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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.

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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.

Afternoon Jolt: The AG’s Race

Jolt, Politics, This Washington   February 3, 2011 at 5:07 pm Afternoon Jolt

No winner or loser today, just a bonafide jolt: King County Council member Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, will officially put his name in the running for attorney general next week, PubliCola hears. Ferguson would be the first person to declare for the seat now held by Republican Rob McKenna, who’s expected to run for governor.

Ferguson’s county council colleague, Republican Reagan Dunn, is also expected to run.

Ferguson will be a formidable opponent anyone who takes him on. In his first race for office in 2003, he was a door-knocking machine, defeating a 20-year-incumbent, council member Cynthia Sullivan. Forced to run again two years later because the council was cut from 13 members to nine, he beat another incumbent, Carolyn Edmonds, in the primary. (He went on to defeat a Republican challenger with 74 percent of the vote). Dunn has been on the council since 2005.

Their impending showdown to be the state’s top cop could help account for two law-and-order bills filed recently at the council. The first, filed by Dunn last week, would express the council’s support for a controversial state legislation protecting victims of sexual crimes from having to face defendants directly in court. The ACLU and defense attorneys oppose the bill because they say it violates a defendant’s constitutional right to face his or her accuser in court. State Rep. Roger Goodman (D-45, Kirkland)—a pot-reform liberal who often pushes tough-on-crime legislation to balance out his image—proposed the bill after a woman threatened to jump from the King County Courthouse rather than answer questions from the man she had accused of molesting her, who was representing himself in court.

“This young woman’s trauma is a great example of why we must become more sensitive to the victims of sexual crimes,” Dunn said in a statement. “Simple revisions to court rules could go a long way to protecting the well being of victims.  At the same time, more victims might feel comfortable coming forward and reporting attacks.”
The second county council proposal, filed just a week after Dunn’s by Ferguson, would use part of a $1.5 million reserve fund to pay for criminal prosecutions in the King County Prosecutor’s office. “Public safety is my number-one concern,” Ferguson said in his own statement. “Without action … judges may be forced to release dangerous felons awaiting trial into the community because speedy trial requirements are not met. Victims will suffer as cases go unfiled. Defendants may lose access to certain treatment options designed to keep them from becoming repeat offenders.”
Neither Dunn’s nor Ferguson’s proposal has been queued up on any council committee’s agenda.


  • Dr. Tchock

    How is ol’ Ron McKenna?
    Not a match, the board goes back.

  • hoary

    This race is going to be a barn burner. Can’t wait.

  • handy capper

    usually a nonseattleite does better state wide; also for AG it’s fairly essential to either have prosecutorial experience or substantial legal experience. yes, mckenna didn’t, but I’d say the rule applies more to a D than an R who is presumptively tough on crime.
    if someone with a good legal background runs against ferguson he’ll have a tough time. at the same time he gets a free shot as his council seat isn’t up…so why not run?

  • Anonymous

    There is a large group of Democrats who do not support Ferguson that has not been heard that he his taking for granted, but that is his problem.

    Ferguson supported cutting the County budget down to the bone, which included the courts, prosecutor, and law enforcement, not good for some who wants to be AG.

    I haven’t checked, but did he vote to make Jane Hague council chair for this year, when she is up for re-election? That would be interesting since she is a Republican.

  • MVH

    The County Council Chair this year is Larry Gossett, a Democrat. Hague is vice chair.

  • Guest

    Ferguson is a bit of an enigma. I’m not really sure what he stands for other than his own political career.

    He was a vocal opponent of Sound Transit when he first ran for the Council, but then claimed it was just about the budget (as I recall, Sullivan was a big ST supporter). As mentioned above, he has cut budgets quite willingly, but he has proposed increased taxes to support social services. His arrogance, political ambition, and rocky relationships with other councilmembers are no secret in political circles.

    People need to believe you have integrity, have the skills to do the job, and actually stand for something. The first step to get people to believe it is to actually possess these traits.

    Also, you can’t win AG by doorbelling. Getting in the race early and trying to scare any other Dem out is certainly his only chance.