Everything seemed geared toward mayoral candidate Joe Mallahan trouncing challenger Mike McGinn in their first head-to-head debate this afternoon. Sponsored by the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the questions were written primarily by their members and anchored on topics of business and jobs, which mesh well with Mallahan’s experience as a T-Mobile executive.

McGinn, wearing a red tie, had the odds stacked against him; as a Greenwood neighborhood activist, he has fought alongside people who have sought restrictions on and benefits from development, which are the sort of things the event’s co-sponsors—the Master Builders Association of King & Snohomish Counties—have long lobbied to avoid. He also opposes spending $930 million on a tunnel (the number-one priority of event co-sponsor Downtown Seattle Association). But McGinn wielded a cool demeanor and rolling cadence to engage the crowd, he reframed the debate around his campaign themes (including how the tunnel would require an unprecedented tax hike), and consistently showed a deep knowledge of issues—while Mallahn came off as snarky and under-informed.

For instance, moderator Steve Scher, host of KUOW’s Weekday, asked about a program to give developers more height for buildings in exchange for constructing some affordable housing. Where is it failing? Mallahan said he dislikes the program, and that it should be replaced with “fees and taxes on developers.” McGinn responded by explaining that it may work downtown but hinder construction in less desirable neighborhoods, including Northgate. But he noted that neighborhoods can be improved, thanks to libraries and greener streets, to make them more desirable. And obstacles like on-site parking requirements could be cut to make construction profitable. Schrer asked Mallahan, “What would you do?”

“About the same. I think we have talked about it enough,” Mallahan said, clearly out of his league on an issue important to people in the audience. At several points Mallahan interrupted, requiring Scher to make him back off.

“McGinn demonstrated a high level of affability,” said Gary Strannigan, regional director of public affairs for Safeco Insurance who gave the welcoming address, walking down Fourth Avenue afterward. Although Strannigan doesn’t live in Seattle, he says, “Before today, I would have voted for Mallahan because of his business experience. But I have to say I was impressed with McGinn’s skill. He did a nice job from a public standpoint, and he was more knowledgeable.”

Some at Cinerama Theater clearly couldn’t be swayed. In the row behind me, a three-person crew in blue and white “Firefighters for Mallahan” t-shirts held up Mallahan signs for the duration. But most of the 400-person crowd in business attire looked inquisitive (including city council members Tom Rasmussen and Tim Burgess), munching on tuna sandwiches handed out at the door. The topics covered annexing unincorporated land, handling city budget shortfalls, and working with the city council. Several people leaving the theater commented that many of McGinn's and Mallahan's policy differences were indistinguishable.

But Mallahan played his cards well on a couple of questions. When asked about "community benefit agreements"—neighborhood contracts with developers to support a project if certain demands are met—Mallahan noted that he supports neighborhood requests for union labor (which hold huge sway in local elections) but only if developers agree to the terms. This pleases unions and development interest in one answer.

McGinn, however, framed answers around making a desirable city that people want to live in and stake businesses. He also leaned heavily on the right of due process about huge spending decisions—such as levies for schools, housing, parks—and particularly on the tunnel.

“Putting it to a vote, absolutely,” McGinn said. He argues that the public overwhelmingly shot down a tunnel option in 2007, and that the decision to raise taxes for a tunnel has only been vetted by a handful of stakeholders. “If you are going to overturn the vote of the people, you have to make the case.”

McGinn said he supports the head tax, but noted that Mallahan supports the biggest tax hike in the city’s history. “If we want to have an efficient government, we have to keep taxes down and make wise investments.”