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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.

Extra Fizz: Sheriff Rahr for Congress?

That Washington   April 1, 2011 at 11:45 am Josh Feit

Will another sheriff, King County Sheriff Sue Rahr, end up in the U.S. Congress? Rahr’s longtime political consultant Cathy Allen tells PubliCola she thinks the sheriff, a conservative who’s well-liked by liberals for her feminist credentials and progressive views on alternative sentencing, could be a winner after redistricting potentially carves up the eighth district. Allen says she’s been pushing Rahr to run and Rahr hasn’t shot down the idea.

Last night at the annual Municipal League dinner, Allen, in fact, introduced Rahr to folks at her table as “your next congresswoman.”

The redistricting guessing game is a jumble, but Allen says if the eighth is split in two, with a more Democratic district emerging north of I-90 (leaving Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert with a safe GOP seat south of I-90)—a true moderate swing district that would favor a crossover candidate such as Rahr.

We have a call in to Rahr.

UPDATE: We didn’t talk to Sheriff Rahr, but we did just talk to King County Sheriff’s spokesman John Urquhart who was adamant when he told us Rahr has “is not running for another office. It’s not going to happen.” He said he’s heard the rumors; he cited a Rahr vs. Cantwell rumor, and said “she has no intention of running.”

UPDATE: Urquhart reports that he has talked to Sheriff Rahr, and she confirmed that it’s not going to happen, adding: “Oh, that Cathy.”

P.S. Gotta admit, I hadn’t heard the Rahr vs. Cantwell rumor. The GOP should think about that.


  • MVH

    Would Sheriff Rahr run as a Republican or a Democrat?

  • Just Saying

    Why bother even printing Cathy Allen’s drivel? Of course she pushing one of her (very few) currently elected official clients towards a non-yet-created office. I’m sure that Ceis is really listening to Cathy’s perspective on where to site the 10th CD. Charging current clients that don’t know how ineffective her shop is the how she pays the bills. That’s why Larry Phillips is now making noises about the Mayor’s Office after her stellar consulting for Larry Phillips for Executive. Remember those terrible commercials – Future’s so bright you got to wear shades? When was the last time Cathy won a competitive, high profile race for a Democratic candidate? There’s a reason you didn’t see Christian Sinderman or Kelly Evans on UpFront every week before an election…they’re running winning campaigns.

  • MVH

    Ouch and double ouch. All good points, JS.

  • Papi

    Oh, so Rahr’s one of Cathy’s Purple People?

  • Guest

    Is Cola still doing comment of the day/week? “There’s a reason you didn’t see Christian Sinderman or Kelly Evans on UpFront every week before an election…they’re running winning campaigns. ” is pure gold.

  • http://www.facebook.com/michael.j.maddux Michaelp

    So does this cement Cathy Allen as a GOP strategist? And what does that say about Jean Godden?

  • BlueCollarEnviro

    Cathy’s MOO is to do a poll, show it to the well-known person that he or she is a shoe-in, and then get her/him to sign on the dotted line to hire Cathy. Then Cathy introduces the candidate to the financiers who will help the candidate buy the election.

    It has stopped working along the way. Jim Compton’s getting caught red-handed seems to have sent Cathy’s consulting career into a downward spiral.

  • Mikos

    It’s apparently news to you guys that consultants, not party heads, do most of the significant candidate recruiting.

  • Miss Ruby

    Cathy is a political consultant who works with candidates who she thinks would be great legislators, of both parties. Sen. Lisa Murkowski was her last success (and Christian loses a few now and again). There is oft quoted research that says that women have to be asked at least three times before they consider running for office. Showing a potential candidate that there is support – in voters and money – is a great way to encourage more women (and people in general) to run. I don’t get all the hating; Cathy is a good consultant and her clients are not sheep.

  • Miss Ruby

    Cathy is a political consultant who works with candidates who she thinks would be great legislators, of both parties. Sen. Lisa Murkowski was her last success (and Christian loses a few now and again). There is oft quoted research that says that women have to be asked at least three times before they consider running for office. Showing a potential candidate that there is support – in voters and money – is a great way to encourage more women (and people in general) to run. I don’t get all the hating; Cathy is a good consultant and her clients are not sheep.

  • Mt_redoubt

    I guess no one is remembering the Seattle PI series on the King County Sheriff’s Office, Conduct Unbecoming. Sue Rahr, and former Executive Assistant Denise Turner.

  • guest

    Anybody who can survive in politics as an elected official, campaign consultant or just plain old hack deserves a lot more slack than is cut by the commentators here…. gossip and gossip columns are surely titillating but the vitriol ought to be left at home. I guess that’s what editors used to do for the letters column….

  • Natehc

    I bet this is Cathy

  • Natehc

    I bet this is Cathy

  • Natehc

    I bet this is Cathy

  • BlueCollarEnviro

    It’s the corruption that’s getting hated on Cathy / Miss Ruby.

  • BlueCollarEnviro

    It’s the corruption that’s getting hated on Cathy / Miss Ruby.

  • BlueCollarEnviro

    Whatever, Cathy. You’ve run nasty whispering / mudslinging campaign against your candidates’ opponents. You have no compunction about destroying your opponents’ reputations. Why should your critics cut you any more slack than you would cut them?

    And you like anonymously trolling blogs, or having your underlings do so, to spread your smears.

    As I’ve said: I will vote against any candidate you work for, based on the corrupt track records of the people you’ve helped elect.

  • GutReaction

    great, just what we need. another republican sheriff in congress whose vacuous leadership in the sheriff’s department allowed king county’s cowboy deputies run roughshod over the citizens and their constitutional rights for years. there’s a reason why this sheriff’s department is one of the last big police departments to avoid outside oversight efforts, and it begins at the top.

  • BlueCollarEnviro

    If you want to claim credit for the politicians we’re stuck with, be my guest.