It’s possible. (Updated, now with more candidates!)
Former City Council member Peter Steinbrueck, whose own potential mayoral run was upstaged by environmentalist and neighborhood activist Mike McGinn’s entry into the race yesterday, says he’s still deciding whether or not to run. On the phone yesterday, Steinbrueck called McGinn (who told Steinbrueck about his plans before making his announcement) “an admirable guy and a good candidate for this race,” but added, “Does he represent all the qualities I would look for in a candidate? I don’t think anybody does.” Steinbrueck said he’s keeping the option of running open, insisting that the more candidates there are in the primary, the more votes challengers will take away from the mayor. Of course, that’s only helpful to the candidate or candidates who actually make it through the primary. Mayor Greg Nickels is unpopular—a recent poll showed him with support of less than 30 percent—but beating a sitting mayor requires money, name recognition, and a clear base of support. The more people there are in the race, the more all those things get watered down.
Steinbrueck said he doesn’t think his own indecision impacted McGinn’s decision. “I think the fire in the belly was there and that he had already decided before he talked to me,” he said. Steinbrueck still declined to put a date on his decision to get in or stay out, saying only that he had “some personal factors” to sort out before he could make his mind up one way or the other.
Former Seattle Sonic James Donaldson is expected to announce he’s running for mayor today. Executive search consultant Norman Sigler has already declared. And Stranger editor Dan Savage, who previously said he’d run “if no one else jumps in,” was out of the office and could not be reached for comment.
Wha? Plz fix.
When “candidate filing period” ends on June 5th will know how many folks will be lined up to take a run at the mayor. During the last mayoral election there were 8-9 names on the ballot. Steinbrueck does not want to be mayor otherwise he would and should have stepped up to the plate already. No way I’d vote for someone that uncommitted.
Peter’s indecision is a huge red flag. In a city filled with indecisive, kick the can down the road politicians, his inability to make a decision is alarming. Worse yet, one gets the impression he’s basking in the glory of the chants for “Peter, Peter, Peter”. It’s pretty narcissistic.
Will he retreat and spend days and weeks contemplating major decisions as mayor? God help us.
Ok. I get that a lot of you are new to this neck of the woods. Here’s a little history for you. In 1989 Norm Rice was the last person to file on the last day of filing and went on to smack down the then rising star of Doug Jewitt and win the Mayoral election. It was the “Yes, we can!” election of its time.
Connecting more dots for you, when you look at this year’s election you need to ask 2 questions:
Do we need change? Can we?
@3 I agree 100%. Initially, I was all for Steinbrueck – gung ho, ready to hit the streets…hell, I was a member of that stupid Facebook the second after I found out it existed.
Now I’m not so sure. Like I said in a comment thread on McGinn yesterday, he’s being a huge pussy about the whole thing. Look dude, you’ve got the support, so shit or get off the pot! The last thing we need is a complacent, dilly-dallying narcissist in the mayor’s office.
Shouldn’t it be “local pervert Dan Savage”?
It’s odd how a handful of people keep putting forward the argument that not filing almost 5 months before the primary shows some measure of indecisiveness. Did you guys think about it for a few weeks before you took out a loan and bought a house? How long did you search for a car? How about when you were offered a job that required you uproot and relocate your family?
The fact that Peter is taking some time shows he has the fortitude to not rush his decision. There is plenty of time. Why should he rush it? What would he have gained by declaring two weeks ago as opposed to two weeks from now? Nothing.
James Donaldson will never gain traction. Mike McGinn will pigeonhole himself as a single-issue candidate (and that issue is one of Mayor Nickels’ strengths). Peter will make it through the Top 2 primary and score a significant victory come November.
@7 Yes, yes, I know. I fully acknowledge the fact that I’m being impatient here. My desire to see him declare NOW!!! ASAP!!! is a product of enthusiasm over his potential candidacy, nothing more.
Isn’t declaring now kind of like declaring in August that you think you’re the clear favorite for the Super Bowl?
Most Seattle voters see the name Mike McGinn and have absolutely no idea who he is (for better or worse). Peter Steinbrueck has great approval ratings and even higher name recognition, and the notion that McGinn “upstaged” him with his announcement is inside baseball and/or wishful thinking with little or no bearing on how voters will actually vote.
That said, if Steinbrueck jumps in, he’ll certainly have to do so without any personal reservations or qualifications, which is probably why he’s taking his time deciding.
All you anonymous Steinbrueck haters should cop to your identities to show that you’re not campaign consultants et al, and should also recognize that anyone who is desperate to become mayor is probably someone you don’t want. Unlike Mayor Nickels, who dropped out of college to go into politics and wouldn’t know what to do with himself if he weren’t running for office, Steinbrueck actually has a life. And it’s one that he’s loathe to give up.
If he prefers to run a short campaign over a long one, or wants to take more time to determine the effects of a run for office on his family, why hate on Steinbrueck for that?
it’s not hate for steinbrueck at all. if he went off, said no comment, i’m mulling it over, yada yada yada, that would be one thing.
but he’s on the phone with reporters whenever they call, playing footsie the whole way, and it’s not helpful to him or those that dislike Nickels.
his campaign is like Fred Thompson’s. All the liberati fawn all over him and when he does get in his campaign will self destruct b/c of his own vanity.
“Executive Search Consultant Norman Sigler” had better search for some money–he hasn’t raised a penny yet.
At this point I’d like to declare victory for Seattle.
May the best man, woman, or robot win.
@7 How fucking long has Steinbrueck been out of office? Durr! Last I heard, when he left office, he said he was doing so to spend his full time fighting the viaduct rebuild.
