Who’s running for Seattle mayor, so far? More than you’ve heard

So you’ve probably heard by now that former Mayor Mike McGinn wants that title again. He announced it this morning with this tweet:

… and then invited reporters to his Greenwood home at midmorning to find out more. (We were on the list but couldn’t go. Pick your favorite citywide source for details.)

Though citywide media has focused on just a few candidates, even before McGinn’s announcement, nine campaigns were registered with the city Ethics and Elections Commission. They are, in alphabetical order, with links to campaign websites when we could find them, so you can learn a bit about who they are and what they want to do:

Casey Carlisle
David Ishii
Mary Juanita Martin
Ed Murray (incumbent)
Nikkita Oliver
Jason Roberts
Andres Solomon
Alex Tsimerman
Keith Whiteman

None listed a West Seattle address with the city, at least for the campaign. The two who don’t seem to have websites, Ishii and Martin, also ran in 2013; Ishii dropped out before the primary, in which Martin received 1.06% of the vote, far behind Murray with 30% and McGinn with 29% (in the 2013 general, Murray won with 52% to McGinn’s 47%).

While those listed above have registered their campaigns, the official candidacy-filing period is still four weeks away – to get onto the August 1st primary ballot, candidates will have to file with King County during the week of May 15 through 19. Top two vote-getters in the primary advance to the November 7th general.

73 Replies to "Who's running for Seattle mayor, so far? More than you've heard"

  • SpaceDust April 17, 2017 (3:32 pm)

    Sorry McSchwinn, we don’t want any more bike lanes till you fix all the roads first.

    • WSB April 17, 2017 (3:53 pm)

      Bike lanes are part of the roads and some of them are in crummy shape too. Anyway, the Bicycle Master Plan is a city document not attached to a particular executive, as are the Pedestrian Master Plan, Freight Master Plan, and so on…

      • Double Dub Resident April 17, 2017 (4:45 pm)

        That’s strange, because I remember McGinn pushing the bike lane agenda hard, even shaming drivers that they needed to bike more often 

        • WSB April 17, 2017 (5:08 pm)

          The Bicycle Master Plan was originally adopted in 2007, when Greg Nickels was mayor.
          http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/nickels-unveils-bicycle-master-plan-aims-to-triple-commuter-cycling/

        • WD fundie April 17, 2017 (5:37 pm)

          That’s strange, because I remember McGinn pushing the bike lane agenda hard”

          ….And I remember west Seattle message board commenters, then and now, carrying out sad old tropes against bicycling because they personally choose not to ride a bike. 

          • Captin April 17, 2017 (8:44 pm)

            What about the people that can’t bike? Older people, people with crazy schedules and kids that play sports after school? People that can’t shower at work when they show up sweaty and stinky? What about people that live in West Seattle, had to change jobs and now work in Tukwila? Should they all be biking because of their “choices”?

          • JanS April 17, 2017 (10:34 pm)

            well, some of us can’t physically ride a bike…it has nothing to do with choice….please remember that…thanks..happy riding.

          • Duwamesque April 18, 2017 (12:35 pm)

            No one is forcing you to ride a bike. I have no idea where this is coming from. The only point is that even if you choose to ride (or are unable), please don’t diss our bike infrastructure or oppose expanding bike lanes because some of us do choose to do so and by doing so traffic on the roads is reduced.

          • Captin April 18, 2017 (6:23 pm)

            I think what non-bikers are tired of is elitist bicyclists talking down to everyone else. I think bicycling to and from work is great. I did it for years and then had to change jobs and it wasn’t feasible for me anymore. And no matter what, a large portion of people in Seattle are just not going to bike to work in hilly, rainy conditions. We have to be realistic about that. Also, bicycles have always been able to be on the roadway. Protected bike lanes are safer for sure. But if you bike to work (as I did) or say ride a motorcycle you must accept the inherent increased risk. Human bodies are soft and squishy and sheet metal is very hard. That’s another reason some people choose not to ride. I vote electric cars. Best of both worlds.

