In the first installment of this "District Date" series, I wrote that the "name is a little girl-reporter-ish, but we canât think of anything better to call it, and, to be honest, talking about city politics is something I wish happened on more of the actual dates I go on."
I take this back. I take it back so much.
I have now visited every city council district and made awkward dinner/drinks/bike-riding chitchat with 26 people running for office and I would like to never, ever talk about city politics again.
Just kidding. I am definitely going to talk about city politics again. It's my job. (This will be especially true on Tuesday, when the primary election finally happens!) But for now, I am going to drink until I forget how much it sucks that district elections seem to only be making it easier for outside special interests to pour obscene amounts of money into buying your vote. Ugh.
Below, I've gathered all of my "district dates" and whatever you want to call that story at the bottom about the two citywide races. If you haven't yet filled out your ballot, read up and get to it!
District 1 covers Southwest and West Seattle, including Delridge, South Park, and Highland Park. I went to trivia with a bunch of candidates in this race, then talked affordability and transit with two of the frontrunners.
District 2 covers Southeast Seattle, including Beacon Hill, Georgetown, Columbia City, Rainer Valley, and Rainer Beach. Incumbent Bruce Harrell and his main challenger Tammy Morales both tried very hard to prove to me how connected they are to Southeast Seattle.
District 3 includes Capitol Hill and the Central District. Strangers threw praise and actual cash at incumbent socialist Kshama Sawant, and her opponents talked compromise, gender pay equity, and "dudebros."
Oh, District 4. This district encompasses northeast Seattle from Lake Union to Sand Point, including the University District, Ravenna, most of Wallingford, and Eastlake. I have an unhealthy obsession with this district. (Are you a young person who lives here? I would really like to hear from you.) Anyway, incumbent Jean Godden would not hang out with me, but her challengers did.
District 5 stretches from Puget Sound to Lake Washington, including Northgate and Lake City. This district is home to car dealerships, drive-throughs, and Faye Garneau. I met up with frontrunners Sandy Brown and Debora Juarez, but there are plenty of other interesting candidates up there.
District 6 covers northwest Seattle from Green Lake to Golden Gardens, including Ballard, Fremont, Phinney Ridge, and part of Greenwood. In this installment, Council Member Mike O'Brien leaves his bike unlocked and his challenger tells me the minimum wage increase is the kind of "big picture" issue most of the city isn't really following.
District 7 includes Downtown, South Lake Union, Queen Anne, and Magnolia. I had a fever while writing the post about Sally Bagshaw. I compared her candidacy for city council to trying to keep up with her e-bike. It made sense at the time. (This was also back when Gus Hartmann and I were communicating by video chat instead of passive aggressive candy delivery.)
This is a citywide seat where incumbent Tim Burgess is facing two serious, but very different, challengers.
This citywide seat has no incumbent, but three interesting wannabes and some no-chance candidates for good measure.
