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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.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

People were afraid that blogging would change journalism. Instead, we believe journalism can change blogging. Twenty-first century journalism may look and feel different, and yes Erica isn't afraid to get cranky, but we're committed to making sure online news still delivers independent, reliable, even-keeled coverage. And most of all, we're committed to making sure the coverage sparks honest civic debate.

Bringing you cola for the people, PubliCola is named after Publius Valerius PubliCola, the alias for the authors of the Federalist Papers—the original bloggers.

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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.

A PubliColaTV Interview: Gregg Bennett, Republican Hopeful in Seattle ‘Burbs

2010 Election, Politics   July 12, 2010 at 2:26 pm Bryce McKay

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-dJwdBlkao[/youtube]

State Senator Rodney Tom (D-48, Medina) is facing a stiff challenge from Republican candidate Gregg Bennett. This week, PubliColaTV sat down with Bennett at the Bellevue Hyatt Plaza to talk about his platform.

The 48th legislative district is the Eastside Seattle suburban swing turf battlefield that includes Bellevue, Medina, Redmond—essentially, a techie refuge of largely Independent voters. Tom is a moderate-to-conservative Democrat, and Bennett is a moderate Republican.

In the vid, Bennett, an investor and start-up consultant, focused on improving the business climate in Washington State. Bennett takes issue with the B&O tax (a flat tax on revenue, rather than profits, for businesses across the state), and with the fact that our unemployment taxes and worker’s compensation taxes are among the highest in the country. And he also flags  the minimum wage [$8.55 an hour], the highest in the country.

Washington State Democrats’ communications director Anne Martens fired back, saying, “The minimum wage is Washington State voter-approved.” And she pointed out that Forbes disagrees with Bennett. “Forbes has ranked us in the top 5 [states in the country] for businesses for the last four years in a row.”

Bennett also criticized the Democratic caucus over the budget, saying “the day of reckoning is here.”  It’s worth noting, though, that his opponent, Tom, who switched over to the Democratic party in 2006, actually opposed the budget to the point that Democratic Sen.Majority Leader Lisa Brown kicked Tom out of budget negotiations this year.

But most of Bennett’s focus has been on education reform (which will be a huge issue in the eastside races this year). Bennett  has released a “Blueprint for Education Reform” on his website. Still, the League of Education Voters and Stand for Children (two education reform advocacy groups) both endorsed Tom. But Bennett has the money. He’s raised $269,000 in his campaign for the state senate compared to Tom’s $81,000. Bennett’s warchest includes financing from the State Republican Senatorial Committee, demonstrating the state GOP’s priority—taking back the Eastside, which was once a Red stronghold.

We also talked to Bennett about social issues—an area where, he says, he parts ways with the GOP. We’ll have more on that in follow up post and video clip.

Senator Tom has not returned a call for comments.




  • Kellymunn

    Senator Tom has been and will continue to be an extraordinary advocate for education. He wants change in education, and knows it will cost. He says what is difficult to say, and does what is difficult to do. We need more legislators like Rodney Tom. There are very, very few senators in the legislature that understand education issues. We would be crazy to unseat him.

  • Inglewood1965

    Gregg Bennett is actually ready to do something about education and isn't afraid to get it done – unlike Rodney Tom. Time for someone who won't stick his finger in the wind, time for integrity and time for Gregg Bennett!

  • Fix schools and lower taxes!

    Rodney Tom is exactly what we need more of in Olympia. A true centrist and solution seeker whose ideas and answers should be implemented so our precious tax dollars deliver more results. A fiscal conservative but socially progressive with priorities that match citizen need…not the special interest groups.