          • Double Dub Resident April 18, 2017 (1:22 am)

            And I remember the tired old tropes that people are automatically against bicycling if they felt there was far more important issues to spend tax money on than making bike lanes. Or that somehow they don’t ride a bike, which I do

        • Duwamesque April 17, 2017 (6:25 pm)

          In fact many of us do want more bike lanes, as they are an extremely cost-effective way to move more people around in a traffic-congested city. It seems like some folks who drive are a bit insecure about pushing bike lanes (it isn’t anti-car to fund other modes of transport)—though McGinn actually pushed fixing pot-holes as a campaign promise back in 2013. Source: http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2013/07/19/mcginn-flyer-emphasizes-maintenance-basics/

    • Sunuva April 18, 2017 (9:27 am)

      I agree. From my perspective, it’s akin to continuously adding new features to software that is full of severe bugs. Since SDOT has a finite budget, and has been prioritizing new bike lanes and road diets for several years, I think it’s time they re-prioritize the budget for a while to focus on crafting a maintenance plan that works. A side benefit is that existing bike lanes will get fixed along with the roads since they are part of the roads. More bike lanes can be added in the future, but for now there are more pressing needs. Unless we want to vote to give SDOT more money to handle all of the above, then it makes sense to me to shift the focus to the glaring problem in front of us for a while.

      Also, regarding that bicycle master plan; Is there any follow-up report or assessment on the progress towards their goals such as tripling the number of bicycle riders? The goals listed in that article mention tripling the number of riders, but I didn’t see an associated date for that milestone. If there has been a follow-up report or assessment, I’d love to read it.

      • WSB April 18, 2017 (9:34 am)

        The Bicycle Master Plan has been updated a few times since that original one in 2007. You can find subsequent versions easily by googling. I would except I’m in the middle of a few things right now. Also, re: suggesting bike lane/rechannelization $ be redirected – paint (which is all that’s required for those) is vastly cheaper than repaving, so it’s, if not apples to oranges, let’s say, tangerines to navels. A better question might be the prioritization of what is slated for repaving and when. For example, the section of Avalon that apparently is in the schedule for 2019 does not seem to be in anywhere near as lousy shape as the other arterial stretches mentioned here – 35th, Delridge, Roxbury. And we drive them all almost every day as we go around checking on/looking for things, so we’re all too familiar with the bumpiness factor … TR

  • Htb April 17, 2017 (4:01 pm)

    All the candidates are way too far to the left. Any mainstream, business-friendly candidates out there?

    • WSGuy April 17, 2017 (4:13 pm)

      I wish.  Anyone out there just want to run the city competently?

      • Jon April 17, 2017 (6:02 pm)

        I thought about running on a: Fix Roads and Traffic Light Timing / Enforce Laws / Buy Bus Tickets for Out-of-State Bums Like They Do in SF platform. Does that sound attractive to you?

        Maybe next election. Can I count on your Democracy Vouchers (we’ll try to kill those and return the money to fixing the roads, too).

        • mok April 17, 2017 (11:55 pm)

          You’ve got my vote, Jon

        • fiz April 23, 2017 (1:46 pm)

          You do that, and you will have my vouchers.   And Hubby’s too.

      • JanS April 17, 2017 (10:36 pm)

        why not you, since you don’t think any of the people throwing their hat in  are competent, it seems. If you have the answers, you are welcome to run….

    • Mr. J April 17, 2017 (5:21 pm)

      What constitutes business friendly for a mayor? I own a business and honestly have had zero issues with the City – if anything they’ve been responsive and helpful when I need them. I have more issues with the county and state being hard on small business. Just curious, its a vague statement. 

    • M April 18, 2017 (1:28 am)

      Jason Roberts and Casey Carlisle are you best bets for more business friendly candidates. Mr. Roberts is a fiscally conservative Democrat (kinda JFK style) and Mr. Carlisle is a Libertarian (I think like Austin Pertersen not Gary Johnson).

    • Andy April 18, 2017 (9:55 am)

      I absolutely, unequivocally, will not vote for any far left candidate. I, too, would like to see somebody supportive of business, especially small business, run against the same old, same old; like McGinn or Murray, for example.

  • anonyme April 17, 2017 (4:09 pm)

    After reading all of the profiles, McGinn  (possibly Carlisle – must learn more) are the only candidates I’d consider.  I voted for McGinn over Murray before, think he did a decent job that he didn’t get to finish.  IMO, Murray ran a dishonest campaign that portrayed anyone as being interested in law and order as racist bigots, even though the issues under discussion had little or nothing to do with race.  I’m guessing there are a lot of voters who would like to see some laws enforced in Seattle once again.  Apparently, there IS such a thing as an excess of tolerance.

