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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.

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.

Creating a Narrative

fizz64

1. If you didn’t check the site over the weekend, be sure to scroll down and read Saturday’s special fizz item about Susan Hutchison . Here’s the story: The former KIRO-TV anchor-turned-King County Executive-candidate with the Republican resume took the 43rd District Democrats up on their invite and came to the group’s Gas Works Park picnic on Saturday afternoon.

Startled? Well, so were most of the folks at the picnic.

Going on here: Hutchison is doing what every smart candidate does. She’s trying to turn her opponent’s strength into a weakness. Her opponent is King County Council Member Dow Constantine, a popular Democrat. By reaching out to Democrats, Hutchison is creating a narrative that she’s open minded and looking for a conversation while her opponent is locked into the partisan battles of the past.

2. Speaking of the King County Executive, former K.C. Executive Ron Sims—now the No. 2 at HUD—was featured in the Sunday NYT Week in Review yesterday as his agency moves to integrate the upscale suburbs, like Westchester County New York.

Sims got the lead quote (and his picture in the paper):

“This is consistent with the president’s desire to see a fully integrated society,” said Ron Sims, the deputy secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development , which supported and helped broker the agreement. “Until now, we tended to lay dormant. This is historic, because we are going to hold people’s feet to the fire.”

sunsims

3. The Sounders got a tie in Houston yesterday. SoundersNerd thinks we won .

4. Both the Mallahan camp and the McGinn camp split town this weekend for retreats—McGinn to a house in a Cle Elum-area resort and golfing community called Suncadia, and Mallahan at a still-undisclosed location (we have a call in to spokeswoman Charla Neuman.)

The campaigns spent the weekend brainstorming on message and strategy. Expect lots of roll outs and press releases in the next few weeks.


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

    Not to mention Dan Savage is spreading an interesting, if not hard-to-believe, rumor that State Senator Ed Murray (D-43) is thinking about running a write-in campaign for mayor.

    http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/08/23/ed-murray-thinking-about-jumping-into-mayoral-race

    “But I might consider [running for mayor] after I have a chance to return all the emails and phone calls I received asking me to consider it while I was gone,” Murray told the Stranger.

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

    Not to mention Dan Savage is spreading an interesting, if not hard-to-believe, rumor that State Senator Ed Murray (D-43) is thinking about running a write-in campaign for mayor.

    http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/08/23/ed-murray-thinking-about-jumping-into-mayoral-race

    “But I might consider [running for mayor] after I have a chance to return all the emails and phone calls I received asking me to consider it while I was gone,” Murray told the Stranger.

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

    Not to mention Dan Savage is spreading an interesting, if not hard-to-believe, rumor that State Senator Ed Murray (D-43) is thinking about running a write-in campaign for mayor.

    http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/08/23/ed-murray-thinking-about-jumping-into-mayoral-race

    “But I might consider [running for mayor] after I have a chance to return all the emails and phone calls I received asking me to consider it while I was gone,” Murray told the Stranger.

  • http://www.bombasticmo.com BombasticMo

    Not to mention Dan Savage is spreading an interesting, if not hard-to-believe, rumor that State Senator Ed Murray (D-43) is thinking about running a write-in campaign for mayor.

    http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/08/23/ed-murray-thinking-about-jumping-into-mayoral-race

    “But I might consider [running for mayor] after I have a chance to return all the emails and phone calls I received asking me to consider it while I was gone,” Murray told the Stranger.

  • swatter

    Seems like the playbook I advised the Democrats running for office to do- get some Republicans on their side; only hers is reverse.

  • swatter

    Seems like the playbook I advised the Democrats running for office to do- get some Republicans on their side; only hers is reverse.

  • swatter

    Seems like the playbook I advised the Democrats running for office to do- get some Republicans on their side; only hers is reverse.

  • ballardiana

    @BombasticMo Looks like you’re spreading rumors as well!

  • ballardiana

    @BombasticMo Looks like you’re spreading rumors as well!

  • ballardiana

    @BombasticMo Looks like you’re spreading rumors as well!

  • ballardiana

    @BombasticMo Looks like you’re spreading rumors as well!

