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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.

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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.

Extra Fizz: The Fighting 41st

News   June 29, 2009 at 11:11 am Josh Feit

I just spoke with Jeff Smith, the chair of the 41st District Democrats. (The 41st includes Mercer Island, Bellevue, Newport Hills, Eastgate, Newcastle, and Factoria).

Rumors involving Smith have been swirling about the 41st District July 18 meeting. As we’ve reported before, Smith did not allow King County Council Member Dow Constantine, who’s running for King County Executive, to speak at the 41st, and some members objected to that decision. In fact, one member of the endorsement committee, Sonja Rossman, resigned her position and—after an alleged argument over the endorsement process on the night of the July 18th meeting at an Azteca restaurant later in the evening—filed a police report containing allegations against Smith. That same night, Smith confirms, there were “a number of [other] difficulties” that resulted in other police reports.  (I’ve got a public records request into the Bellevue Police Department for the reports.)

“Apparently there was too much testosterone,” says Smith, who also confirmed that Rossman filed a police report about him and the alleged incident at Azteca.

Rossman  referred PubliCola to her attorney, saying only: “This is very difficult situation. I never expected this.”

The police report about Rossman and Smith involves an incident that allegedly took place at a Bellevue Azteca restaurant after the meeting.

“There was no altercation,” Smith told PubliCola. “There was a police report filed. They called me and they said it’s obviously not a case of assault.”

Smith called Rossman, who is elderly, “a very delicate person.”

Meanwhile, there is reportedly a recall effort circulating to remove Smith as chair. Former 41st vice chair and member, Carol Friends, referred me to a 41st District member named Rich Erwin who she said is dealing with that issue. Erwin had no comment at this time.

Smith himself told PubliCola: “I’ve heard rumors about that, but until I see it, I will hold my peace.”


  • swatter

    Hey, I thought only Republicans ate their own. NOT!!! Durning v. Durkan circa 1975-79

  • swatter

    Hey, I thought only Republicans ate their own. NOT!!! Durning v. Durkan circa 1975-79

  • swatter

    Hey, I thought only Republicans ate their own. NOT!!! Durning v. Durkan circa 1975-79

  • Hobgoblin

    Huh. Meetings in stuffy rooms with bad coffee and stale cookies, debating Roberts Rules arcana to bestow endorsements that no one outside of the room will observe on beautiful evenings that could otherwise be spent with friends or family… such a process doesn’t attract the participation of a community’s Best & Brightest? Why would that be?

  • Hobgoblin

    Huh. Meetings in stuffy rooms with bad coffee and stale cookies, debating Roberts Rules arcana to bestow endorsements that no one outside of the room will observe on beautiful evenings that could otherwise be spent with friends or family… such a process doesn’t attract the participation of a community’s Best & Brightest? Why would that be?

  • Hobgoblin

    Huh. Meetings in stuffy rooms with bad coffee and stale cookies, debating Roberts Rules arcana to bestow endorsements that no one outside of the room will observe on beautiful evenings that could otherwise be spent with friends or family… such a process doesn’t attract the participation of a community’s Best & Brightest? Why would that be?

  • Hugh

    I love verbal passive-voice disassociation… “Apparently there was too much testosterone,” “there were ‘a number of [other] difficulties,’” i.e., “apparently when I acted like a colossal asshole, several people in the vicinity at the time subsequently believed that I am, indeed, a colossal asshole.”

    Good luck, fightin’ 41st, in recalling this jerk.

  • Hugh

    I love verbal passive-voice disassociation… “Apparently there was too much testosterone,” “there were ‘a number of [other] difficulties,’” i.e., “apparently when I acted like a colossal asshole, several people in the vicinity at the time subsequently believed that I am, indeed, a colossal asshole.”

    Good luck, fightin’ 41st, in recalling this jerk.

  • Hugh

    I love verbal passive-voice disassociation… “Apparently there was too much testosterone,” “there were ‘a number of [other] difficulties,’” i.e., “apparently when I acted like a colossal asshole, several people in the vicinity at the time subsequently believed that I am, indeed, a colossal asshole.”

    Good luck, fightin’ 41st, in recalling this jerk.

