Slog
News & ArtsWednesday, March 18, 2009
Politics My Run For Mayor
Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Slog reader Brendan says that my mayoral platform—my solemn promise to resign from office immediately after being sworn in—will work. And he speaks from experience:
Back when I was a young UW student, I successfully implemented the "get elected, then resign" system with the ASUW (Associated Students of the University of Washington) elections. A few friends and I were dissatisfied that an organization with a tremendous amount of funding was forever dominated by the greek system because of their electoral block, despite not representing much of the student body. We started the CHOICE party on a lark: Committee Helping Offer Intelligent Choices for Elections. Our platform was pretty simple:"Vote for up to 7 candidates you feel are qualified. If you don't find 7, vote for a CHOICE party member, and we'll resign immediately after taking office. The ASUW by-laws stipulated that elected officers who resigned were to be replaced by a search committee who accepted applications. In theory, someone who didn't have the finances or backing to run a real campaign, but was eminently qualified, could be selected to the spot."
We didn't submit any personal information for the voter guide, or speak at any of the voter information events. We were, hilariously, endorsed by the Daily, who referred to us, if memory serves, as "a motley crew of political misfits." (A letter to the editor claimed that I was just looking to bolster my resume (?!) with the effort.) In the end, I was elected to the board, though I suspect that had as much to do with my random placement at the top of the ballot as it did our political platform. I resigned, and was replaced by Per Meyer, a qualified guy who did a good job in the remainder of my "term."
Anyway, I'm proof positive that gaming the system can work and I wholeheartedly support your campaign. And in case you're curious about the story, the Daily archives have a few of the articles from 1995 that deal with the aftermath of the election/resignation [here, here, and here].
More info on my campaign for mayor coming soon.
2
Be sure to include a plank in your platform about how evil the Black Church is and about how Black women deserve to get AIDS because they voted against Prop 8.
3
Even on Slog, where you think the audience would be the most receptive of anywhere, the consensus on this was OVERWHELMINGLY against.
But yeah, fuck the true needs of Seattle, who cares about that. This will get you media attention. It's all about you, Dan. Why take local government seriously right?
Harvey Milk would be so proud. He died so you can run for office decades later promising "Lap Dance Day."
You seem pretty intent on making a fool of gay men everywhere. Thanks, fucker.
But yeah, fuck the true needs of Seattle, who cares about that. This will get you media attention. It's all about you, Dan. Why take local government seriously right?
Harvey Milk would be so proud. He died so you can run for office decades later promising "Lap Dance Day."
You seem pretty intent on making a fool of gay men everywhere. Thanks, fucker.
4
So some kid at UW running for some joke student group (ASUW??) more than ten years ago provides all the validation your ego needs for this stupid idea?
You had to reach pretty into a pretty old obscure place to find support for this idea. The SLOG comments seemed to say No, Please God No. Except for a few stupid sheep.
You had to reach pretty into a pretty old obscure place to find support for this idea. The SLOG comments seemed to say No, Please God No. Except for a few stupid sheep.
6
so you're going to resign and stick us with a mayor chosen by the city council, someone who didn't have the determination to run themselves?
what a nice gift to the city. you must really care about Seattle.
what a nice gift to the city. you must really care about Seattle.
8
I'm still not sure how I'm supposed to move to Seattle for only one day, but if you say it'll work, then I guess...
9
Actually, Dan's run for mayor was one of the major topics of conversation among the electeds seeking further office (KC Exec, Seattle City Council) last night at the Guinness-fueled 43rd Dems meeting).
Well, that and Peter Steinbreuck.
Well, that and Peter Steinbreuck.
11
OMG IT IS HAPPPENINGGGGG!!!!!
HOOooooooray Dan!! The SAVAGE MAYOR! Watch out Seattle there is a NEW power broker in town and he's gonna be playing da pornos wherever he wants!!
