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Evening Fizz: Awkward Mayoral Carpool Edition

News   October 1, 2009 at 10:13 pm Erica C. Barnett

During the Seattle League of Women Voters’ candidate forum tonight at the Seattle First Baptist Church on Captiol Hill, mayoral candidate Joe Mallahan noted that he had to leave soon to attend the evening’s second forum (the First Thursdays Forum) sponsored by an African American entrepreneurial group at the Rainier Valley Boys & Girl Club.

Lucky thing for his opponent Mike McGinn, who was reportedly unaware of the latter event (and whose return call we’re awaiting), that Mallahan mentioned the forum.

McGinn, with no plans to get there, ended up  bumming a ride from Mallahan to get to the forum.

(What, he didn’t have his bike?)

During the ride, which they shared with Mallahan staffer Susanna Williams, the pair reportedly talked (awkwardly) about their families.


  • Danny Noonan

    Apparently City Council opponents Rosencrantz and O’Brien carpool on night’s when there are multiple campaign appearances.

    Usually O’Brien gets endorsed then throws his bike in the back of Rosencrantz’s car.

    I bet Rosencrantz has actually contributed to O’Briens better command of the issues because that’s all they talk about from LD to LD.

  • Danny Noonan

    Apparently City Council opponents Rosencrantz and O’Brien carpool on night’s when there are multiple campaign appearances.

    Usually O’Brien gets endorsed then throws his bike in the back of Rosencrantz’s car.

    I bet Rosencrantz has actually contributed to O’Briens better command of the issues because that’s all they talk about from LD to LD.

  • Bout the same

    Really puts this whole race in perspective and is a also a pleasant relief from the constant back and forth.

  • Christi S.

    had a hilarious conversation with several sitting politicos and candidates at the church council dinner.

    we decided that we should all have one “event” scheduler and take a damn bus together – especially the forum, fundraiser stuff.

    it’s kind of crazy to get a kazillion people from one event to another to another to another to another…you get the idea.

  • Christi S.

    had a hilarious conversation with several sitting politicos and candidates at the church council dinner.

    we decided that we should all have one “event” scheduler and take a damn bus together – especially the forum, fundraiser stuff.

    it’s kind of crazy to get a kazillion people from one event to another to another to another to another…you get the idea.

  • Charla Neuman

    I commend both of them for being above “politics as usual.”

  • Charla Neuman

    I commend both of them for being above “politics as usual.”

  • Ian

    Epic. It just goes to show they’re both good guys.

  • Ian

    Epic. It just goes to show they’re both good guys.

  • Ian

    It’s also fitting that Susanna, as a former 5th grade teacher, was perfectly suited to separate them if things got out of hand. (Boys! I will pull this car over!!) And Mike O’Brien was one of her parents, so she knows how to handle those Sierra Clubbers just as well as Joe.

  • Ian

    It’s also fitting that Susanna, as a former 5th grade teacher, was perfectly suited to separate them if things got out of hand. (Boys! I will pull this car over!!) And Mike O’Brien was one of her parents, so she knows how to handle those Sierra Clubbers just as well as Joe.

  • Bus rider

    It’s nice to think of opposing candidates being carpool buddies. I will point out that T’those bike people’ are always bummming rides. I hope the Mike’s help pay for the parking and gas of the people providing them with a ride.

  • Bus rider

    It’s nice to think of opposing candidates being carpool buddies. I will point out that T’those bike people’ are always bummming rides. I hope the Mike’s help pay for the parking and gas of the people providing them with a ride.

  • kurisu

    @7 Clearly Mallahan needs help affording parking and gas. He’s burning hundreds of thousands of dollars on consultants.

  • kurisu

    @7 Clearly Mallahan needs help affording parking and gas. He’s burning hundreds of thousands of dollars on consultants.

  • Walkable Greenwood

    Mike didn’t know he had another forum to get to? That’s the part that sounds just like Mike. He “forgot” or missed or showed up massively late for many if not most of the meetings he should have been at in the Greenwood Community and beyond over the last 10 years. Late or missing in action McGinn. That’s been my experience.

