Slog
News & ArtsFriday, October 9, 2009
City Mayoral Candidates Politicize Search for Police Chief
Posted by Dominic Holden on Fri, Oct 9, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Standing on the corner 23rd Avenue East and East Union Street in front of the vacant Philly Cheese Steak restaurant—feet from a bullet hole through the aluminum window frame and where the owner was murdered two years ago—mayoral candidate Mike McGinn chastised challenger Joe Mallahan for delaying the search for a new police chief.
"We need to start now," said McGinn. A trend in youth and gun violence makes the search urgent, he said. "Now is not the time to wait."
Mayor Greg Nickels, who has appointed a 24-member search committee, had asked both candidates if he should proceed with the search for a new police chief after losing in the primary election. McGinn recommended that the search continue, but Mallahan asked the mayor's office to postpone the selection of a new police chief, allowing the next mayor to undertake the process when he is elected. Nickels's office deferred to Mallahan.
"I think that's a mistake," McGinn said. Finding and appointing a new chief could take four to six months after a new mayor is elected, and delaying the search prevents a new police chief from starting new anti-crime initiatives, McGinn said. The position has been currently held since by an interim appointee, John Diaz, since former chief Gil Kerlikowske left to serve as Obama's Drug Czar in May. McGinn believes that early portions of the search process would be unaffected under any mayor.
What harm would occur if the search were to proceed during the election? "I don’t know that there would be great harm," says Mallahan spokeswoman Charla Neuman. Mallahan doesn't have any problem with the members already chosen by Nickels, she says, "Joe just wanted the opportunity to add one or two more people if it would add to the quality of the search."
"A search process like this is not a political process--it's a community process," McGinn said. "By choosing to delay it, [Mallahan] is injecting politics into the the search."
But the Mallahan camp argues that it would be a political issue if the search continues.
"Joe did not want this to become a political issue during the campaign for candidates to play games with, just as McGinn is doing today," says Neuman. "McGinn should be ashamed, actually." She adds, "He doesn't have platform of his own, so he is trying to turn public safety into a political issue."
When I asked McGinn what public-safety initiatives would be delayed if we postpone the selection of a chief, he referred to his public safety platform, released in mid-September.
1
5
McGinn, once more, has taken the strong, decisive leadership role that our city needs.
10
11
12
13
Public safety IS a political issue in a mayoral election. It's certainly one of issues that will influence my vote.
Some of the quotes these local campaign "spokespersons" make are so vapid, it's embarassing.
14
Actually, I'm no conservative, much more libertarian. But my standard point (and sorry if it gets repetitious) is that you can write with a point of view without totally misrepresenting the other side of the issue. When you were just writing about legalizing pot it didn't matter. But now they're letting you write about serious stuff like elections, and your amateurishness is all too obvious.
If you feel strongly McGinn is a better candidate, why do you feel the need to belittle and mischaracterize Mallahan? Why not lay the facts out there honestly, state your opinion and let us decide from there?
It's interesting that you get so worked up about right-wing pundits and commentators. You employ many of the same tactics in your crusade.
16
And you won't believe this... but I agree with McGinn on this issue. There is no reason to delay finding a new chief. It will take long enough as it is with a 24 person search committee.
It makes no sense, as a Police Chief has to go thru so many hoops/hurdles to get into that position, that neither candidate will have any significant final decision pull on who is ultimately chosen.
McGinn is still politicizing this issue though, and for his campaign to claim otherwise is ridiculous.
We need a new chief from outside the region though. Someone outside of the current SPD officer's guild.
Happy Friday Dom.
no
starting this process only to get a Chief that is not aligned with the new mayor is a waste of time.
20
That said, people who want Greg to win need to seriously realize we kicked him out for a reason - actually, a lot of them.
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 (22) RSS