50 Replies to "ELECTION 2022: First results for 10 key races and measures"

• Duffy November 8, 2022 (9:39 pm)

  Tiffany Smiley goes away now, thank the heavens.

• Odd son November 8, 2022 (9:42 pm)

  Things are bad because of a history of blue votes, yet people still vote blue. SMH. How is Seattle or Washington going to change if the majority keeps voting the same way? I guess we like crime, homelessness, drugs, grafitti, and the like. 

  • Jort November 8, 2022 (10:36 pm)

    And pronouns! And transgender! And woke mob! And cancel culture! And critical race theory! And … and … and …. Hey, maybe don’t make your party a clown joke if you want people to vote for you. Tiffany Smiley wouldn’t accept the results of the 2020 Presidential election. Automatic disqualification from consideration. Easy call. Not hard. Pretending to care about Seattle’s “crime” “wave” in green screen tv ads? Give me a break. When republicans chose to run credible candidates, they might win in Washington, though that’s extremely unlikely. They’re wedded to this self-destructive mindset and there is no path out that doesn’t irreparably destroy their own party, so I expect nothing to change. 

    • Anne November 8, 2022 (11:17 pm)

      Pigs must be flying -I actually agree with Jort!!!

      • Odd son November 8, 2022 (11:48 pm)

        I agreed with Jort. Once.

        • WestSeattleBadTakes November 9, 2022 (7:22 am)

          Now, just imagine what you might learn if you opened your mind. It’s likely you lucked your way into these correct positions, keep that in mind when you reflexively reject Jort’s other positions.

        • Adam November 9, 2022 (8:17 am)

          At the beginning of Jort’s comment, he lists more crazy things from the left. Then he went into why he voted left by listing crazy things from the right. My question is, why doesn’t crazy from both sides just make ppl run from both sides? Nobody won today, aside from those who use us as pawns. Wonderful. Pat yourselves on your backs. You’ve kept your crazy in lieu of a new crazy and now you feel safe. That’s how it’s supposed to work, I guess. They keep their jobs spending your money in ways that makes you furious, and you stay furious up until you have to choose between them and some other team. The devil you know, I guess

        • Jort November 9, 2022 (10:18 am)

          Adam, probably because the clearly articulated threats from the right are real and transparent, and the “threats” from the “left” were constituted in a right-wing media echo chamber? Maybe because there is a tangible difference in the parties that matters deeply to people and “concern for the future of Western democracy” and “rights to bodily autonomy” are more important to most people than, say, a completely fabricated story about litter boxes in school bathrooms that several GOP candidates included in their stump speeches? People love to say that liberals “live in a bubble.” Guess what? You might be living in a bubble, too, if you think that anybody on earth gives two craps whatsoever about whether Mr. Potato Head had a gender change, or if the “woke mob” (only Republicans say “woke.” ONLY.) is trying to “cancel” whatever it is this media cycle. My advice to republicans would be to grow up, which thankfully for Democrats they absolutely will not do.

    • John November 9, 2022 (7:56 am)

      Couldn’t agree more Jort.   Yes we have problems that need to be resolved.  Smiley’s adds were full of falsehoods.  A simple fact check provided me the truth.  I’m tired of lies.   The Republicans need to produce an honest candidate if they want my vote.

  • josh November 9, 2022 (6:38 am)

    Personally I like graffiti much of the time.  Its better than plain grey nothingness.  The answer to crime and homelessness is not more prisons, its better living conditions and support for people who are striking out a life for various reasons.  While both major parties are failing us the right wing that is responsible for all the guns, a profit based motive for every decision including housing, an obscenely low tax rate for the wealthy, and the lack of mental health funding is very much not the answer for what ails us.

    • Scubafrog November 9, 2022 (10:17 am)

      A couple of answers to crime here – among many –  mental health resources (more psychiatrists/facilities for all), and more police officers.  I’m skeptical about ‘rethinking policing’, and sending unarmed police to police a heavily-armed populace.  However, hiring college-educated officers who have unimpeachable backgrounds, and great communication skills should be a priority.  

