Election 2013: Mayor McGinn’s West Seattle coffee-shop stop

Nine candidates are in the running for Seattle Mayor, going into Tuesday’s primary election, and another one made a final-days campaign stop in West Seattle this afternoon – the incumbent himself, Mike McGinn. His campaign sent word at 1 pm that he would be at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) around 3 for an informal coffee-hour chat. Several people asked the mayor questions about topics from transportation to development to the 4755 Fauntleroy Way development; he said he understands West Seattle’s undergoing growing pains and – as he had said in this interview we reported on two months ago – needs more transit, which he says he’s working for. We asked how he thinks the effort to clear the “Nickelsville” encampment by next month is going; he said that while he didn’t have specific numbers handy, it didn’t seem as if the City Council-approved efforts to help find housing for campers was making much of a dent in their numbers yet.

Elsewhere on the mayoral campaign front, State Sen. Ed Murray was in West Seattle this past Wednesday night, and we learned this afternoon that Peter Steinbrueck plans to campaign at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market around 11 tomorrow morning. Any other mayoral candidates campaigning here before voting ends Tuesday night? Let us know – editor@westseattleblog.com.

West seattleite August 3, 2013 (9:05 pm)

Anyone but mcginn

robespierre August 3, 2013 (9:17 pm)

In a previous post, WSB mentioned ballots and diapers. Draw your own conclusion.

Lora August 3, 2013 (9:31 pm)

I just feel McGinn has not earned a second term for so many reasons, but his using our neighborhood development for his political gain really took the cake. I was also furious to hear he wanted to build a bike bridge across the ship canal for North enders (???) while we sit in traffic on full buses and our cyclists share lanes with semi trucks. And don’t even get me started on his huge support for a THIRD sports stadium in SoDo.

I loved the way Peter Steinbrueck voted when he was on City Council and so I voted for him. Hope he wins, he would be a great Mayor.

Anomie25 August 3, 2013 (9:36 pm)

Makes Nickels look like an all-star.

Cwit August 3, 2013 (10:08 pm)

Yay for McGinn

P August 3, 2013 (10:12 pm)

Lora, if you want to see development in West Seattle, or anywhere in Seattle, then Steinbruek is absolutely the WORST person to vote for. He has specifically stated he only supports development on the outskirts of the city, thus promoting sprawl, pollution, and waste.

Tuesday August 3, 2013 (10:23 pm)

I bet he talked a lot about eminent domain abuse… ha.

Alki Resident August 3, 2013 (10:24 pm)

Can this guy ever shave and look more professional?

West Seattle Hipster August 3, 2013 (10:24 pm)

I think McGinn is a good man, just not a good mayor.

scubafrog August 3, 2013 (10:39 pm)

Hipster well said – McGinn’s a great guy – but a horrible mayor.

Kind of like Obama – probably a good guy, but a HORRIBLE President(boy do I regret those votes, but the choices were deplorable).

I’m not keen on many politicians anymore – color me jaded. Aren’t most of us tired of the same nonsense in politics, from the local level to the national?

Westiwhynot August 3, 2013 (10:51 pm)

Bruce Harrell! I’m pasting this from another Harrell supporter because I couldn’t have said it better myself:
“I finally filled in the last bubble on my ballot. I chose to vote for a man that inspires me to do more for my city. Someone who understands that this isn’t a race about any one person, but about all of the people that make our city great. I am voting for the person I believe can best unite all corners of the city to work together, instead of against each other, for a greater good. Who will listen, but be decisive. I’m voting for someone that understands what it means to ensure we can continue to encourage small businesses to locate here, while providing the infrastructure for larger organizations that are innovating a new tomorrow. All the while, this man remembers that there are those who need a little help, but don’t have an LLC after their name, and he has, and will, remember to fight for their needs on the 7th floor. I voted for Bruce.” – M. Maddux

Wess Cider August 3, 2013 (11:10 pm)

Well put Scubafrog. I feel like writing in Phoenix Jones for Mayor. Sad isn’t it?

w.s. maverick August 4, 2013 (8:01 am)

bad mayor time for some new blood

Seattlite August 4, 2013 (8:16 am)

scubafrog — You’re exactly right. I didn’t vote for O or Mc. The candidates for Seattle’s mayoral race are weak. McSchwinn has to go. What a DILEMMA.

Gabs August 4, 2013 (8:56 am)

In the most recent poll McGinn’s support was only 22% – abysmal for an incumbent. I wonder if he, like Nickels before him, will lose in a primary surprise. It could certainly happen. I agree that he is a good person, but has not been a good mayor.

