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Mayor McGinn Names Crunican Replacement

City Hall, Politics   January 6, 2010 at 2:05 pm Josh Feit

The PI.com has the story: Longtime public employee Peter Hahn will replace outgoing Seattle Transportation Department Director Grace Crunican:

Hahn, 65, has three decades of experience working for municipalities in the Puget Sound area. Originally from the Northeast, Hahn worked at the City of Cambridge, Mass., as Parks and Neighborhood Facilities Director and as a national urban policy specialist for the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department.

With a Masters degree from Harvard in City Planning and another in Public Administration from USC, Hahn moved to the Puget Sound area and started as a senior legislative assistant for King County for three years, then worked as Community Services Director at the City of Edmonds for eight years.

In 1992 Hahn became the Public Works Director at Snohomish County where he held the position for 14 years. He is currently the Deputy Planning/Building/Public Works Administrator for the City of Renton.




  • Fat-tailed

    pi.com posted the press release at 10:45 am. westseattleblog posted it at 11:39 am. And it took you guys more than 2 additional hours — and still utterly no analysis whatsoever. What’s up — do you need to refresh your RSS feed reader more often or something?

  • Fat-tailed

    pi.com posted the press release at 10:45 am. westseattleblog posted it at 11:39 am. And it took you guys more than 2 additional hours — and still utterly no analysis whatsoever. What’s up — do you need to refresh your RSS feed reader more often or something?

  • Fat-tailed

    You also buried what I would have expected to be the key bit of info for your perspective:

    Hahn’s wife, Mary McCumber, is significantly involved in Seattle transportation issues. She is a board member and former president of Futurewise, a Seattle-based public interest group focusing on transit-oriented development and growth-management issues.

  • Fat-tailed

    You also buried what I would have expected to be the key bit of info for your perspective:

    Hahn’s wife, Mary McCumber, is significantly involved in Seattle transportation issues. She is a board member and former president of Futurewise, a Seattle-based public interest group focusing on transit-oriented development and growth-management issues.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    Fat-Tailed,

    Down boy. Just one reporter today. (ECB is out sick and she’s our go-to for transportation analysis.)

    And we’ve managed to give you a few scoops of our own anyway.

    Stay tuned for a few more.

    : )

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    Fat-Tailed,

    Down boy. Just one reporter today. (ECB is out sick and she’s our go-to for transportation analysis.)

    And we’ve managed to give you a few scoops of our own anyway.

    Stay tuned for a few more.

    : )

  • westside

    Josh–don’t let the haters get to you. Although, I am looking forward to your passionate defense of your favorite basketball player, Gilbert Arenas…

  • westside

    Josh–don’t let the haters get to you. Although, I am looking forward to your passionate defense of your favorite basketball player, Gilbert Arenas…

  • GreenwoodSam

    Word on the street is that Hahn is good people, from my sources anyway. The resume looks good, too. My first reaction was – Who? Deputy Director of Renton Public Works? But then you learn that he ran the Snohomish County Dept for 14 years. What happened there, why did he leave, what were his accomplishments? That’s your to-do list when Erica gets better.

    Oh, and how does he do on snow???

  • GreenwoodSam

    Word on the street is that Hahn is good people, from my sources anyway. The resume looks good, too. My first reaction was – Who? Deputy Director of Renton Public Works? But then you learn that he ran the Snohomish County Dept for 14 years. What happened there, why did he leave, what were his accomplishments? That’s your to-do list when Erica gets better.

    Oh, and how does he do on snow???

  • egg man

    Given that Hahn is the husband of Mary McCumber, one of the few stakeholders that supported the surface “solution” for the viaduct (i.e. gridlock the city into a bright new age), one has to surmise that he is a foam-at-the-mouth nutcase like his wife. But that might not be the case – he might not be a foamer. Either way, the ranks of the McGinn Taliban are growing every day.

  • egg man

    Given that Hahn is the husband of Mary McCumber, one of the few stakeholders that supported the surface “solution” for the viaduct (i.e. gridlock the city into a bright new age), one has to surmise that he is a foam-at-the-mouth nutcase like his wife. But that might not be the case – he might not be a foamer. Either way, the ranks of the McGinn Taliban are growing every day.

