Godden's Errors
The Public Disclosure Commission is investigating two complaints against Seattle City Council candidate Jean Godden. First, politically inexperienced Godden (running against incumbent Judy Nicastro) used the title of a city employee--Mary Jean Ryan, director of the Office of Policy and Management--in campaign literature, a violation of the city's ethics code. Ryan complained, and a link to the brochure was dropped from Godden's website. Then, in a campaign mailing, Godden claimed she'd been endorsed by State Attorney General Christine Gregoire. Gregoire, who doesn't endorse in local races, didn't endorse Godden.
Godden's campaign did get one actual boost last week, though--a $35,000 contribution. The source of the campaign's newfound affluence? None other than Jean Godden, who's poured some $60,000 into her own campaign. ERICA C. BARNETT
Wrong Person
Amy Jenniges certainly noticed that Margaret Pageler's aide Malik Davis (a tall black man) was sitting in for his boss (a short white woman) at last week's South Beacon Hill cop accountability candidate forum, but she didn't think it was such big a deal. NAACP prez Carl Mack, however, was clearly irked that Margaret sent a surrogate. While Amy stayed in her seat, Carl stood up and pointed at Malik. "I'm having a problem understanding how [Pageler] transformed," Carl boomed. Malik shouted right back. "Malik is not going to leave the stage," Malik yelled, in his signature third-person style. Carl and Malik argued, Amy took notes, and eventually Malik stormed offstage. Margaret appeared minutes later. AMY JENNIGES
Meet the Candidates!
Still don't know who to vote for in the November 4 city council runoffs? In fact, don't even know who's running in the runoffs? Meet this year's hopefuls at The Stranger's candidate forum on Thursday, October 30, at 7:00 p.m. in UW's Kane Hall. Honorable Dan Savage presiding.
Public Money
Want to know how much your favorite (or least favorite) government employee makes? Just go to www.lbloom.net, where you'll find salaries of every public employee in the state--from the mayor's office to the Washington Horse Racing Commission. Only Mercer Island--which "does not maintain a list of employees' salaries," according to the website--isn't posted. Some highlights: Sound Transit communications director Ric Ilgenfritz ($138,000 a year); mayoral spokesperson Marianne Bichsel ($83,000 a year); and the Horse Racing Commission's test barn clerk ($19.75 an hour). ERICA C. BARNETT