City Council Member Nick Licata’s reelection campaign has pretty much got his next term in the bag—assuming the winds don't change. He’s outraising his two challengers in this race by over $30,000 each and he has dusted opponents in his previous two reelections by four-to-one margins. At a fundraiser held last night at the Crocodile, he trotted out support from local politicos, including music industry advocates David Meinert and Matt Fox, former city council member Peter Steinbrueck, and a several others running for local office. (Licata’s campaign manager couldn’t get in because he’s only 19 years old, if that reflects on his confidence in the race.) The show hit a crescendo with a solo set by the Presidents of the United States’ lead singer Chris Ballew. The venue was just a few blocks from Spitfire, where, the night before, architect Marty Kaplan held his campaign kickoff. Steinbrueck attended that event, too, where he said, “My loyalty is to Nick.” Kaplan blasted Licata as an anti-Sonics, anti-business obstructionist.

Licata turns Kapln’s argument about the Sonics on its heels, painting the city residents as the wise business investors who jettisoned an unfruitful drain. “I was in favor of a reasonable rate of return from the Sonics,” he says. But he’s not anti-sports, as proven by his work to get the Seattle Storm into Key Arena, Licata notes. He touts his strong record on pushing new parks, better public defense for poor accused of crimes, and high standards for multiple court judges.

“Nick may be an obstructionist to the people Marty represents—those are developers,” said Meinert. “But to the people Nick represents, people who live in the city, Marty is the obstructionist.”

I gotta say, I’m not impressed by some of the anti-development positions that Licata has taken—such as a distaste for the mayor's upzoning in South Lake Union—which probably stems from Licata's willingness to bring NIMBYs to the table. But his open doors have also served as an asset for Licata, who provides a thick résumé of accomplishments (unmatched by Kaplan) fighting for the city’s underdogs and artists.

Licata is also sweeping endorsements: Every district Democrat organization that has voted this year and the King County Democrats have given Licata their sole approval, and 15 of 18 local legislators have endorsed him.