  • wsoutsider

    I guess she was able to speak as well. However, if a Dem candidate goes to a Repugnican event, they aren’t allowed to speak. Vote for Dow!

    Tom Albro showed at the King County Dems picnic — uninvited. Put his signs up even though only endorsed candidates can do so. Absolutely, no class at all. Vote for Max!

  • wsoutsider

    I guess she was able to speak as well. However, if a Dem candidate goes to a Repugnican event, they aren’t allowed to speak. Vote for Dow!

    Tom Albro showed at the King County Dems picnic — uninvited. Put his signs up even though only endorsed candidates can do so. Absolutely, no class at all. Vote for Max!

  • wsoutsider

    I guess she was able to speak as well. However, if a Dem candidate goes to a Repugnican event, they aren’t allowed to speak. Vote for Dow!

    Tom Albro showed at the King County Dems picnic — uninvited. Put his signs up even though only endorsed candidates can do so. Absolutely, no class at all. Vote for Max!

  • wsoutsider

    I guess she was able to speak as well. However, if a Dem candidate goes to a Repugnican event, they aren’t allowed to speak. Vote for Dow!

    Tom Albro showed at the King County Dems picnic — uninvited. Put his signs up even though only endorsed candidates can do so. Absolutely, no class at all. Vote for Max!

  • Mmkos

    I hope Ed Murray does this. Would be great to have someone who knows what they are doing run!

  • Mmkos

    I hope Ed Murray does this. Would be great to have someone who knows what they are doing run!

  • Mmkos

    I hope Ed Murray does this. Would be great to have someone who knows what they are doing run!

  • Mmkos

    I hope Ed Murray does this. Would be great to have someone who knows what they are doing run!

  • http://twitter.com/fattailed Fat-tailed

    Not clear why Ed Murray would want to sink his career with a quixotic effort like this. Especially since he lacks executive experience & direct involvement in municipal issues. He’s a fine legislator, but participating in a campaign like this would reveal a self-destructive messianic complex that just doesn’t look good on anyone.

  • http://twitter.com/fattailed Fat-tailed

    Not clear why Ed Murray would want to sink his career with a quixotic effort like this. Especially since he lacks executive experience & direct involvement in municipal issues. He’s a fine legislator, but participating in a campaign like this would reveal a self-destructive messianic complex that just doesn’t look good on anyone.

  • http://twitter.com/fattailed Fat-tailed

    Not clear why Ed Murray would want to sink his career with a quixotic effort like this. Especially since he lacks executive experience & direct involvement in municipal issues. He’s a fine legislator, but participating in a campaign like this would reveal a self-destructive messianic complex that just doesn’t look good on anyone.

  • http://twitter.com/fattailed Fat-tailed

    Not clear why Ed Murray would want to sink his career with a quixotic effort like this. Especially since he lacks executive experience & direct involvement in municipal issues. He’s a fine legislator, but participating in a campaign like this would reveal a self-destructive messianic complex that just doesn’t look good on anyone.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    There’s no way Sen. Murray will run for mayor. He’s positioning himself for Sen. Majority Leader in Oly. That’s his next move.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    There’s no way Sen. Murray will run for mayor. He’s positioning himself for Sen. Majority Leader in Oly. That’s his next move.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    There’s no way Sen. Murray will run for mayor. He’s positioning himself for Sen. Majority Leader in Oly. That’s his next move.

  • A New Name!!!

    Oh lord…just what we need – a Speaker and a Majority Leader from the 43rd…

  • A New Name!!!

    Oh lord…just what we need – a Speaker and a Majority Leader from the 43rd…

  • A New Name!!!

    Oh lord…just what we need – a Speaker and a Majority Leader from the 43rd…

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr. Baker

    Running and losing is a good way to run around and connect with potential supporters of future asparations.

    For example:
    Ross Hunter collected a bunch of money, spoke everywhere, and maybe he ends up taking on Dave Reichert.

    Back to Murray, I would vote for him over any of the candidates that were on the primary ballot. He has represented his district at the state level, to state, as #6 did, that he “lacks executive experience & direct involvement in municipal issues”.
    Would he be the only candidate that has been elected to public office representing citizens of Seattle?