  • Aaron

    Carol Friends is not the 41st Vice Chair.

    She was elected to that position in January, but resigned in February (or March?).

  • Aaron

    Carol Friends is not the 41st Vice Chair.

    She was elected to that position in January, but resigned in February (or March?).

  • Aaron

    Carol Friends is not the 41st Vice Chair.

    She was elected to that position in January, but resigned in February (or March?).

  • http://www.homesteadbook.com/blog David

    Is this the same Jeff Smith who was married to Karen Marchioro?

  • http://www.homesteadbook.com/blog David

    Is this the same Jeff Smith who was married to Karen Marchioro?

  • http://www.homesteadbook.com/blog David

    Is this the same Jeff Smith who was married to Karen Marchioro?

  • Dan

    It is!

  • Dan

    It is!

  • Dan

    It is!

  • deep throat

    Smith’s claim that there was “no altercation” is a flat out lie.

    Ms. Rossman, although 71, is anything but delicate.

  • deep throat

    Smith’s claim that there was “no altercation” is a flat out lie.

    Ms. Rossman, although 71, is anything but delicate.

  • deep throat

    Smith’s claim that there was “no altercation” is a flat out lie.

    Ms. Rossman, although 71, is anything but delicate.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @4,

    Carol Friends is listed as vice chair on the official LDs website. That’s where I got her number.

    Weird, I referred to her as vice chair during my reporting (talking to her, Jeff Smith, and others).

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @4,

    Carol Friends is listed as vice chair on the official LDs website. That’s where I got her number.

    Weird, I referred to her as vice chair during my reporting (talking to her, Jeff Smith, and others).

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @4,

    Carol Friends is listed as vice chair on the official LDs website. That’s where I got her number.

    Weird, I referred to her as vice chair during my reporting (talking to her, Jeff Smith, and others).

  • deep throat

    @8,

    Ms. Friends was the first casualty of Mr. Smith’s management style.

    For confirmation of the “altercation”, talk to the Azteca employee that stepped in to defend Ms. Rossman and ordered Mr. Smith to leave the premises.

    I wonder why he did that if there was “no altercation”?

  • deep throat

    @8,

    Ms. Friends was the first casualty of Mr. Smith’s management style.

    For confirmation of the “altercation”, talk to the Azteca employee that stepped in to defend Ms. Rossman and ordered Mr. Smith to leave the premises.

    I wonder why he did that if there was “no altercation”?

  • deep throat

    @8,

    Ms. Friends was the first casualty of Mr. Smith’s management style.

    For confirmation of the “altercation”, talk to the Azteca employee that stepped in to defend Ms. Rossman and ordered Mr. Smith to leave the premises.

    I wonder why he did that if there was “no altercation”?

  • Aaron

    @8,
    Where are you looking??

    http://41dems.org/contact.html
    lists Marie Brooks as Vice Chair, and has a “Last Updated” of late February at the bottom.

  • Aaron

    @8,
    Where are you looking??

    http://41dems.org/contact.html
    lists Marie Brooks as Vice Chair, and has a “Last Updated” of late February at the bottom.

  • Aaron

    @8,
    Where are you looking??

    http://41dems.org/contact.html
    lists Marie Brooks as Vice Chair, and has a “Last Updated” of late February at the bottom.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit
  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit
  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit
  • chloecat

    @3 – I like your style!

    @9 I’ll add that my recollection is that Mr. Smith removed Ms. Rossman from her position as chair of the endorsement committee, not that she resigned — and it was before the Meeting That Spawned Three Police Reports.

  • chloecat

    @3 – I like your style!

    @9 I’ll add that my recollection is that Mr. Smith removed Ms. Rossman from her position as chair of the endorsement committee, not that she resigned — and it was before the Meeting That Spawned Three Police Reports.

  • chloecat

    @3 – I like your style!

    @9 I’ll add that my recollection is that Mr. Smith removed Ms. Rossman from her position as chair of the endorsement committee, not that she resigned — and it was before the Meeting That Spawned Three Police Reports.

