you're making me like her, heidi

Lower taxes on me? I'll vote for her even if she's a damn fool on everything else

Another neoconservative, she's perfect.

Or neoliberal? Corporate politician either way.

>she would lobby state lawmakers to reduce property taxes on older homeowners.

too little too late but she knows how to court that 50+ vote

Jenny, keep in mind that SODO Arena, with its acreage and transportation options, stands the best chance of getting the NHL and the Sonics here rather than a Key Arena building that splits revenues in such a way that the teams to make enough to make it worthwhile to go to or stay there.

Rather the teams won't make enough to stay at the Key under the potential revenue splits between the city, the developer, and the team or teams.

@6/7:

Not to mention the screaming of QA NIMBY'S who have had nearly eight years of some respite from the parking clusterfuck that happened every time there was a game at the Colese - er, The Key. You can bet they'll fight tooth-and-claw to keep any new sports franchise as far away from their homes as possible.

@5
You young chickadees should pay more -- you should get the benefits for longer

The Stranger launches a cookie cutter take down of any candidate with any experience, knowledge or ability to effectively run the City...

PREVIEW
Strong cities are one of the key defenses against the fascists in DC. Having a warrior woman who has been on the inside of the Justice department, stands up for immigrants under siege by ICE, holds law enforcement accountable for their use of force policies, defends LGBTQ civil rights, has worked as a union laborer, and both understands the rule of law and stands up for it on behalf of the powerless has my support. I am SICK UNTO DEATH of these faux leftists with their purity tests-of-the-day, and seem to view anyone with actual experience as the enemy rather than an asset. Frankly, that's bullsh*t, counterproductive, and smacks of an arrogance that endangers the most vulnerable. Durkan is a powerful woman who uses the rule of law effectively and with sound judgement. I look forward to hearing more from her, especially her views on urban development, density, and housing access for all.

Jenny Durkin had my vote the second she announced her bid.

I am hugely supportive of expediting ST3 as much as possible, the other contenders are too beholden to nimbys and SJWs to trust not throwing monkey wrenches and undue process into the mix.

@12,FWIW, McGinn also supports ST3 and increased density, which offends the nimbys.

But will Jenny offend those single family home owning snowflakes north of the ship canal bridge and bring some density to those folks.

The Stranger, Seattle's only newspaper (for kids!)

@13: she doesn't offend me, and I guess I'm one of those.

@15: "cookie cutter lefties", you're hilarious.

@11 - right ON! I predicted Heidi would write this column and she didn't let me down. Jenny is a powerful woman - gay woman - who we are super lucky to have in the race.

why do you people want even more professional sports in the city? Why do you want an NHL and an NBA team? How does that benefit anyone?

Heidi, by the way, the mayor has to run the city. It's not just a policy job.

It's still a wide open race, but at this point I'm kinda leaning toward Durkan. Nothing in this hatchet-job of an article has dissuaded me. I'm frankly a bit baffled by your tone. Has she done something legitimate to offend the Stranger? Or is your objection that she just isn't left enough for you?

Durkan is Jessyn-Farrell-lite. There's no point in voting for her when you can have the real thing.

@18 - it's a symptom of the thoroughly corrupting influence that sports has on our society. Leading politicians who are opposed to any other form of corporate welfare are fine with bending over backwards to give up public infrastructure, bonding capacity, tax credits, or whatever else it will take to gratify a major league sports team - even one privately owned by a consortium of millionaires. Fans who condem violence in any other context will pay good money to expose themselves to a cold Seattle rain while watching inherently violent game of football. People who recognize the evil of sexual assault will cheer a domestically violent top athlete's performance on the sports field - at least as long as the team is having a good season.

Jenny Durkan's flippant support for 'whatever arena plan that lands us an NBA team' was an incredible display of crass political pandering at its worst. Great way to kick off a campaign!

Another candidate for the status quo and for the industrial prison complex. She is a continuation of no challenge to the system. As long as she doesn’t rock the boat she will be fine with privileged. Yuk.

@18, Hockey is exciting and gonzo--speed, skill, finesse, much more so than the game of 15-20 years ago. The dour culture around here could use it. Most major cities have 3 or 4 major sports; its not all that unusual.

Even if we didn't add those sports, its not like Seattle, for all its PR about being progressive, will come to grips with urban problems it has that the cities with the extra sports have, e.g., expensive housing, homelessness, crumbling infrastructure, racism, underfunded public schools, income inequality.

I'm glad to see so many people on here defending Jenny. The Stranger and Heidi should recognize that and get on board. Jenny would be a great mayor and it would be awesome if the stranger and their readers would support.

@23 - bingo, status quo down the line. Not much chance that there's anything to be done about Seattle's problems. So, instead, we need a mayor to save us from Washington, DC.

lots of unfamiliar commenters here coming out of the woodwork. interesting...

Durkan would be a disappointing mayor in the same way Gregoire was a pathetic governor.

No thanks.

Business friendly. Rich-folk friendly. Tough talker. No thanks.

She is exactly what we need! And who ever said she's from D.C., WRONG.
She is a Seattle native.
She is liberal, in a crowd of liberals. BUT, she is a liberal THAT WILL GET SHIT DONE! I'm going with her!!

Okay, now I wish I DID still live in Seattle--I'd vote for Jenny!

I'm still a little nervous about Durkan's legal defense record of Shell Oil and McDonald's, however. I would be interested in hearing her views on environmental issues, especially now that Trumpzilla and its swamp creature lackeys have opted to gut the EPA and Puget Sound cleanup funding.
But if Durkan stands up for the people of Seattle, Puget Sound, and Washington State and helps topple the Trumpzillian Evil Empire, I'll all for her getting elected Mayor of Seattle.

@10 - Ha! Exactly. The Stranger staff don't think Durkan will sufficiently bow & scrape to them.

Wow - I am liking Jenny Durkan more and more. She is the leader Seattle needs right now.

You're article makes every attempt to paint Jenny Durkan in a negative light. But she still comes across as someone who is very positive for this city to me. She is the best candidate so far and the people endorsing her give me even more confidence she is the right person to be mayor.

Newsmama @35, @36, I'm not sure your endorsement of Jenny Durkan is going to have the effect you might wish it to have on this site, considering the views you've expressed in the past here. Then again, perhaps you are dimly aware of this, having hidden your activity.

As for me, now that Jessyn Farrell has announced, my vote is spoken for. I'm still interested in hearing Durkan fill in some details and take some stands on some issues. My best sense so far of what a Durkan administration would be like? Imagine if Chris Gregoire were mayor of Seattle. I'm sure there are some old-Seattle folks for whom that would be a promising prospect.

You think Farrell would be substantially different than Durkan? I had them both in the Business as Usual party. Durkan has been more clear about her intention to continue in Murray's footsteps, though.

@37 Oh I didn't know my activity was hidden. And are you saying that Jenny Durkan was a Sound Transit advocate?

I won't apologize for believing that Sound Transit needs stricter oversight - and I think lots of politicians including some running for Mayor had the wool pulled over their eyes during the ST3 campaign.