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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.

Fitzgibbon, Gaining Momentum, Gets Labor Endorsement

Politics, This Washington   June 24, 2010 at 12:54 pm Josh Feit

Joe Fitzgibbon, the former aide to Seattle state Rep. Sharon Nelson (D-34) who’s running to replace Nelson (she’s replacing Joe McDermott in the state Senate), is catching some momentum. The wonky, 23-year-old Burien land commissioner scored the sole endorsement of the Service Employees International Union  and the Washington Federation of State Employees today in his race against two fellow Democrats, Mike Heavey and Marcee Stone, and an Independent, Geoff McElroy.

SEIU, a powerhouse local political player, represents more than 100,000 people, mostly nurses and workers in the long-term and child care industries. Fitzgibbon was also recently endorsed by the Washington State Labor Council (he shares that one with Stone) and has gotten sole endorsements from liberal and environmental groups like Fuse, The Washington Bus, the Sierra Club, and the Washington Conservation Voters.

Stone, a campaign finance reform activist, got the sole endorsement of the 34th District Democrats and, just yesterday, of the Metropolitan Democratic Club.  Heavey, a King County Council aide, son of King County Superior Judge Mike Heavey, and former field organizer for King County Council Executive Dow Constantine, is leading in fundraising (with about $20,000 on hand compared to Fitzgibbon’s $15,000).  This week Heavey got the sole endorsement of the education reform group Stand for Children.

The fourth candidate is Burien tavern owner McElroy, an Independent who has raised just $5,000.




  • 42-year Seattleite

    Sorry but in West Seattle nothing beats the Heavey name. Mike is 3rd-generation Heavey on the ballot there.

  • cyn cyn cynical

    And that makes him qualified?

  • Frances

    Has West Seattle forgotten that the eldest Heavey left his office in an embarrassing scandal and his father is currently being charged with misconduct? The youngest Heavey is void of original thought and basic understand of the issues. I think the 34th needs to be done with the Heavey family for a while.

  • http://twitter.com/fattailed fattailed

    Heavey will surely get the same family name benefit from his dad as the Royer boy got from his dad in that city council race last year.

  • Josh Feit

    Fattailed, if we were only still doing Cola “Comment of the Day” ….

    I'm not sure why we're not really.

  • ivan

    According to Eli Sanders at the Stranger, Joe also has been endorsed by the Washington Federation of State Employees, also a biggie. Did you miss that Josh?

  • gregarious

    does it matter to west seattle that joe has the best grasp on the issues, that when sitting next to joe on the stage, heavey seems confused, can't answer a question with anything that sounds like an original thought?

  • Dr. Dre

    great, another life-long politician in the making…….no thanks.

  • justin

    MDC considered 3 fine candidates in this race. We decided that Marcee Stone deserved our endorsement. We look forward to supporting Joe Fitzgibbon and Mike Heavey in elections to come.

  • Easy E

    Way too young. Yeah he was on the Burien Planning Commission, however his actions pertaining to the Shoreline Management Plan, left people disenchanted or indifferent about what type of job he did.

    Some of us felt he just didn't have the understanding of a long-term homeowner, and couldn't empathize with how the Burien's SMP could affect property owners. Further, he gave the impression (to me) that it was protect the environment at all costs–with much regard to personal property rights.

    As a left leaning modertate, I see he has some potential. But, he needs to “grow up” a bit, and garner more experience–perhaps at the local level. It's too soon for him to jump into the big game.