    • Brenda April 17, 2017 (5:20 pm)

      Here here !

    • Andy April 18, 2017 (10:02 am)

      Me too……………….. no more Murray or McGinn!

  • Jeannie April 17, 2017 (4:11 pm)

    In addition to certain (ahem!) disturbing allegations, Murray is a tool of the developers. I’d like to see someone from the center, leaning slightly to the left. Not an “urbanist” who wants everyone to ride bikes or take the bus, though.

    • Double Dub Resident April 17, 2017 (4:51 pm)

      After this disaster,  I’d even rather have Nickels ( and I didn’t really care for him) back and fire the entire city council, especially Sawant. 

      After the policies of the ultra liberal disaster, I’d like to see someone center with just an ever so slight lean to the right. 

      • Mike April 17, 2017 (5:20 pm)

        Agreed

      • Jon April 17, 2017 (5:50 pm)

        Agreed. The fact that we have an actual Commie City Council Member (who spends her time lecturing first generation Vietnamese immigrants about the Vietnam War and how it’s wrong of them to fly the flag of South Vietnam in their businesses); who sees no problem with her narcissism and how it hurts people who just need to get to where they need to be is disgusting.

        Here’s hoping the people of Seattle vote out the extreme Left and return our city to a more centrist government.

        • JanS April 17, 2017 (10:46 pm)

          Democratic socialism is a political ideology that advocates political democracy alongside social ownership of the means of production, often with an emphasis on democratic management of enterprises within a socialist economic system.

          An economic and social system envisioned by the nineteenth-century German scholar Karl Marx. In theory, under communism, all means of production are owned in common, rather than by individuals (see Marxism and Marxism-Leninism). In practice, a single authoritarian party controls both the political and economic systems.

          Definition of socialism

          1. 1:  any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods

          2. 2a :  a system of society or group living in which there is no private propertyb :  a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state

          3. 3:  a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

      • JanS April 17, 2017 (10:42 pm)

        council members are elected…you can’t just fire them. Voting…everyone voting…is so necessary.  If people want change they need to exercise their right. Look how many didn’t vote in the presidential election (because they were butthurt, mostly, or just plain effing lazy), and look where we are now, on the brink of…fill in the blank, I guess). 

        I’m thinking the chances for Mr. Murray to be re-elected are slim to none….

        • Double Dub Resident April 18, 2017 (5:03 am)

          Yeah I know that Jan, it’s called a figure of speech

      • Andy April 18, 2017 (10:03 am)

        Yes, I totally agree.

  • My two cents ... April 17, 2017 (4:16 pm)

    I thought, was hoping we wouldn’t have to see Mr. McGinn running again. The first go-around was disappointing, don’t see any reason why Seattle needs a repeat of the wasted time, spinning wheels and slap fights with council/business interests/anyone with a contrasting view.

  • gh April 17, 2017 (4:30 pm)

    The question is:  is there anyone running for office in Seattle with a lick of sense?  If so…I’ll vote for them.

    • M April 18, 2017 (1:31 am)

      Jason Roberts and/or Casey Carlisle are the best candidates currently in the race

  • Old Friend April 17, 2017 (4:46 pm)

     Tracy Record for Mayor!!

    • WSB April 17, 2017 (5:14 pm)

      Not in 100 million years. But thanks for the “nomination.” – TR

  • Jethro Marx April 17, 2017 (5:00 pm)

    Oh, yes, I’ll throw my hat in the ring, too. I promise to reduce taxes to zero. And stop calling the bridge a freeway. And I’ll send all the homeless to Gold Bar. Oh, and also I’ll arrest dogs who aren’t leashed. That should get me most of y’all’s votes, what?

     Edit:

     shoot, looks like I missed the filing deadline

     maybe next time

    • chemist April 17, 2017 (6:11 pm)

      There’s still time for you (or any other candidates) to file.

      • Jethro Marx April 17, 2017 (7:11 pm)

        An oversight on my part, perhaps? No, my procrastination skills are such that I have preemptively missed the deadline which is apparently a month away. Nobody is better than me at not getting stuff done. I’ll be a natural!

  • Mark April 17, 2017 (5:11 pm)

    Double dub just some one pragmatic center left that puts basics first, street repair, enforce laws, help people who are willing to help themselves.  

    • Mike April 17, 2017 (5:22 pm)

      That requires competence, nobody like that runs for office here.

