster

    When, or if, she returns the call, could also ask when the “Rose Garden” campaign strategy will end?