I hope other council members will follow Peter Steinbrueck’s lead and post their picks for the new city council member on the Slog. The council has just two more weeks to pick a new colleague to replace Jim Compton (after which they’ll be required to vote every day until they do), which means there will be virtually no public process. (Steinbrueck is also calling for a public hearing on the council’s top three picks; currently, no public hearing is planned.)

Council members are barred from talking to each other about their choices; but they can post them publicly, as Steinbrueck has done.

Right on, Peter.

Seattle City Council Member Peter Steinbrueck just posted a short list here on the SLOG of the contenders he’d like to see fill Jim Compton’s vacancy. Steinbrueck released his list here in the wake of last Thursday’s hearing where all the candidates (about 100 of them) paraded before the council, making 3-minute spiels.

Each council member is supposed to have a list of their top 18 on Tuesday morning, and then each council member’s list will be overlayed—and that will generate the final 12 by the end of the day.

Steinbrueck posted his list today in the “Comments” section of the top 12 lists that Erica and I each posted on Thursday after watching the 90 plus hopefuls make their speeches in that 4-hour hearing.

I was glad to see that Steinbrueck already listed some of the same folks I did: Juan Bocanegra (Steinbrueck calls him “hellraiser”); Roger Valdez, Javier Valdez, and Denise “Cookie” Bouldin. Hopefully, when Steinbrueck exapnds his list to 18, it will include solid candidates like Jack Whisner and Peter Holmes.

Anyway: Go Denise Bouldin!

Here’s Steinbrueck’s post:

* Steinbrueck’s Preliminary Choices for Appointment to the City Council*

Stranger friends: here is my preliminary “short” list of confirmed nominees to fill the city council position recently vacated by Jim Compton. I will forward this names to the full council on Tuesday morning. I am reviewing candidates’ resumes all weekend, and will post more names as I make my decisions. I am also alerting my candidates as early as possible so they can hopefully benefit from my endorsement and get to work on obtaining support from other councilmembers over the weekend:

My choices are as follows:

# 2 Juan “hellraiser” Bocanegra
#16 Robert Zaponne
#18 Javier Valdez
#20 Gail Chiarello
#34 Stella Chao
#58 Roger Valdez
#59 Mark Henshaw
#79 Ross Baker
#87 Alice Woldt
#91 Denise “Cookie” Bouldin

Fortunately, we have some very good candidates to choose from. I am seeking the best and the brightest, who possess great personal interity, a proven record of commitment to community and the common good, and are willing to work hard and collegially (something lacking right now) on the council and run for election in the fall of ‘06. As I have eight additional choices to make between now and Tuesday, I welcome your comments and suggestions. Please email me at peter@petersteinbrueck.net.

cheers, peter

Posted by peter steinbrueck - January 14, 2006 03:18 PM

My sister called from Chicago to let me know about this. I’m beside myself with delight. Just giddy. Go Gulls.