I am so excited I peed my pants finally a REAL person to be mayor who will give Seattle some R-E-S-P-E-C-T!! SOMEone who gets it! (and gives it out, boo--yah)
How can we volunteer? My cousin has a button making machine and I think we should have a big street party just like the one for OBAMA!!! and Kamala has the URLS all ready to go -- check your email from March 1, that is what she said.. I think we need to be fundraising on Facebook!! AND Twitter!!!!!!!!!!!!
HOOooooooray Dan!! The SAVAGE MAYOR! Watch out Seattle there is a NEW power broker in town and he's gonna be playing da pornos wherever he wants!!
I am so excited I peed my pants finally a REAL person to be mayor who will give Seattle some R-E-S-P-E-C-T!! SOMEone who gets it! (and gives it out, boo--yah)
How can we volunteer? My cousin has a button making machine and I think we should have a big street party just like the one for OBAMA!!! and Kamala has the URLS all ready to go -- check your email from March 1, that is what she said.. I think we need to be fundraising on Facebook!! AND Twitter!!!!!!!!!!!!
12
OK well if the college kid who ran for the "Associated Students of the University of Washington" in 1995 says it will work, then obviously, IT WILL WORK.
Finally, a mayoral candidate with sound judgement.
Finally, a mayoral candidate with sound judgement.
13
Dan,
Officialy I admidt this is unsolicited advice for an advice columnist....
Resignation smezzignation... "go for it" as they say ( oops it's a day late to be timely this far out from the next official green beer day )
and don't resign.
Your Mayoral ship will be anything but simpleton.
un-officially, it's the same.
Officialy I admidt this is unsolicited advice for an advice columnist....
Resignation smezzignation... "go for it" as they say ( oops it's a day late to be timely this far out from the next official green beer day )
and don't resign.
Your Mayoral ship will be anything but simpleton.
un-officially, it's the same.
16
yeah, fuck the trolls!!
fuck the people who rely on city government!! fuck them!!
fuck the people who work for city government!! fuck them too!!!
none of that shit matters if DAN gets on TEE-VEE and makes jokes about LAP DANCE DAY and GAY SEX SCANDALS!!
that will teach those fucking liberal "local government matters" dipshits what really matters -- more appearances on BILL MAHRER.
and Dan already said he'd quit and hand mayor over to someone else. who cares if we don't know who that is? FUCK IT THEY'RE ALL THE SAME. BUT DAN WILL BE ON JIMMY FALLON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
fuck the people who rely on city government!! fuck them!!
fuck the people who work for city government!! fuck them too!!!
none of that shit matters if DAN gets on TEE-VEE and makes jokes about LAP DANCE DAY and GAY SEX SCANDALS!!
that will teach those fucking liberal "local government matters" dipshits what really matters -- more appearances on BILL MAHRER.
and Dan already said he'd quit and hand mayor over to someone else. who cares if we don't know who that is? FUCK IT THEY'RE ALL THE SAME. BUT DAN WILL BE ON JIMMY FALLON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
17
Mayor of Seattle is unimportant.
Dan might as well have some fun with it.
He won't win and nobody cares about who will.
What, all of a sudden Mayor of Seattle has the power to change Seattle?
Mayor of Seattle doesn't decide DICK. Most people don't even know who the mayor is.
Dan is right. Mayor of Seattle is a JOKE and it's about time someone pointed that out.
Bring on the LAP DANCE DAY!!!!!
Show these retards who have faith in government that sex columnists have got the REAL POWER.
fucking retards should stop relying on government for shit anyways. try getting a job. let us have a little fun shaking things up at city hall.
ECB for police chief would be hilarious. Does police chief even DO ANYTHING?
Dan might as well have some fun with it.
He won't win and nobody cares about who will.
What, all of a sudden Mayor of Seattle has the power to change Seattle?
Mayor of Seattle doesn't decide DICK. Most people don't even know who the mayor is.
Dan is right. Mayor of Seattle is a JOKE and it's about time someone pointed that out.
