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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.

The Stories of the Night

News   August 19, 2009 at 8:55 am Josh Feit

fizz60

1. Looking for a winner in last night’s election? Try consultant Bill Broadhead (and his consulting firm Mercury Seattle). Broadhead was the behind-the-scenes consultant for mayoral candidate Mike McGinn (the top vote getter so far in the mayor’s race) and Seattle City Council candidate Mike O’Brien (the top vote getter by a mile in the crowded Position 8 race).

Both McGinn and O’Brien lagged far behind their opponents in the money race, yet Broadhead’s barrage of on-the-cheap robo calls and focused messaging helped make McGinn and O’Brien the stories of the night.

2. The biggest loser? King County Council Member Larry Phillips raised the most money in the King County Executive race ($471,603) and spent the most ($367,000—plus a $21,000 independent expenditure done on his behalf), yet he came in fourth place last night at just under 12 percent. Phillips was the first candidate to jump into the race (he officially declared last January ) after making it clear for months ("Go for it, Larry") that he wanted the job. Badly.

Honorable mention has to go to consultant Blair Butterworth who switched from mayoral candidate James Donaldson to Jan Drago mid-game. In the end, Donaldson, a former Sonic, finished ahead of Drago, a longtime city council member, coming in fourth place at 9.2 percent. Drago finished in fifth place at 7.7 percent.

3. PubliCola news editor Erica C. Barnett will be on KUOW’s The Conversation today to talk about last night’s results. Tune in 94.9 at 12:20. Erica will be on with U.W. political science professor Matt Barreto and Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat.

(P.S. The Conversation also tried to get King County Executive candidate, former KIRO-TV anchor and frontrunner Susan Hutchison, to go on today with her general election opponent, King County Council Member Dow Constantine. Hutchison declined.)

4. I have to say it: I told you so . Learn to trust the Cola. (I also said this! There’s another vote drop today at 4:30—about 20,000 votes. We’ll see if my prediction holds.)

nickelsparty

Editor’s note: Thanks Aaron, Eric, Rebecca, and Johnathon for all the great work last night.


  • summer girl

    Team Nickels does not play well with others – which is fine as long as you don’t need any help. It appears those watching their show over the years have now voted with their feet.

  • summer girl

    Team Nickels does not play well with others – which is fine as long as you don’t need any help. It appears those watching their show over the years have now voted with their feet.

  • Gomez

    Having the diehard urbanist liberals and Sierra Club wonks on their side (and stumping for them) in an off year primary certainly helped McGinn and O’Brien, far more than many of us envisioned.

  • Gomez

    Having the diehard urbanist liberals and Sierra Club wonks on their side (and stumping for them) in an off year primary certainly helped McGinn and O’Brien, far more than many of us envisioned.

  • Christopher Stefan

    Good call on the Mayor’s race Josh.

    Assuming Nickels stays in third it will be interesting to see if his support goes more to Mallahan or McGinn.

  • Christopher Stefan

    Good call on the Mayor’s race Josh.

    Assuming Nickels stays in third it will be interesting to see if his support goes more to Mallahan or McGinn.

  • Jessica

    Reports of the death of individual voter influence were greatly exaggerated.

  • Jessica

    Reports of the death of individual voter influence were greatly exaggerated.

  • fredster

    Add to the list of biggest losers Steinbrueck and Burgess. This morning both of them have to be asking themselves what might have been. In the spring both seemed entralled by the idea of running for mayor; the numerous press inquires, the exploratory committees, etc. However, both showed they misread the collective Seattle political mindset as well as a lack of fire in the belly to take on a well funded political machine in a bruising primary.

  • fredster

    Add to the list of biggest losers Steinbrueck and Burgess. This morning both of them have to be asking themselves what might have been. In the spring both seemed entralled by the idea of running for mayor; the numerous press inquires, the exploratory committees, etc. However, both showed they misread the collective Seattle political mindset as well as a lack of fire in the belly to take on a well funded political machine in a bruising primary.

  • Dorothy

    In Peter’s defense, he did have an incredible opportunity offered to him at Harvard. Who could turn that down?

    Have to admit that was an impressive call in the Mayor’s race. I mentioned it at a city commission meeting on Monday and was scoffed at, but . . .

  • Dorothy

    In Peter’s defense, he did have an incredible opportunity offered to him at Harvard. Who could turn that down?

    Have to admit that was an impressive call in the Mayor’s race. I mentioned it at a city commission meeting on Monday and was scoffed at, but . . .

  • J.R.

