Erica's report on Mayor Nickels' concession press conference is here —and here's a video of the concession speech from KING 5.

And here's a quick report on Nickels' answer to a question I asked at the press conference.

I asked him this:

"After the 2007 tunnel vote, your administration had a position that was similar to the one Mike McGinn has today. Do you think if you had stuck by that position the numbers would be different for you today?"

He said:

"I don't think it's any one issue. I think it's really that public decided it was time for a change, really a generational change. In terms of the viaduct, I had a strong position and three years ago we had a political nuclear meltdown with Olympia. We got to work, and I tried to solve that without creating a new corridor of any kind. But I certainly was insistent that we weren't going to have a new elevated highway on that waterfront. That public space will be our Central Park someday, and we cannot afford to let the legislature or anyone else put another freeway on Elliott Bay.

So, that was the principle that I fought for and at the end of that process the answer was a compromise. And in this business you've got to be able to make compromises ... figure out what's important for you to preserve and what areas you can give a little bit in order get an agreement."

The agreement, however, was another freeway on Elliott Bay.

Overall, I must say, Erica was right in her post when she said Nickels was witty this morning. He got off a few good one-liners. For example, asked why he didn't wait for another vote drop before conceding—there are probably about 25,000 Seattle votes left—Nickels, who's famous for getting his way with the Council, said "I know how to count votes."

He also had  a funny anecdote about telling "certain longtime staff" this morning in an email that he loved them.

The sweet story drew heavy applause and a slight bow from the oftentimes controversial and high profile Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis (pictured above with Nickels and Nickels' daughter Carey), who's been with Nickels for Nickels' entire eight-year run.

KIRO-TV has the whole press conference here .