    • Jon April 17, 2017 (5:57 pm)

      Those are far-right “Nazi” core values these days, my friend. :P

      McGinn wasn’t nearly as bad as Murray. I would definitely rather see him Mayor than Murray for a second term. But I’m hoping we get someone who is a bit more conservative in regards to the city budget on “feel-good” initiatives.

      And in regards to crime: we seriously need to clean house with the judges if that’s going to change. If you think it’s ridiculous from afar, reading about how so-and-so has been released 13-30 times — wait until you actually have to deal with these judges yourself. I’ve never seen such sit-back-and-collect-a-paycheck attitudes from judges in my entire life.

      Here’s hoping Seattle sees some sweeping changes.

    • Captin April 17, 2017 (6:31 pm)

      I agree being that I consider myself center to center left. I think the further you go left or right the further you get from pragmatism and realistic outcomes. Not every idea on the right or left is bad although many of each are. Usually the most reasonable and possible to get done is something near the middle. Each issue should be addressed in a pragmatic way based on its merits/challenges. Not in a feel good way or a hateful way. In a constructive “how do we make this better” way.

  • Seattlite April 17, 2017 (6:54 pm)

    Of the nine candidates listed, I can safely say that none would get my vote.  I have not voted for quite some time due to the lack of diversity in ideologies.  Seattle needs a real leader after years and years of feckless leadership.

    • JanS April 17, 2017 (10:54 pm)

      and therein lies one of our biggest problems….people who don’t take the time to vote…which I feel is part of the problem…no vote, no bitching…

      • Jethro Marx April 18, 2017 (7:40 am)

        I think, based on the recent presidential election, our big problem is too many people voting who probably shouldn’t. What wins an election? Is it the character and leadership skills of the candidate? Nope: its pretty much who has the most money, with a side of who will say things people want to hear. Because they can use that money to sway the masses, who are voting based on a variety of b.s. reasons. Television commercials, paid muckrakers, outright and implicit racism and sexism, etc. etc. Oh, and b.s. they saw on the internet. Nuance and complexity are inherent in the problems we expect our leaders to solve and the populace doesn’t appreciate nuance and complexity. Speaking of tired old tropes, is there anything more counter to the idea of free speech than telling people they can’t complain if they don’t pass some arbitrary litmus test? Choosing to not vote is sometimes a calculated choice; calling people who make this choice lazy is like saying anyone who doesn’t ride a bike is lazy. Like Eeyore says, some can, and some just don’t feel very how.

        • Ric April 18, 2017 (8:43 am)

          Bingo on all counts!

      • Andy April 18, 2017 (10:09 am)

        Why should anyone bother to vote when the choice is between the bad and the ugly?

      • Captin April 18, 2017 (12:57 pm)

        Isn’t a vote for a candidate that you don’t approve of (lesser of two evils) being complicit and part of the overarching problem? I think someone that doesn’t vote can complain all they want.

        If someone took me to a restaurant that only serves cat poop or dog poop I think I’d pass on both. We need far less patience with our elected officials and more recalls. 

        There’s too much apathy and too little accountability.

  • aa April 17, 2017 (7:05 pm)

    Jon- first Commie then Nazi?  Really? What exactly are the attributes of these people that you feel qualify them for these descriptions?

  • Gene April 17, 2017 (7:19 pm)

    Why would Seattle vote to bring back someone we voted out? 

  • Chris Cowman April 17, 2017 (8:35 pm)

    Seattle Income Tax?   That’s on the top of his list…..he is dead on arrival…

    • Lee D. Bui April 17, 2017 (10:18 pm)

        Chris, you are number  # 1.  

      No more tax in Seattle.

    • Double Dub Resident April 18, 2017 (5:45 am)

      McGinn: McGinn voiced his concern over the ever-growing costs of living in Seattle during his announcement for his bid for mayor on Monday and said big businesses and the wealthy aren’t paying their fair share.

      He called out the current leadership for continuing to tax people out of the city, saying their “solution to every problem” is a new tax.

      “If you wanted to design a system to drive out the working class and middle class, this is what it looks like,” he said.

