Sims vs. Vance

King County Executive Ron Sims announced Tuesday he wants future elections to be all vote by mail.

"It strips away one of the complexities of tabulating ballots because you can treat them all the same," says Ryan Bayne, a spokesman for Sims. "And it's a fairly commonly known thing that it increases voter turnout, which is a good thing."

The Republicans, who don't seem to like high voter turnout, quickly pounced on the idea as a Band-Aid fix to the county's recent elections problems. "I know that all vote by mail is cheap, easy, and popular, but it is also less accurate and less secure," State Republican Party Chair Chris Vance announced. "Ron Sims's priority should be fixing the basic problems within the elections department." THOMAS FRANCIS

Cantwell vs. McGavick

Democrats close to Maria Cantwell's reelection campaign have been up in arms about a "golden handshake" they say Safeco CEO Mike McGavick is getting as he prepares to run for Cantwell's senate seat. Recent Safeco filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission show that because the insurance company plans to keep McGavick listed as an employee for two months after he steps down as CEO, McGavick will be eligible for $9.8 million in stock options that he otherwise would have lost. In addition, thanks to a rules change at Safeco, McGavick will be eligible for another $4.5 million in options that otherwise wouldn't have vested in time for his departure. Total take: $14.3 million.

Ian Goodhew, McGavick's campaign manager, says McGavick doesn't plan to use the money in his campaign—unlike Maria Cantwell, who funneled $10.8 million in stock options and salary from RealNetworks into her 2000 campaign. ELI SANDERS

Smokers vs. Residents

Maybe a case can be made for the enforcement of the laughable 25-foot rule that comes with the smoking ban. Just ask those on the first floor of the apartment building above Canterbury Ale & Eats on 15th Avenue. On Friday night they felt like a chimney for the pack of smokers who gathered outside the bar's entrance. The Seattle police told one apartment dweller that they weren't enforcing the 25-foot rule but that the public health department was. Naturally, the health department said the police were enforcing it. Which is it? In practice, none of the above. THOMAS FRANCIS

Licata + Okomski

Righteously kooky city council member Nick Licata tied the knot with his longtime sweetheart, crusader Andrea Okomski, Saturday in a ceremony at the U-District's Grand Illusion Cinema that included silent films, poetry, and an acoustic-guitar serenade by local über-activist Matt Fox (the Cure's "Just Like Heaven").

Afterward, the couple headed over to Capitol Hill's Polish Home, where guests (including Licata's progressive ally Peter Steinbrueck) enjoyed a traditional Polish buffet, danced to '80s music (more Cure!), and competed in a polka contest. Best wishes to the happy couple. NANCY DREW