The Stranger has zero standing to call any other writing 'wonky.' Surprised to see the McGinn campaign gets a quote in a post that seems to have nothing to do with anything McGinn has done.

I'm a little concerned that there are a few too many bad stories about Murray (and in this case, his allies) breaking right now -- they'll crowd each other out!

@1, really? You're "surprised" to see a quote from the McGinn campaign on a story about campaign expenditures a week before Election Day?

Even though the sentence preceding the quote is: "The complaint was filed by Mayor Mike McGinn's reelection campaign"?

So you're surprised that the campaign that noticed this violation in the FIRST place and is now validated by pointing it out is...quoted?

Try again.

Boy it sure is a good thing there are any real consequences for violating election and campaign laws.

I mean a fine... that'll sure hurt Murray's chance at getting elected, and it'll definitely discourage this kind of thing in the future.

The fine for concealing the source of a $15,000 contribution should really be $15,000.

So the obvious question is, if the Downtown Syndicate wants Murray, what's in it for them?

I love the detail Publicola notes, that the guy who asked CASE to earmark it was none other than Phil Fujii, the longtime Vulcan exec McGinn once appointed deputy mayor.

a $1,500 fine when there is clear intent to deceive voters? what a joke.
These people should be banned from financing candidates in Washington for the foreseeable future

I think you need to start differentiating Ed Murray with Patty Murray in the headlines. I'm sure she'd be quite appreciative.

The agreement is a legal document, no doubt drafted by the City Attorney's Office for use by City agencies; it's not "wonky".

Murray will win because no one who will vote for him cares about this kind of thing. Or rather because some people don't care about this kind of thing, they will vote for him.

I wonder how many clients Wyble will continue to get, since most of them lose.

More red flags...

Why did The Stranger endorse wholeheartedly Murray for his last two positions he held in Olympia? I mean shouldn't you guys retract all of those glowing endorsements? You've clearly demonstrated Ed Murray is worse than Bush/Cheney/Palin all rolled into one.

Good enough, liberal enough to vote for Congress Ed Murray is, but not for mayor? Can we get some cooking oil for this liberal on liberal wrestling event?

@13 - I know it's hard for you to wrap your brain around this, but every politician is not suited for every political role. I wouldn't want a vet doing cranial surgery in me for instance.

I fully encourage you to try it tho, it might help.

@15, bullshit even a moron like you knows that. This is about the media (The Stranger included) desperately trying to make every political choice about good vs. evil. Hell, even Dan, Erica and Josh several years ago admitted that was the goal of their political coverage. You pick one candidate, ignore all nuance and then demonize the other one.

Do try to keep up and wrap your head around that little factoid

considering all that McGinn for Vulcan (SLU, Yesler Terrace), and vice versa (Great City Initiative), he's just pissed he didn't get the $15K.

it's really just writing on the wall. Vulcan currying favor...

@16 - I still believe that not every politician is suited to every role, and I don't want Murray for Mayor, but I actually agree with you on the good/evil media thing, the stranger included.

We don't have to hug now, do we?

I'm annoyed that the fine is so small as well. Hardly going to discourage them from cheating in the future.

@19 - Seriously, right?
What justification could anyone give for docking someone 10% of an illegal act?
If I may play king of the world: if we want to discourage this sort of thing, take the illegal amount, and double or triple it, maybe even for both parties. I imagine that would A) sting B) maybe bankrupt a corrupt would-be politician out of a race C) definitely make the bad guys have to launder the money a lot harder. Then for extra socialism put the money from the fines in a public financing pool.