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News & ArtsFriday, April 24, 2009
Politics Candidate Cam
Posted by Dominic Holden on Fri, Apr 24, 2009 at 1:01 PM
At Washington Buzz, a political happy hour last night, campaign managers trotted around their city-council candidates like ponies. Citizens, clutching cocktails and score cards, grilled over a dozen incumbents and challengers, who had to wear traffic-safety vests. Event sponsor Washington Bus promised “no grandstanding and no speeches, just you, your beer, and your future city council.” The more beer everyone drank, the louder it got; the more I drank, the less awkward it became. And here are pictures of the scene:
First I saw Cherlyn Walden, left, sticking the tough questions to City Council Member Nick Licata. “I appreciated the thoughtfulness of his answer,” said Walden, 23, a member of the Institute for a Democratic Future. She had asked Licata what distinguishes him from other candidates. “He said he has a proven track record," she told me, "and some things I couldn’t hear.”
Martin Kaplan (right), an architect who serves on the Seattle Planning Commission, is running against Licata. Kaplan says Licata has neglected his duties on the city council as a legislator to be an advocate for lonely causes—leaving Licata on the desolate side of eight-to-one votes. For example, he says, Licata advocated that the Sonics leave Seattle to push a “cultural discussion.” Kaplan would have voted to keep the team here, like any other business. (On the left is Kaplan’s new campaign manager Dan Joyner.)
Standing on the right is Amanda Myer, who was gathering petition signatures for Seattle Initiative 100, which would stop the city from building a new jail. She asked me to sign it, and so I did. On the left is Seattle Times reporter Emily Heffter (and her infamous purse straps), who wouldn’t sign the petition. She said something about how she might have to write about the measure at some point and can’t take a position for it or against it because Times reporters don’t take sides in political debates or something. Pretenses of neutrality aside: I like Emily and her taste in purses.
Look at this lovely gaggle. The candidate in back is Dorsol Plants, who is running for the seat being vacated by Jan Drago. Plants is a 25-year-old vet who toured Iraq twice. “I was young, I was naïve, and I believed in what my country was doing,” he says. “I drank the Kool-Aid.” Up front with the crazy grin is Rusty Williams, who is running for the council seat being abandoned by McIver. On the left is Slog commenter Original Monique, over her shoulder is commenter Fleshy Man Toy, and on the right is the commenter Aislinn.
More after the jump.
Look, everybody, it’s the communications director of Washington Bus, Toby Crittenden. We’re supposed talk about how cute he is, I think. He’s cute, isn’t he? SAY IT.
City Council Member Richard Conlin was deflecting questions from a strident man with pegged jeans in the back corner when me and this woman Teena, whose last name I failed to write down, saved him. Is Conlin shaking with fear in his hazard-orange vest due to oncoming challengers? “I’m feeling pretty comfortable,” he said.
Here is Jordan Royer, who has a logo that looks like the Rainier Beer logo. Royer, of course, was drinking beer. But was it Rainier? “I think it’s Deschutes,” he said. Traitor.
"Kaplan says Licata has neglected his duties on the city council as a legislator to be an advocate for lonely causes—leaving Licata on the desolate side of eight-to-one votes."
Aw right! More 9-0 votes, that's what we need around here.
I WILL SHUN THIS BUS UNTIL THEY GET SOME PEOPLE OF COLOR IN ATTENDANCE.
No one should underestimate him. He is realistic about his chances in this election, but I know from having worked with him that he will persevere, and that he will be heard from again.
If I lived in the city limits, I would be voting for Dorsol, and for David Ginsberg, another very high-quality person from the West Seattle area, who demonstrated his leadership skills in the 2008 campaign cycle. Dorsol and David are the kind of citizens we need in public life in this city.
@1, @28: Thanks! Despite rumors to the contrary, there are lots of pretty lady-Sloggers!
Why was Conlin's vest so goofy?
I wish I could go to a slog happy but I currently live in Tallahassee and the commute from here to Seattle is just a bit too far. :(
goofy is the Conlin word for all seasons - I used to think it endearing - now I think he is a lightweight
In 2008 of scores of pieces of legislation, Licata voted alone on only 3 issues (five separate votes).
Licata has not once voted alone in 2009 and the single instance this year that he wasn't on the winning side of a vote he was joined by 2 other Councilmembers. Finally, only 3 Councilmembers have won more votes than Licata this year last I counted (about two weeks ago).
The Stranger should know better - they used to like the guy - but - word is Licata stopped leaking every coucil move to them and the honey moon ended.
He is the best brain on the council, very wonkish and progressive to the every atom of his being.
Love him, will vote for him eternally.
Pinko Fag
Go Nick!
Just because we weren't in the photos doesn't mean we're not involved, organizing or even in charge. There are two women of color on the board, both of whom serve on two committees, and one man of color. Our membership and volunteer base is way more diverse than the State of Washington. Just come out to one of our bus trips where we actually register, educate and mobilize voters in elections.
According to the Office of Financial Management, Washington State is about 76% White, 3% African American, 1% Native American, almost 7% Asian Pacific Islander, 9% Hispanic/Latino and almost 3% mixed race.
The Washington Bus is an open and welcoming organization. We want more participation and dialog from the community. If you have concerns about our work, our outreach, or who we represent, please ask us.
We appreciate being challenged, it pushes us to answer the community and close communication gaps. But blogging and commenting incorrect information doesn't help anyone.
You may not agree with us but you can at least communicate with us. The door of the Bus is open.
~~~mi dos centavos
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