West Seattleite Mike Hickey elected as city’s Poet Populist

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Last week, we shot that video of West Seattle resident and South Seattle Community College faculty member Mike Hickey reading during one of the two forums for Seattle Poet Populist candidates, and we invited you again to vote. Just checked the Poet Populist website for word of results – and we discovered that Mike won! Congratulations! Here are the final vote totals. A celebration is set for 7 pm next Friday @ Hugo House. ADDED 2:56 PM FRIDAY: Publishing this story reminded us that we had video of King County’s Poet Laureate, Dr. Mona Lake Jones, from a White Center event earlier this week, and hadn’t posted it. She spoke during the YWCA Learning Center/King County Library branch ribboncutting at Greenbridge, on 8th SW just south of Roxbury, and she was fabulous. Click ahead to see our clip of her entire 6-minute poem/speech – or just check out the start to at least see what she’s all about:

Click pic to play video

JimmyG November 7, 2008 (12:53 pm)

Glad to hear he won.

I first heard about this competition and Mike via TBTL on KIRO radio where he gave a great interview about the process and why you should vote for him.

WSB November 7, 2008 (1:05 pm)

Co-publisher Patrick listened that night and confirms your assessment :) We mentioned Mike’s candidacy as soon as we heard about it after the competition started in September:
https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=10724

Eric Thomas November 7, 2008 (1:25 pm)

wow,
I remember Mr. Hickey teaching my writing 101 class at Highline Community College in 1999. He is a great creative writing teacher. If anyone has the chance, they should take his classes! way to go Mike!

deanie November 7, 2008 (4:40 pm)

Congratulations Mike Hickey!

I worked in the SSCC Writing Lab and as a English Lab assistant a few years ago and would cross paths with Mr. Hickey, when he came in to do ADDITIONAL work with his writing students. He cares.

I recall and admired his volunteer work bringing poetry into prisons, among other places. For years, he has crusaded for creative writing.

It is great to see him get this award.
Well done Mr. Hickey!

mike hickey November 8, 2008 (5:30 pm)

Thank you West Seattle Blog and everyone who voted for me for Poet Populist! Now is the time to reach across the aisle to unite red poets and blue poets for change with can live with. I am currently assembling my Cabinet including Secretary of Sonnets, Director of Haikus, and Limerick Coordinator. My inaugural poetry reading is Feb. 1, 2009 at the Seattle Public Library downtown. Thank you everyone!