      So then his idea is to make an income tax? Is it for a certain income level, because if not, he’s just adding to the burden of the middle class 

  • Dave April 17, 2017 (8:59 pm)

    Ed Murray has made this city unfordable for middle class homeowners has Dow 

    taxing us out of our homes, destroyed communities being in the pocket of developers, in 35 years the absolute worse mayor and does not pocess leadership skills and clearly has not listened to the frustrations and pleadings of our neighborhoods , we need someone  who will stop the overdeveloping and recognize throwing money hand over fist at a problem is not the solution, example homelessness, money has been spent, and the outcomes have been miserable, in private industry he would have been out on his ear

  • Millie April 17, 2017 (9:03 pm)

    Who knows I may consider a run for Mayor of Seattle.   It’s time we look at how the City departments function (please see yesterday’s Seattle Times article about developer fees/affordable housing audit), fix and maintain our infrastructure (roads/public utilities).  The more I think about it – why not?   

  • M April 17, 2017 (9:13 pm)

    I’m going Jason Roberts. The others seem pretty wacko. 

  • justme April 17, 2017 (9:52 pm)

    Thanks for all the info and links!

  • Steve April 17, 2017 (10:06 pm)

    Just when I think it can’t get any worse, McGinn rains on my parade.   With the current lot of “candidates” running for the mayor office and city council it is pretty pitiful.  

  • JanS April 17, 2017 (11:10 pm)

    I honestly don’t think that anyone can get a grasp of what these candidates are about by reading those brief bios that are posted…some are very vague, indeed. I think that once we’re actually into campaigning, debating, really listening to what these candidates are saying, what they’re espousing, we will get a better idea of who would work as mayor and who wouldn’t. I couldn’t possibly decide who I like or don’t from those brief passages. I can only tell you that I, and most everyone , is tired of Mr. Murray. Someone out of the candidates will become mayor. We need to pay attention…

  • Imagine65 April 18, 2017 (8:29 am)

    And we have learned in this last presidential campaign that whatever the candidates say and promise during the marketing period means absolutely nothing.

  • aml April 18, 2017 (8:37 am)

    Is there no competent candidate out there?  McGinn was a joke- Murray is even more of a joke.  The city council is a complete joke.   What has happened to this beautiful city?  These people are ruining it!  I wish we could have a do over.  I agree with you Steve!   What a pathetic bunch of people they are!  

  • Norma April 18, 2017 (1:04 pm)

    I think it’s time for someone new.  I would hope for someone who has a more positive stance and broader look at how to make our city function better for everyone.    The city is growing in population very fast right now and we need someone with a vision for dealing with that growth and still preserving the qualities that make Seattle so special.  I’m disgusted with too much focus on bicycles but I think the job of mayor covers way more than that.  I’m concerned about property crime, education, job availability and social services.  and transportation that works for everyone and much more.

    • Help April 18, 2017 (2:41 pm)

      Alright/ I’m voting for Norma!

  • Cathy April 18, 2017 (3:58 pm)

    If it comes down to Murray or McGinn I am absolutely going to vote for the Mayor who didn’t raise my property taxes more than 20% since he was elected during an economic boom, right now that’s McGinn.  Not voting isn’t an option, Murray needs to go!

  • FreeRangeAuthor April 18, 2017 (5:48 pm)

    It won’t be a REAL election until …

    GOODSPACEGUY 

    … files for Mayor!!!

  • prayforrain April 18, 2017 (7:45 pm)

    McGinn should never have lost.  I will happily vote for him.  He’s non-partisan, thoughtful, experienced and intelligent.  Many of the criticisms leveled at him have proven unfounded.  And he was right about pushing the state to cover the tunnel cost overruns.  

  • prayforrain April 20, 2017 (7:20 pm)

    I’m happy.  McGinn got off to a rocky start but finished as a very thoughtful and effective mayor.  All I’ve seen under Murray is that the city has become worse.  Worse traffic, worse homelessness, more litter.  I always suspected Murray saw being the mayor of Seattle as a stepping stone to bigger and better things, and in the meantime  Seattle’s become a less desirable place to live. So far McGinn’s got my vote.  

  • Brian R April 23, 2017 (7:41 am)

    If you go with Murry or McGinn you know what you’re going to get. Been there done that. I highly encourage people who are looking for a change to check out Casey Carlisle. He’s not super left or super right but somewhere in the middle. I think he would be able to reach the majority of the people in our diverse city.

  • Dale April 23, 2017 (9:38 am)

    Agree with the Casey Carlisle recommendation.  Based on his platform and conversations with him, I believe he displays more common sense than the rest of the field combined. 

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