1.  Longtime lefty Seattle City Council Member Nick Licata—whose political future has been uncertain (is he going to run for mayor? is even going to run for reelection to City Council?)—is not going to run for mayor. But he is planning to run for a fourth term on City Council, sources say. 

Lefty Nick Licata, Running for reelection

2. Republican State Rep. Tom Campbell (R-2, South Pierce County, Parts of Thurston County) has reportedly been in D.C.— fundraising for a likely run against U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA, 9).

 

Republican Tom Campbell, Running for U.S. Congress?

3. Both the State Senate and House reintroduced education reform bills this week after the Washington Education Association (the teachers' union) killed the original bills. The original bills had been sweeping legislation with bi-partisan support that one co-sponsor said "had the chutzpah to do something." The new bills are "Title Only" versions. "Title Only" bills (or placeholders) are bills that are used to move important, but contentious issues forward, while leaving the specifics for later in the session.

However, at the hearing on the new Senate version on Monday, WEA president Mary Lindquist testified against even this placebo version—essentially giving the thumbs down to negotiations. (The governor had called on the warring parties—the WEA vs. the state PTA, the Superintendent Association, and the State Board of Education—to talk amongst themselves and work out a compromise.)  

So, reformers were a little encouraged when Lindquist actually showed up the next day, Tuesday, at a meeting to get the ball rolling on talks. 

The House is holding its hearing on the "Title Only" bill today. Rep. Pat Sullivan (D-47, Covington, Awesome Kiss Song), the sponsor of the original House bill and the new placeholder bill, would not say what reforms must be in the final draft, but explained that the bill will specify things like appropriate class sizes, accountability standards, and professional development—and figure out the matching price tag. 

State Rep. Pat Sullivan tries again

4. Seattle-area legislators say part of the reason Olympia didn't include Mercer St. on the list of stimulus money transportation projects is this: Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels . Nickels, they say, has an uncooperative, top-down style (he got an agreement with the governor, but didn't work on lawmakers) that has put Seattle legislators at a disadvantage when it comes to getting support on Seattle's wish lists.

That's one theory. You can call the two Seattle-area legislators who are on the Senate and House Transportation Committees respectively, Sen. Ken Jacobsen (D-46, NE Seattle) and Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson (D-36, Ballard), and see what they have to say about the giant failure to represent.

 

Ken Jacobsen, (360) 786-7690



Mary Lou Dickerson, (360) 786-7860

5. David Postman was at the packed Transportation Committee press conference about stimulus spending yesterday, frantically taking notes. It was certainly a familiar sight. But Postman—the former Seattle Times chief political reporter —was not there as a reporter. He was there on behalf of Vulcan, Paul Allen's development company. (Postman now works as Vulcan's communications director.)

Vulcan has a serious interest in fixing Mercer St. because they own property in South Lake Union—and Mercer is key to the success of the company's developments there. Postman, officially opinionated now, told me the Senate and House committees' decision not to spend money on Mercer flew in the face of President Obama's call to involve local communities in the decision-making process about how to spend stimulus money.

Sen. Haugen and Rep. Clibborn, he pointed out, decided without any public process how to spend the money—ignoring things like the Seattle City Council's vote to fix Mercer. "They say we knew about the decision," Postman complained. "How's that possible? They did this in private meetings."

To prove his point that the legislature was ignoring Obama's standards, Postman sent me this video of Obama talking about the stimulus package, where the President says: "Instead of politicians doling out money behind closed doors, the important decision about where taxpayer dollars are invested will be yours to scrutinize." 

David Postman, allowed (and paid) to have an opinion now.