Thirteen handsome (and camera-shy) firefighters, a passel of labor and small business representatives, and roughly 100 other people eschewed the sun this evening to crowd into the Swedish Cultural Center, draw the curtains on a magnificent view, and toast Seattle City Council Member Tom Rasmussen and his quest for re-election.

Rasmussen tried to highlight his eight years of council experience working for seniors, park lovers, and small business interests, as people nibbled on cups of chicken liver pate and tuna tartare in the hot room. He spoke of cleaning up dirty alleys, renewing the parks levy, and creating the transportation benefit district last year to raise $6 million annually to paint new crosswalks and fill potholes. But judging by applause (and an informal straw poll), the room seemed united behind Rasmussen because of one cause: pushing through the deep-bore tunnel.

"I'm here in support because we want to make sure that tunnel goes through," explained Russell Robinson, an attendee and representative with labor union Local 242. "That's definitely a priority."

"Tom is the chair of the council's transportation committee," explained Louise Chernin, Executive Director of the Greater Seattle Business Association, as she introduced Rasmussen. "Are we worried?" she asked, referring to the tunnel. "Yes!" the room shouted back. She then counseled everyone to give generously to Rasmussen's re-election campaign because he "stands up [for the tunnel] regardless of the consequences."

Donors have already given generously to Rasmussen's cause. The council member has $245,867.56 on hand to fund his re-election, as of April 30. His challenger, Sandy Cioffi, has raised $8,715.02 since announcing her candidacy in early April.

For his part, Rasmussen seemed less than eager to speak of the tunnel in his vision for Seattle's future, even though each reference to it clearly energized the room. Instead, he focused on bringing more electric trolleys to Seattle ("They're clean, they're quiet, and they cost far less than light rail.") and finding money to preserve King County Metro Services in the city ("I don't think people realize the trouble Metro's in."). But when he did get to the point, at the end of his long, hot, at some points rambling speech, his message was succinct:

"It's irresponsible to rethink this project after so long," he said. "There are only a few in the city who oppose it and they're in the minority. I am committed to seeing this project through to successful completion."

And the crowd went wild.