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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.

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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 Comment of the Day Goes To…

News   November 10, 2009 at 5:51 pm Josh Feit

Don’t get me wrong, there were a lot of insightful comments today, particularly on Erica’s post about the names we’re hearing as potential Mayor Mike McGinn appointees

(And I’ll give a nod to comment #29 in particular on that thread.)

But we got an email today from someone who was at McGinn’s victory announcement who told this evocative anecdote:

One of the most telling moments was when I was outside, with my lap top, hitting refresh on the Elections website. Standing next to me was a tall, handsome well dressed guy who was very interested in the numbers. I didn’t notice it at first but he was executive protection, City Hall’s version of the Secret Service. I asked him when he officially kicked into action, and he said “as soon as there is a concession.” Michael has really stepped into a new world.




  • gloomy gus

    That’s pretty cool. McGinn is going to eat that up with a spoon.

  • gloomy gus

    That’s pretty cool. McGinn is going to eat that up with a spoon.

  • capicola

    @1 are you referring to the executive protection or to http://publicola.net/?attachment_id=18362 ?

  • capicola

    @1 are you referring to the executive protection or to http://publicola.net/?attachment_id=18362 ?

  • Cam

    I hope those agents are in good bike riding shape!

  • Cam

    I hope those agents are in good bike riding shape!

  • publicola

    #3 – why?

  • publicola

    #3 – why?

  • gloomy gus

    @2 bwaha! Mike is intimately familiar with all the utensils, true. Oyster fork and all.

    But he’s always purely adored being the center of attention – beyond “love of city,” that’s why nobody ever found a limit to the number of headliner appearances he was happy to make during his campaign. I imagine having people in suits with hidden weapons vigilant to his every move will be just divine for him.

    What a honeymoon he’ll have. Good for him.

  • gloomy gus

    @2 bwaha! Mike is intimately familiar with all the utensils, true. Oyster fork and all.

    But he’s always purely adored being the center of attention – beyond “love of city,” that’s why nobody ever found a limit to the number of headliner appearances he was happy to make during his campaign. I imagine having people in suits with hidden weapons vigilant to his every move will be just divine for him.

    What a honeymoon he’ll have. Good for him.

  • RonK, Seattle

    So, when he bikes to work, will they form a protective cordone of SUV’s around him?

  • RonK, Seattle

    So, when he bikes to work, will they form a protective cordone of SUV’s around him?

  • http://letterfiction.blogspot.com/ Gomez

    6. It’ll be like Lance Armstrong’s Team USPS goons riding behind him in the Tour De France. Or at least I hope so.

  • http://letterfiction.blogspot.com Gomez

    6. It’ll be like Lance Armstrong’s Team USPS goons riding behind him in the Tour De France. Or at least I hope so.

  • sarah68

    He’ll be in a limo, just like Nickels. The price of success, if you consider being Mayor of Seattle success. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to be Mayor, or County Executive, or Councilmember, except to have a regular paycheck for a while.

  • sarah68

    He’ll be in a limo, just like Nickels. The price of success, if you consider being Mayor of Seattle success. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to be Mayor, or County Executive, or Councilmember, except to have a regular paycheck for a while.

  • Dean Willard

    @8 sarah68

    Considering the ability and effort required to be the Mayor, County Exec, or even Councilmember, it seems to me that there’s ways to make at least an equivalent if not larger paycheck doing something without the personal life intrusions (the security detail being just one example of intrusion).

    The motivation must be something more than economic. I hope that most of the time it’s a compelling, enlightened and altruistic desire to help other people make the city, county, state, country, world a better place. I fear that occasionally the motivations are more narcissistic.

    BTW. My reply to your (and Timothy’s) kind comments yesterday morning is @47 & @48 in this comment string http://publicola.net/?p=18346#comments. It was very generous of you to refer to me as a mensch. My reply was a bit slow – I’m working in DC this week.

  • Dean Willard

    @8 sarah68

    Considering the ability and effort required to be the Mayor, County Exec, or even Councilmember, it seems to me that there’s ways to make at least an equivalent if not larger paycheck doing something without the personal life intrusions (the security detail being just one example of intrusion).

    The motivation must be something more than economic. I hope that most of the time it’s a compelling, enlightened and altruistic desire to help other people make the city, county, state, country, world a better place. I fear that occasionally the motivations are more narcissistic.

    BTW. My reply to your (and Timothy’s) kind comments yesterday morning is @47 & @48 in this comment string http://publicola.net/?p=18346#comments. It was very generous of you to refer to me as a mensch. My reply was a bit slow – I’m working in DC this week.

  • ivan

    Dean Willard is absolutely a mensch, one of the truly good guys.

  • ivan

    Dean Willard is absolutely a mensch, one of the truly good guys.

  • Chris Stefan

    @8
    Not necessarily. He’s a Mayor not a governor or the President. Ron Sims used to bike around town while he was still County Exec. I also used to see Mayor Schell walking around downtown Seattle frequently with just a lone bodyguard.

    If Mike wants to bike or take public transit somewhere I’m sure the executive protection unit will find a way to accommodate him. The bigger issue will be fitting alternative transportation into what is sure to be a busy schedule.

  • Chris Stefan

    @8
    Not necessarily. He’s a Mayor not a governor or the President. Ron Sims used to bike around town while he was still County Exec. I also used to see Mayor Schell walking around downtown Seattle frequently with just a lone bodyguard.

    If Mike wants to bike or take public transit somewhere I’m sure the executive protection unit will find a way to accommodate him. The bigger issue will be fitting alternative transportation into what is sure to be a busy schedule.

  • hmmmm

    The bigger issue will be fitting alternative transportation into what is sure to be a busy schedule.

    Yeah, imagine–if it is tough for a mayor with all of those resources, just imagine what a pain in the ass it is to the people who are just working stiffs who have to live up to his, and the expectations of his supporters.

  • hmmmm

    The bigger issue will be fitting alternative transportation into what is sure to be a busy schedule.

    Yeah, imagine–if it is tough for a mayor with all of those resources, just imagine what a pain in the ass it is to the people who are just working stiffs who have to live up to his, and the expectations of his supporters.

  • http://letterfiction.blogspot.com/ Gomez

    A friend of mine is a law enforcement officer in Las Vegas, and he served a stint as a fully trained bike cop. They undergo hardcore all-purpose, even learning how and developing the strength to ride their bikes up staircases.

    If McGinn really wanted to bike around town on business or for pleasure a few days a week, he could probably get himself a few ‘bike guards’ who could ride with him and be ready to go if anything happens.

  • http://letterfiction.blogspot.com Gomez

    A friend of mine is a law enforcement officer in Las Vegas, and he served a stint as a fully trained bike cop. They undergo hardcore all-purpose, even learning how and developing the strength to ride their bikes up staircases.

    If McGinn really wanted to bike around town on business or for pleasure a few days a week, he could probably get himself a few ‘bike guards’ who could ride with him and be ready to go if anything happens.

  • What the hell

    I love it. McGinn with his electric bike being trailed by an SUV….hey carbon footprint!

  • What the hell

    I love it. McGinn with his electric bike being trailed by an SUV….hey carbon footprint!