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.

x close
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 Joe McDermott for King County Council, District 8

2010 Election, Opinion, Politics   October 25, 2010 at 6:38 pm PublicolaPicks

State Sen. Joe McDermott is the clear choice in the race to fill the King County Council seat formerly occupied by now-King County Executive Dow Constantine.

In the senate, McDermott took up the fight for initiative reform last year, passing a bill to make signature gatherers register with the state (it was subsequently killed by Republicans in the House). He was also a vocal advocate for legislation that would have allowed local governments to criminalize killing or injuring a biker or pedestrian with an automobile (a PubliCola cause célèbre); he supported a state income tax; and he sponsored this year’s legislation overturning Tim Eyman’s initiative that required a two-thirds vote of the legislature to raise taxes (legislation that is now threatened by Eyman’s Initiative 1053). McDermott, once a sleepy legislator, was all action last session.  This bodes well.

As a county council member, McDermott has pledged to support a 0.2-percent sales tax increase to pay for public safety and to do everything in his power to oppose Glacier Northwest’s gravel-mining operation on Maury Island—an ongoing battle in the 34th District. That’s one reason he has the support of state Rep. Sharon Nelson, Constantine, and a long list of environmental groups as well as the King County Democrats. McDermott also received the highest possible ranking, “Outstanding,” from the Municipal League of King County.

His opponent, Diana Toledo, is a former county animal-control manager who says she’ll cut county salaries and create a truly “nonpartisan” county council.

To read all of our 60-plus PubliCola Picks, including our initial batch of 32 No Brainers, click here.




  • VoteColaSpicoli

    I would like to quote John Martin who wrote this in an early columb:

    “I would like to know what Joe did to earn your vote. I haven’t heard anything from him save how he wishes to impose his personal values upon the rest of us. Like his “establishing a progressive tax base” ideology. What this means, is he feels justified in stealing as much from your family as humanly possible. He wants to tax anything and everything. His ideology now includes taxing your food. And if anything saves the county money, he isn’t interested. How can you possibly accept this, Funkietoo? I am a registered Democrat. I was once fairly loyal to the party. But I can no longer tolerate their social engineering.

    Join me, my fellow Democrats. Taxing food is NOT a liberal value. Denying corruption is NOT a liberal value. Refusing to prosecute corruption is NOT a liberal value. Taxing children’s snacks is criminal.

    Funkietoo, the King County budget has doubled in the last ten years. The county is not broke. They simply refuse to stop spending. They threaten to close down parks claiming we cannot afford to maintain them…All while budgeting money to open NEW parks. If you want more of this, feel free to vote for Joe.

    This kind of thieving dishonesty is NOT a liberal value. Vote for Diana Toledo. She will stop the thievery.”

  • ivan

    You’re a liar and a troll. There is no such thing as a “registered Democrat” in this state, and Joe McDermott is totally opposed to taxing food.

    Your candidate Toledo is unqualified to hold the position, she’ll be lucky to get 30 percent of the vote, and we’ll be rid of her and her claque of ignorant comment-thread spammers for god after November 2. Now get the hell on out of here, and quit insulting our intelligence.

  • Brent

    Being a lifelong Democrat may be good enough to get the Publicola and Stranger endorsements, but it goes nowhere with me.

    From focusing on road maintenance before any new road construction, to moving from politically-oriented to service-oriented bus routes, to reducing the number of locked-up criminals, to not holding human services funding hostage to voting to give the police a raise while not increasing their accountability, the county needs to rethink the way it has done business.

    Unfortunately, the challengers have been bereft of sensible ideas.

    Grrrr.

  • VoteColaSpicoli

    @Ivan – It’s a shame that you have to resort to name calling. You resort to the Goebbles school of propoganda, which is to call your opponent a liar as you spin your own web of lies.

    Joe McDermott authored the Candy, Bottled Water, and other foods tax last year as a State Senator. You say he is totally opposed to taxing food? Are you so out of touch that you follow McDermott blindly without even being aware of his record? Or does your definition of food not include chicken noodle soup, nut and fruit snacks, and some fruit juices?

    Your deciet and intimidation tactics don’t work against an educated audience.

  • VoteColaSpicoli

    @Brent, Bravo! You are on the money. We need politicians that look at the issues and vote what is best for the community, not just what the political machine dictates.

  • ivan

    Candy is not food. Bottled water is a luxury. High fructose corn syrup with artificial fruit flavor is not fruit juice. Don’t lecture anyone on “deciet” when you can’t even spell it. Only the ignorant support your no-hope candidate, and your posts are all the proof we need of that.

  • Doc Johnson

    Diana Toledo is a joke. She is a former low-level manager who claims she was a major player in County government, but hasn’t been able to get any support except from Republicans Reagan Dunn and Kathy Lambert. She claims to be opposed to partisan caucuses, but has visited the Republican caucus (which, by all accounts, she would join if elected). She also claims there is tons of money laying around in KC government, but has been unable to identify a single cut she would propose.

    Joe McDermott, on the other hand, is an experienced legislator with support from across the community. He whipped Dopey Diana in the primary (60 percent to 19 percent) and will do so again. Get to work finding a real job, Diana, before that unemployment money runs out…

  • Perfect Voter

    VCS is a real piece of work. He bought into the lies from the candy and soft drink industries that the tax also includes some food items.

    Well I did some shopping the other day and bought some of those things held up by the “grocer” (really 3rd string Hollywood actor) in the TV ads. And guess what? The only thing I paid tax on was the 29-cent candy bar — a whopping 3 cents tax on two large bags of groceries.

    I’m no fan of Joe McDermott, but I’m with him on this one. This McDermott represents West Seattle in the Legislature and he will represent West Seattle on the County Council. Problem is, we live on that sliver of Beacon Hill that was gerrymandered into his West Seattle district. We’ve never seen him over here, and have received but one piece of standard-issue political mail, the ubiquitous color postcard from him. I may abstain on this one.

  • WestSeattle

    You forgot to mention she is also endorsed by Shawn McEvoy (D) Normandy Park Council Member and former King County Council Candidate, Jack Block (D) Former Port Commissioner, Bill Hoffman (D) Congressional Candidate and the list goes on. She is doing what we the people voted for, bringing people and parties together. I find it amusing that your insult of Diana Toledo is that she would actually meet with both parties……..she has been to the 34th Dems meetings as well. She will actually go to meetings with both sides…must be a scary thought for you. She is going to win and in a year or two even you guys will be thankful.

  • kurisu

    If there’s anyone being intimidating here it’s the American Beverage Ass. and the millions they’re dumping into their “citizens” initiative.

  • VoteColaSpicoli

    @Doc (aka Ivan) Johnson,

    You hate speach does nothing but turn people off. The voters of King County District 8 have had 5 months to get to know the candidates through debates, interviews, and public record. The fact of the matter is that Diana has give rock solid answers to the question of how do we reduce the budget deficit, strengthen the economy, and put people back to work. The link below is just a sample of her “not (hah!) giving specifics about how to save money. Again, please; just be honest in your posts.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3StCKY8r-A

    We know that the old gaurd political machine “prepped” Joe for the debates, sadly, the political machines ideas are stale and out of date; and are what got us into this mess to begin with. His answers are canned; which is why he only comes up with the same old answers of “we must raise taxes or cut services.”

    Diana’s ideas are fresh, responsible, and acheivable; and it all starts by bringing the council together.

    Stop throwing rocks and hiding behind bushes. If you really believe your candidate is the best person for the job tell us why. Otherwise, please vote Diana Toledo… Ivan, in your heart you know you want to.