    “Hutchison declined.” Get used to reading that sentence for the next three months.

  • J.R.

    “Hutchison declined.” Get used to reading that sentence for the next three months.

  • kh1457

    Betting money that Nickel’s right hand man, Tim Ceis, ends up in the Constantine administration. Not good for King County.

  • kh1457

    Betting money that Nickel’s right hand man, Tim Ceis, ends up in the Constantine administration. Not good for King County.

  • ivan

    The biggest loser, and deservedly so, is Cathy Allen (Phillips and Israel). We can make it a trifecta by beating her right-wing Port Commission client, Tom Albvo, in November with our votes for Max Vekich.

  • swatter

    Wow!! The audacity!! The oompah!! Asking a candidate the morning after to appear to what would be a debate on the general election. What is wrong with a breather?

    Kudos to all those who ran for office in this ugly environment and for their helpers. My hats off to all who gave of themselves. And I mean it!!

    “Fire in belly” So, if you have no ‘fire’ you are a loser? Seems to me if you know you can’t do it anymore and you don’t, you show a lot of wisdom.

    Last note: I can’t believe the coverage publicola did on this. Tip of the hat and a thanks to all.

  • ivan

    The biggest loser, and deservedly so, is Cathy Allen (Phillips and Israel). We can make it a trifecta by beating her right-wing Port Commission client, Tom Albvo, in November with our votes for Max Vekich.

  • swatter

    Wow!! The audacity!! The oompah!! Asking a candidate the morning after to appear to what would be a debate on the general election. What is wrong with a breather?

    Kudos to all those who ran for office in this ugly environment and for their helpers. My hats off to all who gave of themselves. And I mean it!!

    “Fire in belly” So, if you have no ‘fire’ you are a loser? Seems to me if you know you can’t do it anymore and you don’t, you show a lot of wisdom.

    Last note: I can’t believe the coverage publicola did on this. Tip of the hat and a thanks to all.

  • ivan

    Albro not Albvo. Sorry.

  • ivan

    Albro not Albvo. Sorry.

  • George

    Are we being nice to Royer by not mentioning him in the losers category last night? That had to be one of the most disappointing campaigns of the season. Drago was an atrocious campaign but I don’t think that can be laid at the feet of her consultant. If you want to single out a consultant that had a bad night, it was clearly Cathy Allen. She at least had a candidate and money to work with whereas Butterworth didn’t.
    My losers from last night:
    Royer & Phillips/Allen.
    UFCW
    Hutchinson – this is the most conservative turnout that she will face and she never moved the needle above base republican support.

    Winners:
    McGinn/O’Brien/Broadhead
    Anti-Tunnel wingnuts
    SEIU
    Constantine

  • George

    Are we being nice to Royer by not mentioning him in the losers category last night? That had to be one of the most disappointing campaigns of the season. Drago was an atrocious campaign but I don’t think that can be laid at the feet of her consultant. If you want to single out a consultant that had a bad night, it was clearly Cathy Allen. She at least had a candidate and money to work with whereas Butterworth didn’t.
    My losers from last night:
    Royer & Phillips/Allen.
    UFCW
    Hutchinson – this is the most conservative turnout that she will face and she never moved the needle above base republican support.

    Winners:
    McGinn/O’Brien/Broadhead
    Anti-Tunnel wingnuts
    SEIU
    Constantine

  • abc

    Butterworth was no loser – look at the fees Drago paid him. Burner paid him last year – he’s a winner.

  • abc

    Butterworth was no loser – look at the fees Drago paid him. Burner paid him last year – he’s a winner.

  • Paige

    Bagshaw should be in the winner category, hovering around 50%.

  • Paige

    Bagshaw should be in the winner category, hovering around 50%.

  • Jeff

    @14 As should Nick Licata.

  • Jeff

    @14 As should Nick Licata.

  • George

    @13
    you are right about Butterworth and his fees. Allen took some pretty amazing fees from Phillips.
    I second the move to add Bagshaw to the winners list and am neutral about Licata.

  • George

    @13
    you are right about Butterworth and his fees. Allen took some pretty amazing fees from Phillips.
    I second the move to add Bagshaw to the winners list and am neutral about Licata.

  • Christopher Stefan

    @15
    I wouldn’t call Licata a winner. He just barely kept out of the incumbent danger zone of dropping below 50%. I think Jessie is still in a position to make it a close election.

  • Christopher Stefan

    @15
    I wouldn’t call Licata a winner. He just barely kept out of the incumbent danger zone of dropping below 50%. I think Jessie is still in a position to make it a close election.