• Neighbor November 8, 2022 (11:04 pm)

  Disappointed in the ranked choice result.  That’s an idea I have wanted to see in place for over a decade.  So close but looks like it won’t pass.  I wonder if there was confusion about the multiple vote option instead of the ranked choice.  That second question really looks like a torpedo to the whole thing.

  • N in Seattle November 8, 2022 (11:58 pm)

    The real torpedo was the original “approval voting” proposal. Had we been voting solely on the sensible, well-tested, ranked choice approach, my surmise is that it would have passed.

    One wonders whether the original proposal was actually a red herring to deflect the momentum coming from City Council and elsewhere to move to ranked choice.

  • CAM November 9, 2022 (12:16 am)

    The reason to vote “no” even if you want ranked choice voting is because the state RCWs currently requires primary elections in all races. There needs to be a change to the state legislation first (and more research about how to implement ranked choice voting to make it successful) before a change like this should be implemented. The No votes don’t actually mean people are anti-ranked choice voting. Also, the people who got that whole thing on the ballot didn’t want RCV. They wanted approval voting or whatever that weird thing is which has no proof it works in any larger capacity. 

    • Neighbor November 9, 2022 (10:51 pm)

      Ah yes, the mortal enemy of good, perfect.  If it isn’t everything you want, exactly, then torpedo it.  Reality involves compromise.  This would have been a positive step.  Now we won’t see it on the ballot again.

      • CAM November 10, 2022 (8:12 am)

        I am generally a fan of trying things out and seeing how it goes and not aiming for perfection. I don’t apply that to long-term changes to voting or how we elect people who are supposed to represent us. Again, it is entirely possible to be pro-RCV and anti the way this process came about. This should be thoughtful and planned and fully understood before it is put on the ballot rather than, here it is and we’ll figure it out after you vote for it. 

  • CAM November 9, 2022 (12:26 am)

    These aren’t the people I want to see driving the research and discussion on how voting should be conducted here. (https://www.geekwire.com/2022/seattle-voters-heres-what-to-know-about-approval-voting-vs-ranked-choice-and-the-techies-involved/) “Seattle Approves is behind the push for approval voting. The campaign is led by several veterans of the Seattle tech scene, including former Amazon manager Logan Bowers and entrepreneur Troy Davis. The campaign collected more than 26,000 signatures to get the initiative on November’s ballot. The effort has received more than $300,000 from The Center for Election Science, a think tank with a noted interest in supporting approval voting campaigns around the country. Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, contributed $135,000. Other backers include John Hegeman, a Silicon Valley-based vice president at Meta and board member at The Center for Election Science, and Aviel Ginzburg, a venture capitalist in Seattle.”

    • Adam November 9, 2022 (8:22 am)

      Who the f cares?! Is it a good idea or not?! Attack the idea, not who is behind it. I didn’t vote for it either, but I’m not some boob who thinks voting is a team sport. Jesus man, just vote on whether you think it’s good or not, not who you like best. That’s the reason we’re in the mess.

      • WS Res November 9, 2022 (9:56 am)

        Adam – one helpful way of evaluating an idea is to ask “cui bono?” or “who benefits?” Knowing who is in support of a proposal is one way of understanding more about it, because when you follow the money, you often find “who benefits.”

        • Neighbor November 9, 2022 (4:37 pm)

          What do you do when something benefits you and “them”?  You know latin.  Neat.  That’s not a compelling argument.

      • CAM November 10, 2022 (8:15 am)

        Approval voting? Not a good idea. Knowing that it is being studied, funded, and promoted by people who have no background in political science, social science, or anything other than building hypothetical models in a computer simulation tells me a lot about the basis for the plan. 

• Burgerman November 8, 2022 (11:27 pm)

  If Leesa Mannion wins the KCPA race, we are screwed. Prepare for crime to continue rising and for it to affect you where maybe it hasn’t yet. Cannot believe so many of you people are voting for her. Stop wringing your hands, and start smacking your fists into your palms. Enough is enough!! How many times are you going to take punches to the face before you swing back??

  • Derek November 9, 2022 (1:51 am)

    Disagree! You’re just flat wrong! Voted for Leesa and pleased with the results. Ferrell was a gross “lock them all up” Republican that was against restorative justice. And basically brings us closer to fascism. No way. Pleased with all the results!! No Smiley thank god!!!!

