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Mayor McGinn’s Rules to Live By

City Hall, News, Politics   March 3, 2010 at 5:50 pm Erica C. Barnett

As we reported in today’s Morning Fizz, the day before he took office in January, Mayor Mike McGinn and his staff came up with a list of 46 official “norms” for working in the McGinn office. Some are self-explanatory (“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”; “Don’t break any laws”); some seem contradictory (“Be careful what you write—everything is public,” followed immediately by “Always remember we are here to serve the public”); and some are just bizarre (“Elevate problems liberally”?)

We’ve been tweeting them all day; here’s the entire list:

1. Clean up after yourself
2. Have Fun
3. Don’t break any laws
4. Help each other

5. Listen

6. Always work when volunteers are present

7. Don’t pass the buck
8. Start on time & end on time
9. Share information
10. Be careful what you write–everything is public
11. Always remember we are here to serve the public

12. Trust in the seaworthiness of your vessel

13. Everybody works & helps

14. Anticipate others’ needs

15. Loose lips sink ships

16. Be clear about from whose perspective you are speaking (on behalf of the Mayor or not)

17. Elevate problems liberally

18. Ask for help

19. Don’t be the highest ranking person with a secret

20. Keep the Big Picture in Mind

21. Always try to make your co-workers look good

22. Talk to each other

23. Always thank each other

24. You are an ambassador of the Mayor and the City of Seattle
25. If you are on it, say you are on it

26 If you say you are on it, You’re on it

27. Take a pause for clarity

28. Emphasize collaboration and team work

29. Everyone is important
30. Take time to think about how you can help others succeed

31. Be Honest

32. Be cool. Don’t overreact & do the right thing.

33. Reduce, reuse, recycle

34. Be aware questions can be construed as orders

35. Communicate openly
36. Resolve conflicts early
37. Pause (briefly) to celebrate successes

38. Earn your taxpayer dollars

39. Small actions have big meanings

40. Have a “do-it-yourself” ethic

41. Do more with less

42. Treat everyone with respect, dignity and honor

43. Treat adversaries with respect & disagree agreeably

44. Challenge ideas, not people

45.Make measurable goals

46 .Honor Diversity


  • Nah Mean

    Remarkably similar to this list:
    http://bit.ly/N8ZAg

  • Fish Boy

    It seems so incomplete:

    47. Giver me liberty, or give me death

    48 .Neither a borrower nor a lender be.

    49. To thine own self be true.

    50. Never argue with the robo-poll results.

    51. Believe in Braodhead, he believes in you.

    52. Good Turks always turn to the right.

    48. Believe in Broadhead, he

  • Fish Boy

    I forgot one:

    53. It's only four years, make the most of it.

  • parksguy

    Is it true they ordered mats and blankets so the Mayor's staff can take naps in the morning and afternoon?? Start and end work on time? For the Mayor's staff?? I've never known the Seattle Mayor's office to work 8 hour days. 10-12 is a lot more like it. They probably think they don't have to work on weekends, holidays, or their vacations either.

  • Selma

    Remember to wear sunscreen.

  • West Seattle Waiter

    47 don't lie about academic credentials
    48 don't become a national/regional/local joke within one month
    49 have proper hygiene and dress appropriately
    50 don't waste time during transition writing kindergarten rules

  • http://www.politickling.com/ poliTICKLING

    49. Run background checks. On everyone.
    50. Learn what the General Fund is composed of BEFORE proposing how to bridge the deficit.
    51. Remember to give emails, offices, and authority AFTER you hire someone.
    52. There will come a day when town halls must stop and decisions will have to be made. Stop dreading that day.

  • fount

    hygiene? Give me a break. If you want a mayor that is a slick politician, there are plenty of cities you can go to. Frankly, I'm glad that when the citizens of our city had a choice between slick and substance, they made the right choice.

  • http://www.politickling.com/ poliTICKLING

    53. We will have to deal with more than transit issues. Allegedly.

  • lankypup

    More additions, Mike:

    Never put your finger where you can't put your hand.
    Smile with your eyes.
    Hot wok, cold oil.
    Stay away from Dori Monson.

  • dutchoven

    It works even better when it's set to music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzCoMG6ipHs

  • sorrytony

    I think it's kind of charming …

  • Zander

    60. Whatever

    61. Improvise all speeches

    62. Brainststorm common decisions

    63. Lecture people on history like your Howard Zinn and they just learned about fire.

    64. Make redundant rules like “Everyone works” and “Work when volunteers are present” and others than imply that you do you job like you are doing your job.

    65. Focus on cliches and hold them accountable.

    66. Meditate

    67. Mmm, donuts

    68. Snatch the pebbles

    69. Use the blogosphere like a Magic 8 ball

    70. Challenge every political agreement made before 2010.

  • Lucille Bluth

    Watch the sweets: You want your belt to buckle, not your chair.

  • Melva

    “All I Really Need To Know I Learned in the McGinn Administration”

  • FYI

    The Mayor was late and inappropriately dressed at an MLK event at Garfield HS. There was at least one other incident. This was an insult to those in attendance.

