Slog
News & ArtsThursday, August 27, 2009
City The Mayoral TV Debates
Posted by Dominic Holden on Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Mayoral candidate Mike McGinn has accepted invitations from television stations to face off with challenger Joe Mallahan in three debates in October. "I'm ready to debate my opponent at any time and in any place," McGinn said in a statement this morning.
Assuming Mallahan accepts—which his campaign has not yet confirmed—the showdowns will air live on KOMO (channel 4), and KIRO (channel 7), and KCTS (channel 9). The KCTS debate is scheduled for October 22, and the other two dates are pending.
This stands to be a test of knowledge. Both candidates have concerned union powers as unknown quantities, and while neither can prove how, exactly, he will govern, this will be a chance for them to prove just how much of the city they understand (and where their allegiances lie, beyond the Sierra Club and T-Mobile). The question for McGinn is whether he has strong convictions about pressing city issues other than the tunnel. And the question for Mallahan—who lacks a record of civic record leadership—is how well he understands the nuts and bolts of how the city works.
2
Perhaps McGinn can explain how city government works from a perspective other than a grass roots organizer?
And both should explain what will be cut with the current $73 million dollar deficit which no doubt will continue to grow over the next year or so.
And the rise in crime violence, the 520 bridge, and Seattle's deteriorating infrastructure. Both candidates are really what Tim Gunn would call "one-notes". Time to make it work!!
And both should explain what will be cut with the current $73 million dollar deficit which no doubt will continue to grow over the next year or so.
And the rise in crime violence, the 520 bridge, and Seattle's deteriorating infrastructure. Both candidates are really what Tim Gunn would call "one-notes". Time to make it work!!
3
Oh and Mallahan needs to explain why someone who doesn't feel the need to vote in elections is a good choice for mayor. That question NEEDS to be asked; and he needs to answer it with more than "there was no reason to vote blah blah blah".
It's our civic duty to fucking VOTE!!
It's our civic duty to fucking VOTE!!
5
McGinn's record at the Sierra Club, Great City and in Greenwood tells me that he is passionate about a number of issues and has a vision for the city. The tunnel was an issue to provide a clear contrast with the other candidates in an off-year primary with few people paying attention. Dominic, you should know better and write better considering you endorsed the guy...
6
Hey Mike: I love that you ride your bike to most of your events, but for TV... please iron your shirt!
8
a) Will, towers do not contain golf courses, not even the 100-story public housing ones about which you have recently shut up.
b) Lordy, I hope McGinn surprises me by doing well. I need help finding a way to support him, instead of just being repelled by the alternative.
b) Lordy, I hope McGinn surprises me by doing well. I need help finding a way to support him, instead of just being repelled by the alternative.
10
@4 - more people do not support the tunnel, as soon as folks find out that it costs $4.2 billion and that Seattle taxpayers are on the hook for cost overruns that support crumbles - just look at the dozens of other polls on this issue. Everyone supports a free tunnel. McGinn is going to wipe the floor with Mallahan in these debates, can't wait.
13
"The question for McGinn is whether he has strong convictions about pressing city issues other than the tunnel."
Hmm, so only McGinn has to prove he's not a one issue dude. Why is that? The question for Mallahan is also whether he has strong convictions about pressing city issues other than "effective management." Is he running as a souless technocrat, with no passion or core values ?
McGinn, he's been active in neighborhood empowerment, sidewalks, pro transit, state transportation spending, anti highways, pro light rail, pro environmentalism, pro city vibrancy and pro density (yes ohmygod he worked with Vulcan folks! he actually believes in talking with developers! the sky will fall! quick, Mallahan folks, repeat 100x times he worked with Vulcan folks on a variety of city issues!) the commuter tax bike stuff pedestrian advisory group. Plus that whole parks levy.
It's a pretty well rounded resume for a city office.
Usually you don't get someone who's worked in public safety AND land use AND parks AND utilities AND transit AND tranpsortation.
