The Alki Foundation—the political arm of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce—has endorsed Joe Mallahan for mayor, despite what many observers agree was a lackluster performance at last week's Chamber-sponsored mayoral debate.

As we noted last week, the business community is in a bit of a quandary: As longtime backers of lame-duck Mayor Greg Nickels, they now must choose between a business guy who lacks political experience, knowledge and clout in Seattle (T-Mobile executive Mallahan) and an environmental activist who's business-friendly in many ways (supporting lower taxes and urban density) but has what many perceive as a fatal flaw: His opposition to the $4.2 billion downtown tunnel (Great City founder and former Sierra Club director Mike McGinn).

Alki spokesman George Allen says that of the two candidates, Mallahan "more closely represented the issues that the Alki found important—concerns about creating a job growing economy and how we crawl out of this recession. ... Mallahan has experience running a business."

The Alki Foundation also endorsed: Dow Constantine for King County Executive, David Doud for Seattle Port Commission, Position 3; Tom Albro for Seattle Port Commission, Position 4; Lloyd Hara for King County Assessor; Kay Smith-Blum for Seattle School Board, District 5; and Wilson Chin for Seattle School Board, District 7. Previous endorsements (which still stand in the general election) include Richard Conlin for Seattle City Council Position 2; Sally Bagshaw for City Council Position 4; Jessie Israel for City Council Position 6; and Robert Rosencrantz for City Council Position 8.