    • The King November 9, 2022 (5:26 am)

      Can’t think of any society throughout history that has thrived with drug use and crime like we’re seeing here in Seattle. If you ever wake up in the middle of the night to someone trying to smash your basement door in, maybe you’ll have a different stance on where the city is going. 

    • flimflam November 9, 2022 (5:48 am)

      Oh please, enforcing and upholding the law is hardly fascist…

    • Anne November 9, 2022 (6:39 am)

      Leesa is a Dan Satterberg mini-me. Thought Seattle wanted a change. 

  • WestSeattleBadTakes November 9, 2022 (7:28 am)

    Take a step back and educate yourself.

  • PapaBear November 9, 2022 (8:19 am)

    I had a mostly blue ticket, but had to vote for Ferrell. How can we expect our broken judicial system to change if everything stays the same?

  • zark00 November 9, 2022 (9:08 am)

    Wow you’re so very very wrong on Manion vs Ferrell – you must have put literally zero effort into understanding the candidates positions. Farrell is a lackey for the police unions, he has no plan to reduce crime in any meaningful way. Either you’re joking, or you drank some tainted kool aid.  

  • Jethro Marx November 9, 2022 (9:19 am)

    I absolutely love that you are suggesting the appropriate response to getting punched in the face is to punch oneself in the hand. I Knock yourself out!

• AMD November 9, 2022 (6:54 am)

  Does anyone here read news or look at statistics outside of our own area?  Crime, inflation, homelessness are all national (or international) trends.  One local politician is not going to cause OR solve national problems.  You have to look at whose policies do the best to mitigate or handle it better in our area.  I’m grateful to those who vote based on policies and records, and not pie-in-the-sky claims to have magic cures for deep seeded and complicated problems.

• shotinthefoot November 9, 2022 (8:33 am)

  I am so happy that Tiffany Smiley can now go back to where ever she came from. But I am sure as a trumpian election denier, she’ll probably stick around to bother us with her baseless claims. 

• Buddy November 9, 2022 (8:37 am)

  It would have been nice to have a different democratic person running against Patty Murphy only because other people need a chance to be in government versus someone who has been it for 30 years and is now around 72 years of age.  It’s time to let other people have a turn to be in government who are democratics. Hopefully next time someone in her political party will run against her.  Her age has nothing to do with it, but it time for some new blood in office.

  • Jay West November 9, 2022 (10:34 am)

    She brought us bridge money. When the “fix” fails we are going to need more. Someone new may not have the connections to bring home the infrastructure money.

    • K November 9, 2022 (1:39 pm)

      That’s one teeny, tiny issue in her 30 years(!) in office. I wouldn’t vote for Smiley in a millions years, and year after year of Murray definitely stinks. Here’s hoping she retires soon and we can get someone progressive in office. 

  • CAM November 10, 2022 (8:24 am)

    So Buddy, her age has nothing to do with your opinion, but you felt it necessary to make her age part of your comment and also how many years she been in office (also a backdoor to age). I will say that age at times decides for me between two candidates because it influences my opinion of whether or not they could develop a good understanding of the issues confronting people in different generations. Someone raised in the climate of post WWII is going to have a different set of experiences and needs than a person raised post Cold War. I don’t think that’s the only determining factor though and it isn’t about how long the person has been in office. I also think Patty Murray generally does a pretty good job at that currently. There’s no indication she is out of step with younger constituents and any suggestion she is not “progressive” suggests to me people haven’t listened to her. 

• Peter S. November 9, 2022 (8:58 am)

  I was dismayed by the number of people I talked to who voted purely along party lines.  Didn’t bother to research the candidates.  Didn’t bother to watch the debates.  Didn’t even bother to read the Voter’s Pamphlet that was mailed out.  Not that it helped much, because it was mostly talking point pabulum.  Just saw ‘D’ or ‘R’ and voted accordingly.  That tells me neither party has a lock on brain-dead voters.        

  • Lauren November 9, 2022 (3:49 pm)

    My husband and I actually chatted about this while voting. We lean left, but do normally read all the info and will occasionally stray beyond party lines.This year, voting for any Republican candidate felt equivalent to voting for Nazis.

