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.

Rumbaugh Camp Won’t Predict Election Outcome

I called state supreme court candidate Stan Rumbaugh’s campaign today and asked if they had any prediction for his race tonight. Rumbaugh is challenging Justice Jim Johnson, a conservative best known for his anti-gay rights and anti-choice opinions.

Rumbaugh campaign manager Justin D. Leighton said that he wasn’t interested in tempting fate today. “You’ve got as good a guess as anybody.”

He did note that although Rumbaugh has only been in the race for eight weeks, Public Disclosure Commission records show that he has raised $115,000 to Johnson’s $125,000. Plus, he’s cashed in on independent expenditures: Independent organizations have dropped nearly $100,000 on Rumbaugh’s behalf.

Separately, Rumbaugh himself went on the record about what the Supreme Court will be working on in the coming year, citing a potential challenge to the high-earners income tax initiative, I-1098. “I-1098 might be one of the biggest cases to come before the court.”

Justice Johnson’s campaign office did not return a call or email.


  • http://43rddemocrats.org Michael M.

    I predict that Rumbaugh will lose, and Wiggins will come in 2nd, but enough people in Pierce County will vote for the third guy that nobody cracks 50%.

    And Madsen wins in a landslide.

  • http://peacetreefarm.org N in Seattle

    And Madsen wins in a landslide.

    Really going out there on a limb, aren’t you, Michael?

    I think your LD Chair will see through this attempt to suck up. :-)

  • http://43rddemocrats.org Michael M.

    Pffft! I doubt Hillary or Rob read the ‘Cola.