  • Stacy

    @6 – WSDOT and SDOT also supported the surface solution (no quotes needed for a fully vetted transportation plan); does that make them “foam-at-the-mouth nutcases” as well?

  • Stacy

    @6 – WSDOT and SDOT also supported the surface solution (no quotes needed for a fully vetted transportation plan); does that make them “foam-at-the-mouth nutcases” as well?

  • Fat-tailed

    @3 You guys do some great work, but re-printing a press release is not a “scoop”. The Greg Hoover story, for example, would have popped a Google Alert a few days ago:

    http://snovalleystar.com/2009/12/29/greg-hoover-declares-candidacy-for-washingtons-5th-legislative-district

    http://www.issaquahpress.com/2010/01/05/greg-hoover-runs-for-state-house/

    And David Frockt *sending* you a press release is nice — and I’m glad you’re reporting this — but pasting excerpts from your email inbox is not really “reporting” by most definitions.

    Anyway, if you’re gonna recapitulate press releases as part of your work, I think that’s fine and even potentially useful (really!), but you really need to be quick about it. And you really need to give an attribution or hat-tip to the folks who are beating you to the news. It’s only polite.

  • Fat-tailed

    @3 You guys do some great work, but re-printing a press release is not a “scoop”. The Greg Hoover story, for example, would have popped a Google Alert a few days ago:

    http://snovalleystar.com/2009/12/29/greg-hoover-declares-candidacy-for-washingtons-5th-legislative-district

    http://www.issaquahpress.com/2010/01/05/greg-hoover-runs-for-state-house/

    And David Frockt *sending* you a press release is nice — and I’m glad you’re reporting this — but pasting excerpts from your email inbox is not really “reporting” by most definitions.

    Anyway, if you’re gonna recapitulate press releases as part of your work, I think that’s fine and even potentially useful (really!), but you really need to be quick about it. And you really need to give an attribution or hat-tip to the folks who are beating you to the news. It’s only polite.

  • egg man

    Stacy: You mistake WSDOT and SDOT’s extensive study of the surface option (actually three different options) as an endorsement, but the fact is that the final conclusion was that it would be a disaster and gum up the whole infrastructure of the city, including public transportation. Don’t make stuff up. You have a right to be a Moonie, but please no Kool Aid.

  • egg man

    Stacy: You mistake WSDOT and SDOT’s extensive study of the surface option (actually three different options) as an endorsement, but the fact is that the final conclusion was that it would be a disaster and gum up the whole infrastructure of the city, including public transportation. Don’t make stuff up. You have a right to be a Moonie, but please no Kool Aid.

  • Stacy

    @9 – You are rewriting history. WSDOT and SDOT recommended a surface+Transit option and an elevated option; after some back room shenanigans our elected “leaders” (2/3 are no longer in office) shoved the tunnel down our throats.

  • Stacy

    @9 – You are rewriting history. WSDOT and SDOT recommended a surface+Transit option and an elevated option; after some back room shenanigans our elected “leaders” (2/3 are no longer in office) shoved the tunnel down our throats.

  • Guest

    Dear egg man:

    The tunnel huggers lost the election.

  • walrus

    Dear egg man:

    The tunnel huggers lost the election.

  • David Hiller

    I’ve worked with Peter Hahn and/or his staff for more than six-year and across two jobs.

    In my experience, he’s a decent and thoughtful professional who will be an asset to the city. Moreover, his colleagues and coworkers have nothing but good things to say about him.

    For our part, the Cascade Bicycle Club looks forward to working with him in the new administration.

  • David Hiller

    I’ve worked with Peter Hahn and/or his staff for more than six-year and across two jobs.

    In my experience, he’s a decent and thoughtful professional who will be an asset to the city. Moreover, his colleagues and coworkers have nothing but good things to say about him.

    For our part, the Cascade Bicycle Club looks forward to working with him in the new administration.

  • egg man

    I see that Tracy has dipped into her conspiracy bag now. As for the election Walrus, I am not the first one to say that McGinn stating he “won’t stand in the way of the tunnel” was a reason many people decided they could vote for him over his very weak opponent, who would have won otherwise.

