But it was all for naught. As November 6 draws near, conventional wisdom predicts that Mark "Republican" Sidran will be the next mayor of Seattle.
Given that the next mayor is sure to confront an economic downturn and a shaky city budget (the city council is currently looking to cut $27 million from the budget), we think we've finally got an argument that will knock some sense into Seattle voters: outlandish budget overruns in the city attorney's office during Mark Sidran's tenure. Case in point: In the initial 2002 city budget, Sidran's budget estimates were so off that he is seeking $5.6 million above the original funding request. Translation: Sidran is asking the council for an 88.5 percent increase for judgment awards.
And this isn't the first time. Sidran's bad financial planning is evidently a trend. In 2001, Sidran's office needed a $7.4 million cash infusion. Translation: They had a 64 percent cost overrun. Given that budgets have displaced transportation as the number one issue in 2001, voters would be foolish to send Mark "88.5% Overrun" Sidran to the mayor's office.
Oh, and speaking of that other top issue--transportation--Sidran has just plain flip-flopped. Throughout the campaign, Sidran has attacked light rail in the press--stating in the October 4 Seattle P-I that he would shift money away from light rail, and in the September 23 Seattle Times that he would try to force Sound Transit to abandon its light-rail plan. Whoops! Check out Mark "Decisive" Sidran in his latest round of TV ads, promising he'll work for getting a light rail system.
In short, Sidran's not just a Republican. He's a flip-flopping, over-budget, constitution-flouting Republican. Seattle deserves better.