Steinbrueck has a good amount of underdog momentum at the moment. He has one thing the other top candidates have lost in the minds of a lot of voters – integrity. Steinbrueck doesn’t do backdoor politics, and is very accessible to citizens – something this city tends to really like in a mayor.

Blunt Force August 4, 2013 (9:22 am)

Fewer bike lanes on top of traffic lanes. More focus on our failing schools. Period. McSchwin is not the solution clearly.

AlkiGrl August 4, 2013 (9:23 am)

I voted for McGinn. I want someone who will make the difficult decisions that are based on values like community interests over profit, even if it results in lots of noise and “sky is falling” diatribes in Seattle Times. . Which seems to be the usual response to anything challenging development in Seattle. I’ll take noise and discomfort any day if it means we have a mayor that will fight for us.

PigeonPointBen August 4, 2013 (9:55 am)

McGinn is the most progressive, liberal and principled candidate in this race. I believe that Steinbrueck offers a clear alternative to McGinn and that that alternative is a short sighted, backward thinking embrace of policies concerning the management of growth that have caused much of the problems this and many other regions are currently trying to rectify. McGinn, not without his failings ( police reform and accountability), has championed and enacted policies that aim to alleviate the problems caused by our past mistakes causing sprawl and an over-reliance on single occupancy vehicles. I do not feel Murray’s work in the State Senate has proved him to be an effective leader, or coalition builder and his campaign has been one long negative ad about the encumbent. Surely our city deserves a leader that is more than merely “anyone but McGinn” as the first commenter suggested.

Mark August 4, 2013 (11:39 am)

Wait, were the coffee servers union? What health benefits do they have? Or wait, is this one not covered by the twofer deal that covered whole foods?

Diane August 4, 2013 (1:45 pm)

I was sitting right next to the McGinn (cut out of pic, to the right) and I was really the only one to pelt him with a ton of questions, shared many concerns I’ve heard voiced most in our community, and about his actions while in office; I asked very specific questions, about what he will do about ……………living wage jobs, affordable housing, getting more buses in West Seattle to accommodate the 1,000’s of apts being built along the Rapid Ride route, why can’t we get developers to help pay for buses; when are you going to get more police downtown at 3rd/4th/Pike/Pine???? I wanted to know what he will do immediately, not what he has done, not what will/may happen in 2 to 3 or more years out; what will he do asap, specifics?
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sorry to say, I was not thrilled with his answers, but I REALLY appreciate him showing up and sitting down with us; no other mayoral candidates have done this; so I’m still undecided; wish I could ask the same questions of Peter, Ed, Bruce
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this campaign has been very lacking in specifics of “what will you do about……?; most of the general statements I hear, like “who will make the difficult decisions that are based on values like community interests over profit” or “he has integrity”, could apply to any/all of the candidates; Peter actually has a much stronger record of standing up to developers
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I also really like Mike as a friendly, gregarious, warm, outgoing person; not so much as Mayor; and I showed up because I am undecided; this was such a rare opportunity to ask just about everything I’ve been wanting to know, but have not heard addressed at the dozen plus mayoral debates I’ve attended
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p.s.; was just contacted by Peter; so hoping for chance to ask him all the same questions
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all of my political progressive peers seem to be equally split among 3 camps; Peter, Mike, Ed; and I’ve looked at public disclosure sites to see who is paying into each campaign, who are their supporters; but most voters do not reveal their choice, so this could go anywhere on Tuesday; I am lifelong politically obsessed and know that this race will have huge impact on future of our city, so I’m extremely frustrated; those of us who vote in the Primary have the power to decide what happens next 4 yrs in Seattle, which impacts all our lives
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oh, and btw; the owner of C&P coffee was working behind the counter, and did not even know the Mayor was coming; and totally cool with it
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it would be very telling and hilarious if Phoenix Jones won as a write-in

Diane August 4, 2013 (1:58 pm)

and then, there’s this; way too funny
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Knute Berger, “Have you made up your mind in the mayor’s race? I asked Sylvester the Mummy and he said, “The shrunken head in the next box over.”
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https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201672629963705&set=np.200569747.686450501&type=1&theater&notif_t=notify_me

alki forever August 4, 2013 (2:44 pm)

I’d write in Phoenix Jones for mayor before any of these idiots!

Mike August 5, 2013 (9:41 am)

There is a street performer on the ballot for a council position. He’s crazy, but at the same time probably as qualified as the people he’s running against. We need better candidates, this is pathetic.

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