McGinn, by hitting on parks, transportation/transit and land use, plus neighborhood work, is actually pretty well rounded and better qualified than most people running for city office for the first time. The whole one issue song that the Mallahan folks are singing is off tune when their dude has NO INVOLVEMENT IN ANY CITY ISSUE previously.
Hmm, so only McGinn has to prove he's not a one issue dude. Why is that? The question for Mallahan is also whether he has strong convictions about pressing city issues other than "effective management." Is he running as a souless technocrat, with no passion or core values ?
McGinn, he's been active in neighborhood empowerment, sidewalks, pro transit, state transportation spending, anti highways, pro light rail, pro environmentalism, pro city vibrancy and pro density (yes ohmygod he worked with Vulcan folks! he actually believes in talking with developers! the sky will fall! quick, Mallahan folks, repeat 100x times he worked with Vulcan folks on a variety of city issues!) the commuter tax bike stuff pedestrian advisory group. Plus that whole parks levy.
It's a pretty well rounded resume for a city office.
Usually you don't get someone who's worked in public safety AND land use AND parks AND utilities AND transit AND tranpsortation.
McGinn, by hitting on parks, transportation/transit and land use, plus neighborhood work, is actually pretty well rounded and better qualified than most people running for city office for the first time. The whole one issue song that the Mallahan folks are singing is off tune when their dude has NO INVOLVEMENT IN ANY CITY ISSUE previously.
14
I still cannot wrap my head around the idea of someone who didn't vote -- let alone actively participate in civic life -- asking for my vote. I don't vote for folks that don''t vote and I can't believe Mallahan is even asking people to.
15
Dominic,
Once you say the other guy is an idiot, is there really anything else for you to contribute? "He's really really an idiot." Time to move on and let a journalist cover the story.
Once you say the other guy is an idiot, is there really anything else for you to contribute? "He's really really an idiot." Time to move on and let a journalist cover the story.
16
@8 - you need to travel more. Some do, but not in this country.
No, my point is, most of the Mayor's time is spent in things totally unlike what the average business VP spends their time in.
No, my point is, most of the Mayor's time is spent in things totally unlike what the average business VP spends their time in.
17
yes, I support McGinn. I find it entertaining that Mallahan's claim of civic involvement is working on the "Wallingford Wurst" festival!
18
Guys, guys, we must struggle together!
We are! We are!
We must unite against the common enemy!
What, the Eyman Peoples' Front?
Nooo, Sen. Eddie Murphy, the Monorail Killer!
Hey, why the frak are you picking on Sen. Murry? He hasn't even frakkin joined the race. And hey, we need his colorful mouth to get the electorate to stop sitting on their a**es.
We are! We are!
We must unite against the common enemy!
What, the Eyman Peoples' Front?
Nooo, Sen. Eddie Murphy, the Monorail Killer!
Hey, why the frak are you picking on Sen. Murry? He hasn't even frakkin joined the race. And hey, we need his colorful mouth to get the electorate to stop sitting on their a**es.
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
Hating People Doesn't Make Them Thinner by Jen Graves
-
Los Angeles Gay Bar Bans Bachelorette Parties Until Marriage Equality Is Attained by David Schmader
-
Fill in the Blank by Grant Brissey
-
This Reminds Me of the Great Calculator Scare of the Late '70s/Early '80s by David Schmader
-
Idiot Tries to Defend Bigoted Anti-Gay-Marriage Preacher on Anderson Cooper by Paul Constant
-
Six Moms with Too Much Time on Their Hands and a Shitty Website Decide to Fight Gay Superheroes by Paul Constant
-
Why Mayor McGinn's Wife Canceled Her Family's Seattle Times Subscription by Eli Sanders
-
What the Hell Is Wrong With Seattle's Pride Parade? by Dominic Holden
-
The Saturday Morning News by Unpaid Intern
-
NYC Man Ticketed for Not Riding in the Bike Lane by Jonathan Golob
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (18) RSS