  • SJP

    47. Make shorter lists.

  • http://www.charlesredell.com/blog Charles

    Think they meant #16 to be as convoluted as that?
    16. Be clear about from whose perspective you are speaking (on behalf of the Mayor or not)

    Maybe it's meant as irony to keep the young'uns coming back for more.
    Never mind, I have a hard time believing that an administration that has been this inept in such a short time could be that clever.

  • Mr. Obvious

    Yes, everything the mayor does is just more proof that he's inept. Sheesh. Give it a break, people.

  • Matt_the_Engineer

    I like the list. And the idea of the list. I think my office could use a similar list.

  • Mikos

    @FYI: Hey! You trying getting up Cherry on a bicycle. He's going to be late to anything east of downtown and north of South Lake Union…

  • Mr. X

    47) Attack with the sun at your back

    48) Avoid Balkan entanglements

    49) Never start a land war in Asia

    50) Buy low, sell high.

  • Unruly

    God damn Seatteites sure love rules.

  • bashley

    How old are the people working in the Mayor's office? Does McGinn not hire professional adults?

  • ProphetofTruth

    Speechless that the Mayor's Office of a major metropolitan city needs this type of high school code of conduct poster. Isn't this common sense? (that's a rhetorical question)

  • hoary

    47. Never start a ground war in Asia.

  • Michael W.

    19. Don’t be the highest ranking person with a secret

    Can someone please explain to me what this means?

  • Sparky

    It basically means don't keep secrets. If you have a secret, tell your boss and/or someone with the authority/insight to handle the situation.

  • Wells

    Mike McGinn for Governor! Too many know-it-all Seattlers know next to nothing about transportation planning and are thus easily fooled by cretins like Grace Crunican. The deep-bore is a complete fiasco, a lie, a design that will make traffic worse, much worse. Line up WSDOT heads at the chopping block, lucky this isn't medieval europe.

  • http://www.charlesredell.com/blog Charles

    For the record, I am generally a strong supporter of McGinn's policies. But you have to admit that he hasn't be particularly good at implementing/moving them forward thus far, has he?

  • hmmmm

    71. When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
    72. No matter how many people you are trying to please, accept that somewhere someone is calling you an asshole.
    73. No good deed goes unpunished.
    74. A closed mouth gathers no foot.
    75. In the long run, we are all dead.
    76. Pragmatism: an excuse to screw someone.

  • Wells

    I'm convinced Mike found no other way to overthrow the ruling establishment and stop their terrible highway and transportation plans. He had to come out swinging.

    City Council went blithely along with the deep-bore, Mercer West, the poorly designed Alaskan Way boulevard, and who knows how many other big projects that didn't fulfill expectations. City Council approved “bulldozing” Seattle Center grounds for the monorail. The decision that Link would bypass Southcenter “lost” tens of thousands of riders daily. The decision that the South Lake Union Trolley would have its terminus at Westlake similarly “lost” significant ridership. Mayor Mike is a fighter Seattle can bet on winning.

  • Danny Noonan

    Always carry a lint brush, preferably one safe for beard and clothing use.

  • Another Unimpressed Guest

    My turn! My turn!
    #101. “You never get a second chance to make a first impression!”
    Oh … too late.
    Sorry McToast

  • WOW !

    Jesus Wells – are you McGinn ? It's a list of things that most people run their lives with on a daily basis. Only difference is they don't write the shit down, they just do it. No matter what the topic is you come back as the McGinn cheerleader. Read the comments, posters are having fun here. Get it – fun.

  • Wells

    I'm not surprised that Team McGinn has a list of rules for protocol. OK, it's a fun list, but it's also serious and a sure sign of McGinn taking responsibility. I'm cheering McGinn because I consider the deep-bore tunnel a tragic mistake, absolutely idiotic, and believe it must be stopped. I oppose the Surface/Transit option and prefer a cut/cover tunnel. WSDOT's Scenario 'G' 4-lane cut/cover is the most complete design so far, but a 'stacked' 6-lane cut/cover is also possible, has advantages, and should be considered. OK, you can go play now. Nevermind that silly deep-bore thingy, air and water pollution, the cost of driving, yadda yadda.

  • Pretension doesn't become you

    Yes, because nothing says style like the Garfield neighborhood…..

  • WOW !

    What number was “stop the deep-bore tunnel” on the list ?

  • City Employee (Really)

    One second — oh did you hear that — I just threw up all over my city issued computer — I wonder if they are going to make me recycle my barf….

    Leadership — set the goal and take action — not sit around in a circle jerk and make everyone feel good.

  • Wanting numbered comments

    Please. These look like brainstormed “ground rules” from a team-building meeting. They are too random and slightly redundant to be otherwise. I think it's fine for a new administrative team to brainstorm and list their values. I really doubt they are “Rules” dictated by the boss.

    BTW, still wanting numbered comments.

  • FYI

    Martin Luther King gatherings are not to be taken lightly and respect for the event is shown through dress. Being on time is common courtesy.

  • nnasm

    Yes… don't keep secrets…. unless of course you're following #15… Loose lips sinks ships. LOL

    So what is it Mike? Don't give away any secrets (#15)… or don't keep any secrets (#19)?

    Mike… if your being mayor wasn't so tragic, it would undoubtedly be a comedy because YOU ARE A JOKE!