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.

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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.

PubliCola Picks. Cheat Sheet Version.

News   August 3, 2009 at 5:23 pm PublicolaPicks

To recap: Here’s the full list of PubliCola’s picks for the August 18th Primary:

bigpics1

King County Executive: Ross Hunter

King County Council Position 9: Reagan Dunn

Seattle Mayor: Mike McGinn

Seattle City Council Position 4: David Bloom

Seattle City Council Position 6: Nick Licata

Seattle City Council Position 8: Mike O’Brien

Seattle Referendum No. 1 (Green Bag Fee): Yes

Seattle Port Commission Pos. 3: Rob Holland

Seattle Port Commission Pos. 4: Max Vekich

Seattle School Board District 5: Mary Bass

Seattle School Board District 7: Betty Patu

Washington State Court of Appeals: Anne Ellington

Editor’s note: Full disclosure re: endorsement process here .

And thanks for the all the comments on the endodrsements today—there’s well over 100. Great discussions going in all the threads.


  • Nater

    Very good day’s work (with the possible exception of passing on Sally Bagshaw). Where can I buy y’all a beer?

  • Nater

    Very good day’s work (with the possible exception of passing on Sally Bagshaw). Where can I buy y’all a beer?

  • Progressive Prism

    The 2010 Congressional elections will determine the redistricting of our House of Representatives. I must be a very selfish, idealistic Democrat, because I am not supporting Ross Hunter until he announces he’s running against Reichart, around this October.

  • Progressive Prism

    The 2010 Congressional elections will determine the redistricting of our House of Representatives. I must be a very selfish, idealistic Democrat, because I am not supporting Ross Hunter until he announces he’s running against Reichart, around this October.

  • Christi S

    Disagree with a few of your choice, gang, but much appreciate all the hard work! Thanks!

  • Christi S

    Disagree with a few of your choice, gang, but much appreciate all the hard work! Thanks!

  • Guest

    I’m surprised you aren’t writing in Stephanie Pure for city council.

  • seandr

    I’m surprised you aren’t writing in Stephanie Pure for city council.

  • Mrs. Y

    My goodness…I disagree with ya’ll on EVERY city race and KC Executive. At least we agree on the Bag tax, Port and Ellington.

  • Mrs. Y

    My goodness…I disagree with ya’ll on EVERY city race and KC Executive. At least we agree on the Bag tax, Port and Ellington.

  • http://votingforjudges.org/ jessie riley

    Thoughtful choices– Judge Ellington is a great choice.. Confirm by going to votingforjudges.org

  • http://votingforjudges.org jessie riley

    Thoughtful choices– Judge Ellington is a great choice.. Confirm by going to votingforjudges.org

  • Very disappointed

    Wow!! All boys for the boy jobs (politicians, ports), all girls for the girl jobs (school board, judge — like Judge Judy, right?). And the token minorities are in the least powerful positions!! How quaint, yet horrifying!

  • Very disappointed

    Wow!! All boys for the boy jobs (politicians, ports), all girls for the girl jobs (school board, judge — like Judge Judy, right?). And the token minorities are in the least powerful positions!! How quaint, yet horrifying!

  • Undecided for sure

    I clicked on the image believing it was a jump to the story.
    That was 1.5 minutes shot.

  • Undecided for sure

    I clicked on the image believing it was a jump to the story.
    That was 1.5 minutes shot.

  • http://www.bombasticmo.com/ BombasticMo

    This would be nice if you linked to each particular endorsement article. I’m trying to scroll through all of them and not finding an easy way to find specific endorsements.

    One of those neato tricks the web lets you do. :)

    Appreciate the hard work though, although I’ll admit, I didn’t see a few of these coming.

  • http://www.bombasticmo.com BombasticMo

    This would be nice if you linked to each particular endorsement article. I’m trying to scroll through all of them and not finding an easy way to find specific endorsements.

    One of those neato tricks the web lets you do. :)

    Appreciate the hard work though, although I’ll admit, I didn’t see a few of these coming.

  • swatter

    Better thought out endorsements than dead tree rags.

  • swatter

    Better thought out endorsements than dead tree rags.

  • Wenzilla

    Are you f-ing kidding me with your endorsement for Mary Bass? Have you spent any time with the lady? Have you heard her talk? She is crazy and nuts and you guys are nuts for endorsing her. I’m so disappointed with you guys. Did you not talk to people? Did you meet with her? Seriously, did you spend any time with her?! She’s crazy.

  • Wenzilla

    Are you f-ing kidding me with your endorsement for Mary Bass? Have you spent any time with the lady? Have you heard her talk? She is crazy and nuts and you guys are nuts for endorsing her. I’m so disappointed with you guys. Did you not talk to people? Did you meet with her? Seriously, did you spend any time with her?! She’s crazy.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @11,
    You sound a little crazy yourself, Wenzilla.

    But seriously, yes, we talked with Mary Bass, and we’ve met her.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @11,
    You sound a little crazy yourself, Wenzilla.

    But seriously, yes, we talked with Mary Bass, and we’ve met her.

  • http://www.seattleuntimely.com/ seattleuntimely

    No write-ins for David Blomstrom? C’mon people do your homework.

  • http://www.seattleuntimely.com seattleuntimely

    No write-ins for David Blomstrom? C’mon people do your homework.

  • http://www.mas4schools.com/ Charlie Mas

    You talked with Mary Bass? That’s great.

    How many other school board candidates did you speak with? You never spoke with me.

  • http://www.mas4schools.com Charlie Mas

    You talked with Mary Bass? That’s great.

    How many other school board candidates did you speak with? You never spoke with me.

  • http://votingforjudges.org/ jessie riley

    Right on for the Court of Appeals.. tells a lot about her in a few words! SHe is a great judge

  • http://votingforjudges.org jessie riley

    Right on for the Court of Appeals.. tells a lot about her in a few words! SHe is a great judge

  • terie

    Mary Bass?????? Do you have children?? How about someone who has worked for good schools forever? Joanne Cullen

  • terie

    Mary Bass?????? Do you have children?? How about someone who has worked for good schools forever? Joanne Cullen

  • Jane

    Hi – have you considered a quick link to your endorsements? There’s still a week left to vote and I had to scroll through 4 pages to get back to your endorsements.

  • Jane

    Hi – have you considered a quick link to your endorsements? There’s still a week left to vote and I had to scroll through 4 pages to get back to your endorsements.

  • whsy82

    Endorsing Mary Bass is ludicrous. It’s too bad she doesn’t truly advocate for her constituency, which deserves a voice. Instead, she plays “gadfly” with no effect. Maybe it makes for good press to be “questioning” things, but what she questions is truly random and she has no view of what should be done nor impact on same.

    I volunteer at a non-profit that works in south-end schools and everyone involved: parents, administration, teachers, volunteers — realizes she absolutely no impact. Everyone who works in these schools wishes there were a board member who would fight for the concerns of this area. Unfortunately, it’s not Mary.

  • whsy82

    Endorsing Mary Bass is ludicrous. It’s too bad she doesn’t truly advocate for her constituency, which deserves a voice. Instead, she plays “gadfly” with no effect. Maybe it makes for good press to be “questioning” things, but what she questions is truly random and she has no view of what should be done nor impact on same.

    I volunteer at a non-profit that works in south-end schools and everyone involved: parents, administration, teachers, volunteers — realizes she absolutely no impact. Everyone who works in these schools wishes there were a board member who would fight for the concerns of this area. Unfortunately, it’s not Mary.

  • cubrikaska

    Que frase… Fenomenal

  • cubrikaska

    Que frase… Fenomenal