Bring on the LAP DANCE DAY!!!!!
Show these retards who have faith in government that sex columnists have got the REAL POWER.
fucking retards should stop relying on government for shit anyways. try getting a job. let us have a little fun shaking things up at city hall.
ECB for police chief would be hilarious. Does police chief even DO ANYTHING?
18
Yeah, don't quit right away. Make a few fun decrees. Give the key to the City to a drag queen. Then, at the end of the day, resign, with a cake.
19
@16 Troll, don't bring Harvey Milk into this.
Harvey was a civil rights icon.
Dan can stomp on his grave and that is the point. He's free to stomp.
Personally I agree this sets back the cause of gay rights by making a mockery of politics. But there are more Harveys out there than Dans. We can outlast the Dans.
Harvey was a civil rights icon.
Dan can stomp on his grave and that is the point. He's free to stomp.
Personally I agree this sets back the cause of gay rights by making a mockery of politics. But there are more Harveys out there than Dans. We can outlast the Dans.
20
@3: Minus trolls (Red Wine, loveschild), I think most have the attitude that the only problem with this is that he might not be entirely serious. Which is okay, too. We can at least make Nickels the featured clown in a three ring circus. :D
21
@18 resign and just hand mayor over to someone else for four years?
someone who wasn't elected?
yeah, i guess that doesn't matter as much as a drag queen getting the key to the city. now that would be hysterical. not sure i would care about who was mayor after that. how much damage can one politician do, anyway?
someone who wasn't elected?
yeah, i guess that doesn't matter as much as a drag queen getting the key to the city. now that would be hysterical. not sure i would care about who was mayor after that. how much damage can one politician do, anyway?
22
I purchased the following domain names on March 1 and am happy to donate them and my time to the campaign (check your stranger e-mail dated March 1, Dan). Run for keeps, Dan. Politics used to be the province of citizens temporarily serving, not a class of professional politicians who have nothing but contempt for the true needs of the people.
SAVAGE2009.COM
DANSAVAGE2009.COM
DANSAVAGEFORMAYOR2009.COM
DANSAVAGEFORMAYOR.COM
SAVAGEFORMAYOR.COM
SAVAGE2009.COM
DANSAVAGE2009.COM
DANSAVAGEFORMAYOR2009.COM
DANSAVAGEFORMAYOR.COM
SAVAGEFORMAYOR.COM
23
Why are there so many people so opposed to this...to the point of harassing Dan Savage? Why are their so many critics on his own goddam blog? Why are some people so angry over the fact that Dan Savage might go on TV, or receive press from doing this?
Seriously, what the fuck? Some people have nothing better to do.
Seriously, what the fuck? Some people have nothing better to do.
24
Oh, yeah, I would like to see some, "I'm Dan Savage, and I approved this message." spots. Just put in some stuff for the sake of driving the wing-nuts insane.
28
keen political advice from a onetime candidate for student government? sounds like a plan for Seattle!
29
@15 - a 6 pack of hard cider will do.
I've got a sleeping bag and some pillows to spare and it has it's own light switch and somewhere there's a blow up air mattress if that helps.
I've got a sleeping bag and some pillows to spare and it has it's own light switch and somewhere there's a blow up air mattress if that helps.
30
@29 OMG ROFL I love it!!!! YOU are HILARIOUS, mister! I can totally picture it, moving into your attic for a day to vote for MAYOR SAVAGE, and using your air mattress LOL and you even have a light switch, WOW you thought of everything!!!!!!! Really funny comment. We should team up for the campaign my cousin has a button machine.
32
Dear readers: please look up the names "Victor A. Meyer" and "Mike the Mover." Also cf. Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura.
34
@ 3 - "Harvey Milk would be so proud. He died so you can run for office decades later promising 'Lap Dance Day.'"
Harsh, but very true. Thank you for this, Red Wine.
Harsh, but very true. Thank you for this, Red Wine.
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