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr. Baker

    Running and losing is a good way to run around and connect with potential supporters of future asparations.

    For example:
    Ross Hunter collected a bunch of money, spoke everywhere, and maybe he ends up taking on Dave Reichert.

    Back to Murray, I would vote for him over any of the candidates that were on the primary ballot. He has represented his district at the state level, to state, as #6 did, that he “lacks executive experience & direct involvement in municipal issues”.
    Would he be the only candidate that has been elected to public office representing citizens of Seattle?

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr. Baker

    Running and losing is a good way to run around and connect with potential supporters of future asparations.

    For example:
    Ross Hunter collected a bunch of money, spoke everywhere, and maybe he ends up taking on Dave Reichert.

    Back to Murray, I would vote for him over any of the candidates that were on the primary ballot. He has represented his district at the state level, to state, as #6 did, that he “lacks executive experience & direct involvement in municipal issues”.
    Would he be the only candidate that has been elected to public office representing citizens of Seattle?

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr. Baker

    Running and losing is a good way to run around and connect with potential supporters of future asparations.

    For example:
    Ross Hunter collected a bunch of money, spoke everywhere, and maybe he ends up taking on Dave Reichert.

    Back to Murray, I would vote for him over any of the candidates that were on the primary ballot. He has represented his district at the state level, to state, as #6 did, that he “lacks executive experience & direct involvement in municipal issues”.
    Would he be the only candidate that has been elected to public office representing citizens of Seattle?

  • J.R.

    You can’t elect a big-city mayor on a write-in vote. The Ed Murray story is a cute rumor that will be forgotten tomorrow.

  • J.R.

    You can’t elect a big-city mayor on a write-in vote. The Ed Murray story is a cute rumor that will be forgotten tomorrow.

  • J.R.

    You can’t elect a big-city mayor on a write-in vote. The Ed Murray story is a cute rumor that will be forgotten tomorrow.

  • J.R.

    You can’t elect a big-city mayor on a write-in vote. The Ed Murray story is a cute rumor that will be forgotten tomorrow.

  • Lila

    sounds like the Murray idea is scaring some folks…that might be reason enough

  • Lila

    sounds like the Murray idea is scaring some folks…that might be reason enough

  • Lila

    sounds like the Murray idea is scaring some folks…that might be reason enough

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr. Baker

    So, just how negative would the other go while still wanting his support in Olympia?

    About a month ago I was actually thinking that he should have run.

    Btw, the rumor will live longer than a day, the top two are still re-inventing skeletons in each other’s closets.

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr. Baker

    So, just how negative would the other go while still wanting his support in Olympia?

    About a month ago I was actually thinking that he should have run.

    Btw, the rumor will live longer than a day, the top two are still re-inventing skeletons in each other’s closets.

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr. Baker

    So, just how negative would the other go while still wanting his support in Olympia?

    About a month ago I was actually thinking that he should have run.

    Btw, the rumor will live longer than a day, the top two are still re-inventing skeletons in each other’s closets.

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr. Baker

    So, just how negative would the other go while still wanting his support in Olympia?

    About a month ago I was actually thinking that he should have run.

    Btw, the rumor will live longer than a day, the top two are still re-inventing skeletons in each other’s closets.

  • Christopher Stefan

    I don’t think the Murray rumor is serious. It is a pretty open secret Ed wants to run for the 7th CD when McDermott retires. It is more likely he’ll get sick of waiting and challenge McDermott for the seat.

  • Christopher Stefan

    I don’t think the Murray rumor is serious. It is a pretty open secret Ed wants to run for the 7th CD when McDermott retires. It is more likely he’ll get sick of waiting and challenge McDermott for the seat.

  • Christopher Stefan

    I don’t think the Murray rumor is serious. It is a pretty open secret Ed wants to run for the 7th CD when McDermott retires. It is more likely he’ll get sick of waiting and challenge McDermott for the seat.

  • Christopher Stefan

    I don’t think the Murray rumor is serious. It is a pretty open secret Ed wants to run for the 7th CD when McDermott retires. It is more likely he’ll get sick of waiting and challenge McDermott for the seat.

