Viva La Cola!

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.

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 Picks Luis Moscoso for State Rep., Position 2, 1st District

Heidi Munson is a slash-and-burn Tea Party conservative who emphasizes “liberty,” lower taxes, and ending illegal immigration, which she blames for high health-care costs.

Let’s start with the budget. Munson’s campaign website is pretty cute, addressing the voter directly:

“Have you seen what you’re paying in property taxes lately? How about sales tax? Pretty nice, huh? Where is all that money going? And why have we had such an enormous budget deficit?”

Answering her own questions, Munson concludes, “The size of government and taxes both need to be cut.” However, she doesn’t offer a single suggestion about which services she would de-fund. Perhaps if Munson had attended some of the budget forums held by Gov. Chris Gregoire this year, she would have heard what PubliCola did: People depend upon the essential state services they’re receiving.

Democrat Luis Moscoso is a dialed-in activist who has worked with the Snohomish County Citizens Committee for Human Rights, the Washington Public Employees Association. He is endorsed by the Snohomish County Executive and a majority of the county council. His top issues are public transportation (a critical issue in the sprawling 1st District, which encompasses northeast King County and south Snohomish County, including areas of Bothell, Woodinville, Mountlake Terrace, and Brier) energy efficiency, and college affordability. He has raised $40,000 to Munson’s $9,000. The other Democrat in the race, David Griffin, does not appear to have an active campaign.

PubliCola picks Luis Moscoso.




  • ivan

    But . . . but . . . Luís is for teachers! And he's supported by — BOOGA BOOGA — teachers' unions! How can Publicola be supporting HIM???? He's not for the education “reform” that you think we just have to have! His agenda is every bit the “boilerplate” Democratic agenda that Peggy Levesque's is, but you just have to get your licks in on teachers, don't you?

    Publicola-bashing aside, Luís is a great candidate, who deserves everyone's support.

  • Guest

    “the sprawling 1st District, which encompasses Edmonds, Lynnwood, Shoreline, Redmond, Kirkland, and part of the Kitsap Peninsula”

    Are you thinking of the first congressional district?

  • Nelsong

    ” People depend upon the essential state services they’re receiving. ” Dependance on the State = Socialism or even a form of Communism. Yes people need services but they must also pay for the quality of services they recieve (IE. School Districts with high levies for better education Bainbridge, shorline, Bellevuew ETC. ) Better yet look at your phone bill sometime and see how much tax goes to 911 , medic 1 and other services.. Poor people don't pay these same taxes but recieve the same benefits ….NOT and eqitable system…..

  • mt_spurr

    nelsong – what wrong headed thinking you have. Washington State has no income taxes, we have one of the most regressive tax systems in the country with our high sales tax rates; so in essence, poor people pay more than their fair share for government services.

    You need to go back and learn more about microeconomics and public finance before you go and spout off repeating talking pointing points like some robotic parrot learning from right-wing radio.

  • Joe Conservative

    Typical leftist attack on the person's character, saying she's a “slash and burn” type, but not explaining it, then diminishing a simple comment by calling her comments “cute.”

    Luis is for teachers UNIONS, like he's for all other kinds of UNIONS. He's a person who said that he wasn't sure which taxes he'd cut, or which taxes he'd raise. What a middle-of-the-road thing to say. It makes me suspect he'd be more of the same reckless spenders we already see spending this state into bankruptcy, but instead of cutting back, just increase taxes. Gregoire is a poster-child for waste, and Luis has not shown any concern for changing that practice of tax and [over-]spend.

    Everything he says tells me he would increase the government dependence and support the entitlement mentality that is so pandemic in society today. Even the health care law is seen by leftists as a “right.” Heidi is a clear thinker, and has a grounded set of morals and I am confident she will assess spending bills and other legislation presented to the State's Representatives with a goal of being fiscally responsible, fair, and while listening to her constituents.

  • Num7kid

    Do some home work on this guy all the way back to dubuque, iowa. U just may find some skeletons in his closet. That’s why he ran for office there and not here.

  • Iconogasm

    As far as I know he has lived in the area for the last 30 years at least. He’s running here because he lives here, works here and has raised a family here.
    Your suggested skeletons are total fiction, unless you can actually come up with something concrete to accuse him of.