    • Scarlett November 12, 2022 (6:03 pm)

      You’re equating Republicans with the National Socialist German Worker’s Party which slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Jews. among others who were unfortunate to get in the way?  I don’t care if it was just rhetorical excess, please stop.     

• Mj November 9, 2022 (9:06 am)

  Derek – I believe in restorative justice for the victim of crimes.  Thieves and vandals need to be made accountable and made to pay restitution to their victims. 

  Enough already, there are plenty of jobs available for everyone and there is zero excuse for people to steal and vandalize property. 

  • Derek November 9, 2022 (10:01 am)

    Why should the poor be punished for the crimes of CEOs of huge corporation. If we want accountability you can start by arresting Starbucks style corporation managers who are union busting. Start there, since they openly and brazenly violate the law, then come back to me on the poor who are stealing to make ends meet. Ferrell was a godawful candidate. 

    “There are jobs!!!” and many of them do work. It isn’t enough to cover tons of medical bills, housing, etc. that most people have. I hate stealing but I know it’s a symptom of capitalism and hyper poverty caused by it. Punish the cause not the effect!

    Stop making excuses for capitalism’s abject failures.

    • Jay West November 9, 2022 (10:44 am)

      Maybe we can pass some laws to arrest execs who take federal subsidies and spend it on stock buybacks then lay off workers, drop benefits, raid retirement funds, maybe do a Texas two-step, or go foreign flag. That’s as much theft as anything. But also I was glad to hear about the catalytic converter ring bust, seems to have slowed down the thefts locally to, or is that my imagination?

      • WS Res November 9, 2022 (12:57 pm)

        Interesting – hadn’t heard about a cat theft bust – link?

    • Frustrated November 9, 2022 (1:49 pm)

      • Why do you assume that the people stealing and vandalizing are poor? And why would that be a valid excuse for such behavior anyway?

  • Jort November 9, 2022 (10:11 am)

    Number of people from deep-blue King County in state prison: 3,072 inmates. Number of people in Finland in prison: 2,910. King County locks up more inmates than the entire COUNTRY of Finland. If locking people up deters crime, then why does Finland have a dramatically lower crime rate than King County? Please help me understand. America locks away more people, in total and per capita, than any other country on the planet. If locking people up is the solution, wouldn’t America would be the safest country on the planet? It’s not. Care to get curious about why? Care to think about it a little?

• justme November 9, 2022 (10:39 am)

  It would be nice if we could come up with a plan before diversion is needed. Diversion does not work. From studies I’ve read, most all criminals who qualify for diversion go on to bigger more serious crimes and don’t go through the hoops properly like they’re supposed to when they do qualify. It’s a waste of money. The money needs to be spent before the criminal develops in the first place. If there even is a way to do that. The problem is a big one.

  • zark00 November 10, 2022 (12:37 pm)

    Very odd that you were unable to find any of the, readily available, information on how overwhelmingly positive the outcomes from diversion programs are.  It’s almost like you “feel” like diversion programs don’t work, and rather than spend a single second educating yourself, you just came here and made stuff up about ‘studies you have read’.  For example, one of the most universal conclusions about the efficacy of diversion is how unbelievably cheap it is compared to prosecution and incarceration.  Every state has some form of diversion, and in every single instance the cost of prosecution and incarceration dwarfs the cost of diversion, with roughly the same resulting improvement in public safety.There is one group who consistently rail against diversion; same group that doesn’t like ‘urban’ people. 

• Derek November 9, 2022 (10:55 am)

  Are progressives back after a slight retreat in 2020? Harrell’s “sweep all the poor!” tactic be damned. I think the backlash has worn off and the city got some of its sanity back. I am very happy with Seattle this time around than 2020.  Sara Nelson and Ann Davison better not get too comfortable!

• rebeccaat sunnybrookefarm November 9, 2022 (11:01 am)

  And this is exactly why I don’t talk politics and or religion. You can believe in what you want but when it comes down to what you asked for and it didn’t come true then “oh well”!But isn’t it “funny” that a Politician will “do” something that has been “needed” a few months before their election/re-election and once back in office they go right back to the way it has been going… wrong???

• uncle loco November 9, 2022 (3:00 pm)

  Happy groundhog day everyone  ; )

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