And then… a great silence.
Up until now, I haven’t seen his name anywhere.
So what has he been up to? And what the fuck is he up to now, other than dilly-dallying on running?
The reason his indecision is lame is because he’s been out of office plenty long enough to make a decision already. If he truly doesn’t have an answer, lame. If he does have an answer and won’t admit it, even lamer.
If it comes to Nickels vs Steinbrueck, I’d vote Nickels, because at least he gets shit done in this fucked up town. Nickels vs McGinn and I’d vote McGinn, because he’d get shit I like done.
Non-sequitur: Why the fuck won’t someone run against Sally Clark? &#^$^!!
uh, Sally Clark isn’t up for re-election. der.
First time candidate Jean Godden also waited until the last day to enter. The sooner you file, the sooner you can raise money, but then you spend money and time defending your platform.
If a local pol could master the Dean/Obama art of amassing lots of small online contributions, getting a later start shouldn’t matter. Besides it would be the appropriate pr parry to a mayor seen as tied to corporate funders and downtown interests.
@16, Well… never too early!
comparisons to candidates who wait till the end are flawed since none of those candidates ran against a powerful, well-funded incumbent.
Hernandez, send the FB group a message and we’ll get you hooked up in the Drafting effort. We’re definitely thankful for your support. Peter won’t run if the grassroots aren’t behind him–and more to the point, vocal about it.
#10 Exactly. What percentage of voters are giving a rat’s ass about whatever is going on right now? I’ll eat my shirt if its over 3%. Josh Feit likes to stir the pot–of course he ran with the whole McGinn saga. But 48 hours later is that any more than a blip on the radar?
#12 Peter has been talking to the media? Last I read he “emerged” at a cocktail party over the weekend and made the first public-ish statements in a couple weeks. Comparing Fred Thompson to Peter Steinbrueck is like comparing apples and chicken parmigiana. Mmm…chicken parmigiana…
#15 Your concerns are fair. He’s definitely had time to think about it. But he hasn’t been sitting idle these past two years. Just because someone’s name isn’t in the paper doesn’t mean they aren’t fighting to exact positive change. How often does Cary Moon get mentioned in the Times, P-I, Slog, Seattlest, or Publicola? According to my Google search, not often. But she’s been busting her ass to make sure Seattle has something far superior to a pile of rubble along its waterfront while Mayor Nickels and Governor Gregoire ensure Seattle engages its very own Big Dig. Change comes from within and that is rarely newsworthy.
Can someone please explain the specific policy differences between Mayor Nickels and challenger Mike McGinn? McGinn likes good schools. McGinn likes the environment. McGinn likes public transportation. Has he taken a bold stance on any issue? And let me curb your argument by saying that his idea of the Mayor’s office taking Seattle schools under receivorship is a direct rip-off of my idea which was posted on the Facebook group “Peter Steinbrueck, for the love of Seattle, RUN FOR MAYOR!!” almost a month ago. I like that McGinn seems to be listening to Seattlites, but I demand specifics from any candidate I support. Peter has been gathering information and I expect that when he announces he’ll have qualitative policy differences with Mayor Nickels.
Ian, do you really believe that taking over Seattle schools is some super secret idea that only you came up with? I mean, really?
It’s pretty much a no-brainer, so simple I am surprised big thinkin’ Greg hasn’t touted it.
To be less subtle about my comparison with Thompson, I wasn’t comparing their policies (think that was pretty clear), but their ill designed approach of waiting until everybody hates the other candidates and drafts you, at which point you rise above the medicority and are crowned mayor (or GOP nominee).
@21: Just to clarify, this strategy tanked for ol’ Fred.
That’s true. I certainly can’t even pretend to take credit (although I came up with the idea on my own just like 100+ other people). I do feel though that McGinn presented the idea as if it was original. That is what I call umbridge on. Thanks!
Regarding Fred Thompson, he entered a field of candidates significantly more qualified than himself. Peter is not in that position.
@22 and @23, yes, it didn’t work for Fred and he entered a crowded field, but he entered it much the same way Peter is trying to–late, after the base cried for an alternative. You can nibble the analogy to death, but the outcome will be the same.
It can be argued that the Mayor is more qualified, but regardless, Peter will need all the time he can to get his message out. Waiting while the liberati fawn on you isn’t helping.
@15, Peter worked his ass off for the Market Levy last fall. I saw him everywhere.
Latest TOP 10 most popular names for hizzoner so far:
1. MAYOR McCHEESE–by a landslide
2. MAYOR McCONDO
3. MAYOR NOPLOW
4. MAYOR SNOWJOB
5. MAYOR GRIDLOCK -climbing the charts
6. MAYOR FIVEPENNIES
7. MAYOR McSLEAZE
8. BOSS NICKELS
9. MAYOR GREENWASH-new, with a bullet
10. MAYOR QUIMBY
All the names that are just too mean to such a nice fellow, like MAYOR McFATTY, MAYOR PORK, MAJOR PORK, MAYOR BIGMAC, etc. will not be included in the Top 10 names for HIS HONOR. This is Seattle, a nice city, after all.
We are monitoring the TIMES, P-I, Weakly, Strangler, Crosscut, Publicola, and a few blogs for the most mentions in comments from the citizenry.
Newest contenders:
MAYOR FAILure, MAYOR DISASTER, MAJOR DISASTER, MAYOR NOSALT, MAYOR NICKELBAGS, MAYOR KNUCKLEHEAD, MAYOR FUDD, MAYOR CHUMPCHANGE, MAYOR KNUCKLES, MAJOR NOPLOW, MAYOR 5-CENTS
And………………THE KING IS A FINK!