In an attempt to attract Southeast Seattle votes, mayoral candidate Mike McGinn announced today that he would open a new office at 6951 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Suite #223 (near the corner of MLK and S Willow Street). He plans to use the site for recruiting volunteers and stationing phone banks.
"I think that Southeast Seattle is historically underserved," says McGinn. "There are disparities in education, jobs, and attention from the city."
"There are a lot of votes north of the ship canal, but we want to win votes in the southeast, too," McGinn says. In the primary election, "Nickels earned the support of voters in southeast Seattle and I want to earn their support, too." He already has one office on Aurora Avenue N and N 40th Street. The new office will open Saturday.
While we were on the phone, I asked McGinn how he plans to appeal to labor unions, a powerful force in Seattle elections, which have been steadily gravitating to challenger Joe Mallahan (I report on the trend here.) "Well, you know, I respect the decisions made by big business and the big construction unions," he said. "They really want a tunnel and Joe Malllahan is their man. We have been reaching out to unions and we would love to win union support, and it is in process." Does he have plans to reach out to any specific unions? "I think it's premature," said McGinn.
UPDATE: McGinn has announced two town halls in Southeast Seattle this Saturday (on what seems to be very short notice).
COLUMBIA BRANCH OF THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
WHEN: 10:30am, Saturday, September 19th
WHERE: 4721 Rainier Ave SJEFFERSON COMMUNITY CENTER ON BEACON HILL
WHEN: 8pm, Saturday, September 19th
WHERE: 3801 Beacon Ave S