  • Walkable Greenwood

    Mike didn’t know he had another forum to get to? That’s the part that sounds just like Mike. He “forgot” or missed or showed up massively late for many if not most of the meetings he should have been at in the Greenwood Community and beyond over the last 10 years. Late or missing in action McGinn. That’s been my experience.

  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/1522367.html Gomez

    That would have been a long bike ride to take, especially at night in one of Seattle’s not-as-safe stretches of town.

    And I think that says something about the feasibility of bike commuting in town. Sure, you can do it for the most part. But there are times where it’s impractical even if you’re perfectly able to commute by bike.

  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/1522367.html Gomez

    That would have been a long bike ride to take, especially at night in one of Seattle’s not-as-safe stretches of town.

    And I think that says something about the feasibility of bike commuting in town. Sure, you can do it for the most part. But there are times where it’s impractical even if you’re perfectly able to commute by bike.

  • big fat duh

    @10 a bike commute from Capitol Hill to Rainier Valley …how impractical could it be?

    It’s down hill, even on an e-bike.

  • big fat duh

    @10 a bike commute from Capitol Hill to Rainier Valley …how impractical could it be?

    It’s down hill, even on an e-bike.

  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/1522367.html Gomez

    And it’s uphill heading back home.

    And it’s at night, which even if you can carry gear and have lights/reflectors, is dangerous, especially going into and out of Rainier Valley, which isn’t particularly bike friendly.

  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/1522367.html Gomez

    And it’s uphill heading back home.

    And it’s at night, which even if you can carry gear and have lights/reflectors, is dangerous, especially going into and out of Rainier Valley, which isn’t particularly bike friendly.

  • Michael M.

    I just hope that they don’t go all boring like O’Brien and Rosencrantz!

    Although, if their fireworks calm down a bit, maybe the City Attorney’s race can get some more attention.

  • Michael M.

    I just hope that they don’t go all boring like O’Brien and Rosencrantz!

    Although, if their fireworks calm down a bit, maybe the City Attorney’s race can get some more attention.

  • Look4wrd

    It could be pretty quick actually. Less than 1 mile all downhill on Madison to the tunnel, Link to Columbia City, a couple of blocks to RV B&G.

    Or biking all the way is less than 4 miles downhill and flat. Either way it is 15 to 25 minutes.

  • Look4wrd

    It could be pretty quick actually. Less than 1 mile all downhill on Madison to the tunnel, Link to Columbia City, a couple of blocks to RV B&G.

    Or biking all the way is less than 4 miles downhill and flat. Either way it is 15 to 25 minutes.

  • Chris Stefan

    Maybe Mike didn’t have his bike with him last night. After all the weather was cold wet and nasty. Not exactly the best bike weather.

  • Chris Stefan

    Maybe Mike didn’t have his bike with him last night. After all the weather was cold wet and nasty. Not exactly the best bike weather.

  • Bike This!

    I don’t give a flying F_ about who biked last night! Geez go to thaat ‘Seattle Likes Bikes Blog’ or something. You people can be so damn boring.

  • Bike This!

    I don’t give a flying F_ about who biked last night! Geez go to thaat ‘Seattle Likes Bikes Blog’ or something. You people can be so damn boring.

  • Seattle Resident

    Agreed. I can’t wait until biking isn’t such a huge deal.

  • Seattle Resident

    Agreed. I can’t wait until biking isn’t such a huge deal.

  • hmmmm

    “Dude, can I bum a ride?”

  • hmmmm

    “Dude, can I bum a ride?”

  • J.R.

    @11: Any “bike commute” that’s all downhill on the way is all uphill on the way back.

  • J.R.

    @11: Any “bike commute” that’s all downhill on the way is all uphill on the way back.

  • Bout the same

    Really puts this whole race in perspective and is a also a pleasant relief from the constant back and forth.