  • Saleemah

    This is a great example of the need for fresh perspective in the parties. Just because you were married to an old matriarch and have been around since the dinosaur era doesnt mean you are what’s best for the party, or even can claim to represent the mainstream anymore. Its too bad the Young Dems don’t do a better job of feeding their members into the regular organizations when they no longer qualify as “young.” (And vice versa.) Maybe if the did there’d be enough people to choose from to avoid such childishness.

  • Saleemah

    This is a great example of the need for fresh perspective in the parties. Just because you were married to an old matriarch and have been around since the dinosaur era doesnt mean you are what’s best for the party, or even can claim to represent the mainstream anymore. Its too bad the Young Dems don’t do a better job of feeding their members into the regular organizations when they no longer qualify as “young.” (And vice versa.) Maybe if the did there’d be enough people to choose from to avoid such childishness.

  • Saleemah

    This is a great example of the need for fresh perspective in the parties. Just because you were married to an old matriarch and have been around since the dinosaur era doesnt mean you are what’s best for the party, or even can claim to represent the mainstream anymore. Its too bad the Young Dems don’t do a better job of feeding their members into the regular organizations when they no longer qualify as “young.” (And vice versa.) Maybe if the did there’d be enough people to choose from to avoid such childishness.

  • Demitasse

    Anyone who has ever observed Ms. Rossman knows that “delicate” is not a word that can reasonably be used to describe her. She is a strong and dynamic woman who shares her opinions and wholeheartedly embraced her appointment as chair of the endorsement committee. She did as thorough a job as she was able to do given the limitations placed on her by Mr. Smith and his ridiculous refusal to allow one of the 4 very qualified candidates for KCE to speak to the 41st. Mr. Smith is quite simply a bully. He has used his position to push his own agenda and failed miserably to support the 41st. Recall away!

  • Demitasse

    Anyone who has ever observed Ms. Rossman knows that “delicate” is not a word that can reasonably be used to describe her. She is a strong and dynamic woman who shares her opinions and wholeheartedly embraced her appointment as chair of the endorsement committee. She did as thorough a job as she was able to do given the limitations placed on her by Mr. Smith and his ridiculous refusal to allow one of the 4 very qualified candidates for KCE to speak to the 41st. Mr. Smith is quite simply a bully. He has used his position to push his own agenda and failed miserably to support the 41st. Recall away!

  • chloecat

    @13 – from the gossip that’s floating around, those in favor of removal are mostly women and younger* men, while it’s the older men who support Mr. Smith. It will be a refreshing day when the ol’ boys network doesn’t automatically get people what they want.

    *Not knowing everyone’s age, I can’t say where the line between older and younger falls — it’s possibly somewhere in the 50s.

  • chloecat

    @13 – from the gossip that’s floating around, those in favor of removal are mostly women and younger* men, while it’s the older men who support Mr. Smith. It will be a refreshing day when the ol’ boys network doesn’t automatically get people what they want.

    *Not knowing everyone’s age, I can’t say where the line between older and younger falls — it’s possibly somewhere in the 50s.

  • chloecat

    @13 – from the gossip that’s floating around, those in favor of removal are mostly women and younger* men, while it’s the older men who support Mr. Smith. It will be a refreshing day when the ol’ boys network doesn’t automatically get people what they want.

    *Not knowing everyone’s age, I can’t say where the line between older and younger falls — it’s possibly somewhere in the 50s.

  • Carol Friends

    Josh,

    I apologize if, at any time in our conversation, I gave you the impression that I was still Vice Chair of the 41st.

    As I recall in our conversation, you did not ask and I did not say that I was. Several people have called me when they could not reach Jeff and I have, as a courtesy, referred them to the correct source or given them Jeff’s correct phone numbers.

    In the past, it has been my intention not to spread anything about my leaving, hence my not saying anything. I will speak when it is appropriate.

    Carol Friends

  • Carol Friends

    Josh,

    I apologize if, at any time in our conversation, I gave you the impression that I was still Vice Chair of the 41st.

    As I recall in our conversation, you did not ask and I did not say that I was. Several people have called me when they could not reach Jeff and I have, as a courtesy, referred them to the correct source or given them Jeff’s correct phone numbers.

    In the past, it has been my intention not to spread anything about my leaving, hence my not saying anything. I will speak when it is appropriate.

    Carol Friends