  • F5

    i wonder how many staff mallahan paid to do the policy retreat with him versus mcginn. my guess: 7 vs 0.

  • F5

    i wonder how many staff mallahan paid to do the policy retreat with him versus mcginn. my guess: 7 vs 0.

  • F5

    i wonder how many staff mallahan paid to do the policy retreat with him versus mcginn. my guess: 7 vs 0.

  • F5

    i wonder how many staff mallahan paid to do the policy retreat with him versus mcginn. my guess: 7 vs 0.

  • Not So Much…

    #4 I have one question: if Mallahan’s staff was out of town at an undisclosed location this weekend brainstorming on messaging and strategy, then who the hell was drinking hurricane’s with me at Highway 99 Blues Club on Saturday night?! Bettie Sue & Her Rockin’ Daddies were worth every penny of our $15 cover. If Mallahan’s staffers can each be several places at once, then how could you not vote for Mallahan? It’s interesting that McGinn is spending his money on swanky golf resort staff retreats. He’s going to have to household his targeted voters when he does his mailers if he’s blowing his campaign cash on cocktails and caddies.

  • Not So Much…

    #4 I have one question: if Mallahan’s staff was out of town at an undisclosed location this weekend brainstorming on messaging and strategy, then who the hell was drinking hurricane’s with me at Highway 99 Blues Club on Saturday night?! Bettie Sue & Her Rockin’ Daddies were worth every penny of our $15 cover. If Mallahan’s staffers can each be several places at once, then how could you not vote for Mallahan? It’s interesting that McGinn is spending his money on swanky golf resort staff retreats. He’s going to have to household his targeted voters when he does his mailers if he’s blowing his campaign cash on cocktails and caddies.

  • Not So Much…

    #4 I have one question: if Mallahan’s staff was out of town at an undisclosed location this weekend brainstorming on messaging and strategy, then who the hell was drinking hurricane’s with me at Highway 99 Blues Club on Saturday night?! Bettie Sue & Her Rockin’ Daddies were worth every penny of our $15 cover. If Mallahan’s staffers can each be several places at once, then how could you not vote for Mallahan? It’s interesting that McGinn is spending his money on swanky golf resort staff retreats. He’s going to have to household his targeted voters when he does his mailers if he’s blowing his campaign cash on cocktails and caddies.

  • Not So Much…

    #4 I have one question: if Mallahan’s staff was out of town at an undisclosed location this weekend brainstorming on messaging and strategy, then who the hell was drinking hurricane’s with me at Highway 99 Blues Club on Saturday night?! Bettie Sue & Her Rockin’ Daddies were worth every penny of our $15 cover. If Mallahan’s staffers can each be several places at once, then how could you not vote for Mallahan? It’s interesting that McGinn is spending his money on swanky golf resort staff retreats. He’s going to have to household his targeted voters when he does his mailers if he’s blowing his campaign cash on cocktails and caddies.

  • CondiMnts

    @14 and @15

    You two quit your squabbling!

    Your two campaigns appear to be totally different. Yes, by all accounts, McGinn appears to be all volunteer and grassroots. Yes, Mallahan is spending a bunch of dough on paid staffers and paid advisors.

    So what?

  • CondiMnts

    @14 and @15

    You two quit your squabbling!

    Your two campaigns appear to be totally different. Yes, by all accounts, McGinn appears to be all volunteer and grassroots. Yes, Mallahan is spending a bunch of dough on paid staffers and paid advisors.

    So what?

  • CondiMnts

    @14 and @15

    You two quit your squabbling!

    Your two campaigns appear to be totally different. Yes, by all accounts, McGinn appears to be all volunteer and grassroots. Yes, Mallahan is spending a bunch of dough on paid staffers and paid advisors.

    So what?

  • CondiMnts

    @14 and @15

    You two quit your squabbling!

    Your two campaigns appear to be totally different. Yes, by all accounts, McGinn appears to be all volunteer and grassroots. Yes, Mallahan is spending a bunch of dough on paid staffers and paid advisors.

    So what?