  • egg man

    I see that Tracy has dipped into her conspiracy bag now. As for the election Walrus, I am not the first one to say that McGinn stating he “won’t stand in the way of the tunnel” was a reason many people decided they could vote for him over his very weak opponent, who would have won otherwise.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @8,

    Re: Hat tip.

    Your criticism got underway because I wrote that the PI had a scoop. (I was wrong that it was a scoop, since it was a press release. But as you can see, my mo is to give other news outlets credit).

    Where on the site aren’t we crediting people when they have scoops?

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @8,

    Re: Hat tip.

    Your criticism got underway because I wrote that the PI had a scoop. (I was wrong that it was a scoop, since it was a press release. But as you can see, my mo is to give other news outlets credit).

    Where on the site aren’t we crediting people when they have scoops?

  • eric

    Tunnel supporter, surface plan supporter, really doesn’t matter. What matters is whether he has the leadership ability to reign in a grossly dysfunctional department. Will he get rid of the incompetent and unqualified “engineers”? Will he make sure that SDOT cooperate with other departments in policy and planning? Or will he be a figurehead leader like his predecessor, who said the right things but let the employees run wild doing their own thing? Time will tell.

  • eric

    Tunnel supporter, surface plan supporter, really doesn’t matter. What matters is whether he has the leadership ability to reign in a grossly dysfunctional department. Will he get rid of the incompetent and unqualified “engineers”? Will he make sure that SDOT cooperate with other departments in policy and planning? Or will he be a figurehead leader like his predecessor, who said the right things but let the employees run wild doing their own thing? Time will tell.

  • Michael M.

    @11 -

    actually, Richard Conlin and Sally Bagshaw (both tunnel supporters) had the largest margins of victory. In fact, the only person who won that actually stated, the entire campaign, without wavering, that he would continue to oppose the tunnel, was Mike O’Brien (and I’m sure that sweet ass helped a little bit :-) ).

  • Michael M.

    @11 -

    actually, Richard Conlin and Sally Bagshaw (both tunnel supporters) had the largest margins of victory. In fact, the only person who won that actually stated, the entire campaign, without wavering, that he would continue to oppose the tunnel, was Mike O’Brien (and I’m sure that sweet ass helped a little bit :-) ).

  • Michael M.

    @Josh and 1 and 2, etc -

    Answer me this – why is there such an obsession with scoops? thoughtful analysis (with a “dose” of objectivity) is much more important…that and spell check…I dunno, that’s just my thought. Perhaps I’m old school…which means I’m getting old.

    Ugh.

  • Michael M.

    @Josh and 1 and 2, etc -

    Answer me this – why is there such an obsession with scoops? thoughtful analysis (with a “dose” of objectivity) is much more important…that and spell check…I dunno, that’s just my thought. Perhaps I’m old school…which means I’m getting old.

    Ugh.

  • Fat-tailed

    @14 My criticism is largely in line with @17 above. Publicola can go two ways: 1) be a PR-reprint factory, but do it quickly when it’s actually news; or 2) do analysis and tone down the scoop this scoop that stuff. Articles like this one serve neither of those functions. Being the first to republish a press release isn’t reporting, but it’s arguably a service. Republishing a press release 2 hours later just seems lazy, and it’s not particularly useful, and it’s certainly not reporting, even if the press release you’re reprinting was written by a PR hack who used to be a print journalist. And you’re not otherwise lazy, except perhaps with the spellcheck function, and you do offer interesting analysis at times, which is why this kind of thing is worth criticism.

  • Fat-tailed

    @14 My criticism is largely in line with @17 above. Publicola can go two ways: 1) be a PR-reprint factory, but do it quickly when it’s actually news; or 2) do analysis and tone down the scoop this scoop that stuff. Articles like this one serve neither of those functions. Being the first to republish a press release isn’t reporting, but it’s arguably a service. Republishing a press release 2 hours later just seems lazy, and it’s not particularly useful, and it’s certainly not reporting, even if the press release you’re reprinting was written by a PR hack who used to be a print journalist. And you’re not otherwise lazy, except perhaps with the spellcheck function, and you do offer interesting analysis at times, which is why this kind of thing is worth criticism.

