As popular liberal City Council Member Nick Licata strolled out of Mayor Schell's primary-night party in Fremont at around 9:25 p.m., Licata was asked which candidate's party he was going to wind up at: "Oh, Grant Cogswell's," Licata said without hesitation.

It turns out that 33-year-old Cogswell, monorail zealot and Stranger freelancer, is popular with more people than just Licata. As we went to press on Tuesday night, with nearly 55 % of the votes reporting, Cogswell was coming in with an impressive 27 %. Incumbent Richard McIver had about 45 % of the vote. Not only does this bode well in its own right, but the also-rans in the McIver/Cogswell race collectively took up about 26 % of the vote. These votes, for anti-McIver folks like Jerome Wilson and Heath Merriwether, will surely go to Cogswell in November's general election.

As Licata made his way to Cogswell's party at Re-bar in downtown Seattle, more than 50 people were already crowded into the club, drinking, chatting, and ordering pizza.

Cogswell, wearing a baseball cap and light blue button-down shirt, was so nervous that his girlfriend, Tara Breiten-Bucher, bolted home during the party to get him a pair of cotton socks--so he could change out of his damp wool ones.

"You can do amazing things with a little money and the right ideas in this town," Cogswell said from Re-bar. But is he going to win? "Oh hell yeah," he responded confidently. "We're on our way."

It's the status quo that oughta be nervous now. The only thing stopping Cogswell is money. McIver had raised a whopping $83,000 to Cogswell's $19,000. You can make up the difference. Cut Cogswell a check for the general elections. Make 'em payable to Grant Cogswell for City Council. Send them to 409 16th Ave. E. #16, Seattle 98112.