1. Yesterday, we reported the Seattle City Council Member Jean Godden had endorsed city council candidate Jessie Israel. Israel is running against Godden's council colleague, longtime incumbent (and council lefty) Nick Licata. 

We weren't able to get Licata's reaction to the snub until late yesterday afternoon. Licata was mellow about the whole thing, joking that "I should have taken her [Godden] to Morocco." Godden told PubliCola yesterday that part of her fondness for Israel stems from a trip they took to Morocco together seven years ago.

Godden had also told us that Licata hadn't asked for her endorsement, to which Licata responded: "I have a rule not to seek out or give my endorsement to council colleagues. It keeps us independent and [endorsements] can have a negative effect on the council group dynamic." 

Licata acknowledged that he did endorse his council colleague Judy Nicastro over then-challenger Jean Godden in 2003 (which Godden pointed out yesterday). Licata says he endorsed Nicastro only after Nicastro "asked me repeatedly."  And Licata laughed (comparing it to Godden's endorsement of Israel) "Nicastro was the incumbent." 

Licata surmised that Godden's Israel endorsement might be related to the fact that Israel's campaign consultant is Godden chum, Cathy Allen. (Godden, in fact, announced her endorsement at Cathy Allen's house at an Israel fundraiser). "[Godden] has a strong connection to Cathy Allen," Licata said.

Given that Allen is known (although I'm not sure why) for championing local female candidates, Licata noted that he'd been endorsed by Karen Cooper, the longtime (although just-retired) head of Washington NARAL. 

2. Mayor Greg Nickels met with the 34th District Democrats executive board last night in an effort to win the district's endorsement. The 34th District is Nickels' home turf, West Seattle.

Unlike West Seattle King County Council Member Dow Constantine—who won the executive board's 'Yea' recommendation (which requires a two-thirds vote) in early March and then  the corresponding endorsement of all the District members—Nickels didn't get the board's recommendation last night. 

34th District Chair Tim Nuse explains that Constantine was a special case —"the darling of the District"—and it wasn't the board's intention to vote on a Nickels' endorsement last night. The executive board, Nuse says, knew that their District members wanted to endorse Constantine overwhelmingly, so they "stepped forward" and endorsed him. They didn't even take up that decision with Nickels, Nuse says, because it's not "clearly drawn" in advance that District membership (and the executive board itself) fully support Nickels. 

Nuse reports that Nickels was hit with some hardball questions last night about police accountability and education. 

Nickels will need a two thirds vote of the District members at the full organization's endorsements meeting on July 8. Had he gotten the Constantine treatment, he would have only needed a simple majority of the members to support him.

3. The lefty Washington Budget & Policy Center has a report on devising a cap and trade system that doesn't slam low-income customers with the increased costs that will come with special carbon emission permits. The formula—a rebate program—sounds exactly like what Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) has been proposing as an alternative to President Obama's proposal.  (Thanks to Sightline for the heads up on the report .)

4.  The Washington Beer Commission is seeking an executive director. The first qualification: "A passion for beer." FYI.

(This was forwarded to me by a state legislator who wrote: "Don't say the State isn't on the ball with what's really important!")