  • GreenwoodSam

    @15: eric, where exactly did you get your information about the inner workings of SDOT? Was it from Susan Kelleher, perhaps? Too bad you’re not on the Pulitzer Prize committee.

  • GreenwoodSam

    @15: eric, where exactly did you get your information about the inner workings of SDOT? Was it from Susan Kelleher, perhaps? Too bad you’re not on the Pulitzer Prize committee.

  • AFZ sucks

    SDOT is dysfunctional. Having dealt with them and extensive looks at their internal communications I’m confident in saying they have a poorly run agency. The deputy director in charge of street ROW and maintenance needs to go.

  • AFZ sucks

    SDOT is dysfunctional. Having dealt with them and extensive looks at their internal communications I’m confident in saying they have a poorly run agency. The deputy director in charge of street ROW and maintenance needs to go.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @18,

    My word. Yes, this post was a bit “lazy” if you want. Only one staffer here today and lots of news to cover.

    I felt bad that the site didn’t have the SDOT news, and I wanted it on our site for the record. I saw the PI’s version, linked it and credited them.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @18,

    My word. Yes, this post was a bit “lazy” if you want. Only one staffer here today and lots of news to cover.

    I felt bad that the site didn’t have the SDOT news, and I wanted it on our site for the record. I saw the PI’s version, linked it and credited them.

  • Wells

    Look for statements from the new SDOT director (about the AWV replacment) that are more credible than “The decision has been made”, “We are working with the stakeholders”, etc.

    There are far too many extremely severe flaws with the Deep-bore tunnel, with the new Alaskan Way surface boulevard and the wide plaza, with the omission of the Waterfront Streetcar line, the bike lanes in traffic, and, the lack of access to Ballard-bound traffic at Elliott/Western, and, turning Mercer into a freight corridor and the impact of the north portal, etc etc etc.

    Business as usual must be rejected with coalitions of civil dissent and protest.

  • Wells

    Look for statements from the new SDOT director (about the AWV replacment) that are more credible than “The decision has been made”, “We are working with the stakeholders”, etc.

    There are far too many extremely severe flaws with the Deep-bore tunnel, with the new Alaskan Way surface boulevard and the wide plaza, with the omission of the Waterfront Streetcar line, the bike lanes in traffic, and, the lack of access to Ballard-bound traffic at Elliott/Western, and, turning Mercer into a freight corridor and the impact of the north portal, etc etc etc.

    Business as usual must be rejected with coalitions of civil dissent and protest.

  • sarah68

    Can anyone truly imagine that the tunnel will ever be built?

    Fat-tailed, start your own news blog.

  • sarah68

    Can anyone truly imagine that the tunnel will ever be built?

    Fat-tailed, start your own news blog.

  • eric

    @19 from years of personal experience working with SDOT. As a city employee and in the private sector.

  • eric

    @19 from years of personal experience working with SDOT. As a city employee and in the private sector.

  • Marge

    Peter Hahn is a brilliant selection to lead SDOT. Peter is smart. He is experienced in all the right ways. He works really hard. He is an outstanding manager. he is well respected by his peers all over the place.

    That’s a really positive change.

    With this hire, I am now, officially, a McGinn fan.

  • Marge

    Peter Hahn is a brilliant selection to lead SDOT. Peter is smart. He is experienced in all the right ways. He works really hard. He is an outstanding manager. he is well respected by his peers all over the place.

    That’s a really positive change.

    With this hire, I am now, officially, a McGinn fan.

  • Blondie

    Peter Hahn is a great guy because he considers all angles, is creative and engages in constructive discourse. I think this is a great appointment by McGinn.

    I’m still worried about others in his shop however…not quite a fan of the new Mayor just yet….

  • Blondie

    Peter Hahn is a great guy because he considers all angles, is creative and engages in constructive discourse. I think this is a great appointment by McGinn.

    I’m still worried about others in his shop however…not quite a fan of the new Mayor just yet….