As I mentioned yesterday, former Seattle Sonic James Donaldson officially announced yesterday that he’s running for mayor, bringing the total number of official candidates in the race to four—Donaldson, environmentalist Mike McGinn, executive search consultant Norman Sigler, and incumbent Greg Nickels.
In an email, Donaldson outlined his priorities, which focused on reforming city government, making the city friendlier to business, and “starting new dialogues” with state, local, regional, and school officials.
Specifically, Donaldson said he would:
Initiate performance audits in “every city office.”
Implement a new zero-type budget process—that is, one in which no program is automatically approved.
Freeze all utility increases not associated with the increased costs for current service.
Appoint a Blue Ribbon commission of business leaders to make recommendations on how the city can become more job- and business-friendly.
Ask that the current viaduct replacement tunnel proposal address better solutions and access for the Port and northwest Seattle.
Review the viability of the current Mercer proposal given the lack of funding for it and the tunnel.
Work to eliminate the unpopular “Option L,” which would replace the 520 bridge with a bridge over the Montlake Cut, from consideration by the state.
Looking at that list of priorities, my impressions are: a) It includes a lot of stuff—universal performance audits, zero-type budgeting, making Seattle more business-friendly—that sounds good but tends to be either useless (when has a Blue Ribbon Commission ever accomplished anything?) or impractical (auditing every single city office would require a massive expansion of the city auditor’s office, which currently issues about a dozen audit reports per year). b) On the other hand, compared to McGinn’s list (more frequent bus service, take over the schools, universal broadband), Donaldson’s priorities seem both more realistic and more relevant to ordinary people’s concerns. I think we’d all like better schools and more reliable bus service, but the city doesn’t actually have any authority over either of those things; and universal broadband seems like a bizarre, off-point priority at a time when people are worried about holding onto their homes and jobs. And finally, c) I applaud Donaldson’s specificity. Although I’m not sure I agree with him on Mercer—connecting Queen Anne and South Lake Union might make the project worth the expense in the long term—it’s refreshing to see a candidate with specific goals and priorities, instead of just platitudes about making Seattle a world-class city again.
I’m going to jump in here and make a huge generalization, but nonetheless…
I’ve had various interactions with former sports stars who become CEO’s, Directors, Politicians, etc. There has never been one instance where these guys were even remotely competent. They were all just resting on their laurels from the good ol’ days when they were the biggest thing.
He should add “coldcock Clay Bennett” to that list.
Four candidates? What about Mr Savage?
D-
What about Bill Bradley? Donaldson is right that Seattle needs to look over its books but, I think people are looking for more than a new spreasheet.
@1, what about Steve Largent?
Arnold.
Not my party, but still.
steal some wine and celebrate
Motherfwck. Let the basketball headlines begin. What an air ball.
In addition to Bill Bradley, Kevin Johnson, mayor of Sacramento, Bruce Harrell, UW FB standout-city council, Magic Johnson and his biz enterprises, Heath Schuler-former qb now US Rep, Whizzer White college stud athlete,US Supreme, JC Watts- Sooner QB- US Rep(I think). Not all my party but you get my drift.
Just heard Donaldson on the radio, he sounded very practical, no developers to pay off, wants to make the city a better place, and has some specific ideas. I don’t know much about him (yet) but I am very willing to learn more and have a competent challenger to Nickels. Thanks James.
Loved his answer to the Sonics question: will you bring the back the Sonics? He says, that is not a top priority right now, but when the time comes, I will be better positioned with better contacts to make it happen than anyone else. Great answer, focus on more important stuff first, but recognize that Nickels totally fwcked that one up, and Donaldson is the only candidate who could restart those talks with NBA. Nice.
He can’t be running if he doesn’t have a Facebook Group and campaign page.
Right?
Will — Good point. Though he said today that he would be rolling out his webpage, campaign office, and stuff like that over the next two weeks. Probably a way to continue to press coverage – not a bad idea
Well, all I know is even Nick Licata has 4 people on his candidate page and he’s not even running for mayor …
@1 well that certainly explains why Norm Dicks has been in office for so long.
yeah thats all great but, you know I…
… “Called up the homies and I’m askin y’all
Which court, are y’all playin’ basketball?
Get me on the court and I’m trouble
Last week fucked around and got a triple double
Freaking brothers everyway like M.J.
I cant believe, today was a good day”
He has a Facebook page something like Team Donaldson. I can’t get to it right now. Stupid Request blocker. I’m s’posed to be working at work I guess.
More on Donaldson – he was on KUOW today, talking more specifics….. He seems to be on his game, gave clear answers to all questions:
http://www.kuow.org/program.php?current=…
I like Donaldson’s answer to the question about the Snow response — it was not a passing grade! Nickels you are an idiot, glad that West Seattle got cleaned up…..