Lurking somewhere between these two camps is a small handful of newcomers who are neither kooks nor pros, and who have been impressing audiences at recent mayoral forums with their command of facts and senses of humor. So here's your E-Z guide to the mayoral race underdogs. Please meet former software business guy and current coffeeshop proprietor Scott Kennedy; barkeep and performance artist Caleb Schaber; and former secretary and student and write-in hopeful Christal Wood.
CALEB SCHABER
AGE: 28
POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Democrat. I never voted Republican. I did vote for Nader. I believe in democracy more than the Democratic Party. With the lesser of two evils, I'd vote Democrat.
KEY POLITICAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: Working with a group of people to deliver the monolith to Seattle. We worked together. We bent the rules, and we sent out a positive message about Seattle around the world. The mystery of the monolith is looking into the future of humanity and society going forward in evolution.
CELEBRITY DREAM DATE: Sinéad O'Connor.
#1 ISSUE FACING SEATTLE TODAY: Having a government responsive to the needs of people.
HOW WOULD YOU DEAL WITH THE ABOVE? Legalize adulthood. The laws our politicians have don't reflamesect our community. Civility comes through tolerance, not by criminalizing people without housing. Marijuana shouldn't be illegal.
OTHER THAN STAYING AWAKE, HOW WOULD YOU HAVE HANDLED THE THIRD NIGHT OF THE MARDI GRAS RIOTS DIFFERENTLY THAN PAUL SCHELL? Put police officers in uniform rather than riot gear.
IF YOU WEREN'T IN THE RACE, WHICH MAYORAL CANDIDATE WOULD YOU VOTE FOR? Greg Nickels. I think I'm a better candidate, but he's likely to win. He's the best between Schell and Sidran. Those two have too much baggage. Too many people have lost faith in them.
IF YOU COULD KILL ANYONE IN THE WORLD WITH IMPUNITY, WHO WOULD YOU PICK? Nobody.
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SCOTT KENNEDY
AGE: 34
POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Independent Democrat.
KEY POLITICAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: Personally collecting over 300 signatures for the monorail initiative.
CELEBRITY DREAM DATE: Judy Nicastro.
#1 ISSUE FACING SEATTLE TODAY: Poor mayoral leadership.
HOW WOULD YOU DEAL WITH THE ABOVE? Become mayor.
OTHER THAN STAYING AWAKE, HOW WOULD YOU HAVE HANDLED THE THIRD NIGHT OF THE MARDI GRAS RIOTS DIFFERENTLY THAN PAUL SCHELL? I would have put on tights and a cape. Given clearer instructions to the police.
IF YOU WEREN'T IN THE RACE, WHICH MAYORAL CANDIDATE WOULD YOU VOTE FOR? Caleb Schaber.
IF YOU COULD KILL ANYONE IN THE WORLD WITH IMPUNITY, WHO WOULD YOU PICK? I have never in my whole life wanted to kill anybody. Maybe a meter maid once or twice, but I'm more of a lover, not a killer.
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CHRISTAL OLIVIA WOOD
AGE: 32
POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Independent, with Green leanings.
KEY POLITICAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: Nader 2000 campaign.
CELEBRITY DREAM DATE: Ralph Nader or Albert Einstein.
#1 ISSUE FACING SEATTLE TODAY: Government corruption and voter apathy.
HOW WOULD YOU DEAL WITH THE ABOVE? Hopefully, wake up the constituency.
OTHER THAN STAYING AWAKE, HOW WOULD YOU HAVE HANDLED THE THIRD NIGHT OF THE MARDI GRAS RIOTS DIFFERENTLY THAN PAUL SCHELL? I would have kept music playing in the square, and allowed food to be sold. I would have had police officers dressed differently and in different formation. I would have had a core group of officers ride horseback into the middle of the intersection and attempt to disperse the crowd from the center. I would have spoken to the crowd before gassing.
IF YOU WEREN'T IN THE RACE, WHICH MAYORAL CANDIDATE WOULD YOU VOTE FOR? Probably none--maybe Caleb Schaber or Scott Kennedy.
IF YOU COULD KILL ANYONE IN THE WORLD WITH IMPUNITY, WHO WOULD YOU PICK? My daughter's father. He's the bane of my existence.
