State Representative Ed Murray (D-Seattle) had been saying for months that he wouldn't endorse a candidate to replace him as he leaves the state house and heads for the state senate. But Murray has now changed his mind.

Early September 5, citing the recent state-supreme-court decision against gay marriage, Murray announced he will be backing gay-rights activist and Preston Gates & Ellis lawyer Jamie Pedersen in the race to be the next state representative from Seattle's 43rd District (Capitol Hill, Madison Valley, Wallingford, and parts of the University District and downtown Seattle).

"Because of the marriage decision from the supreme court, and, in particular, the reprehensible language used in the decision, I believe that the political ground under the gay-and-lesbian community has shifted significantly," Murray told The Stranger. "It was an earthquake of a setback and the need to move forward united and strong every place we can is the reason I'm endorsing Jamie Pedersen."

Given Murray's 11 years representing Seattle's 43rd District in the state house, and given his stature within Seattle's gay community, the announcement is sure to shake up the race—a six-way battle that has so far produced no clear front-runner.

"Whoever wins this is going to win with probably 25 percent of the vote," Murray said. "They're going to have probably three-quarters of the district who didn't vote for them." Murray's valuable imprimatur—and the nearly $150,000 Pedersen's raised—may be what Pedersen needs to get that magic 25 percent on September 19. ELI SANDERS

Neighborhood Protests Gas Station

In a Monday, September 4, letter to the director of the city's Department of Planning and Development, Crown Hill resident David Haavik, says he feels a "disconnect" between Mayor Greg Nickels's efforts to promote a "green city" and "the reality of the development in the neighborhoods."

Why such grandiose condemnation from Crown Hill? A zoning change is bringing a gas station to the neighborhood. Due to monorail planning, the area had been zoned pedestrian—which would not have allowed the gas station. Because the monorail imploded last November, the city council canceled the pedestrian designation, providing an opportunity for the gas station to move in on the site. On August 18, over 20 residents demonstrated at the hot spot—the corner of 15th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 83rd Street—ramming crosses into the ground at their "Pedestrian-Zone Funeral." The Department of Planning and Development said they will reach a decision "sometime in October." LENA BAISDEN