Linda Derschang, head of the mini-bar and restaurant empire that includes Linda's, Oddfellows, and King's Hardware, has donated $250 to Pete Holmes, who's challenging City Attorney Tom Carr in November.

Derschang rarely gives money to political candidates—her last local contribution was to Tim Burgess, in 2007—so I called to ask her why she's backing Holmes.

"I met Pete because he was a dad at the Northwest School, and that's where [my daughter] went," Derschang says. "I liked his energy and enthusiasm, and I wasn’t a Carr supporter. Even if Pete isn’t very experienced [as a prosecutor], I think energy and enthusiasm count for a lot."

Music-industry folks are throwing a party at the Crocodile tonight to support Holmes, along with mayoral candidate Mike McGinn and King County Executive candidate Dow Constantine; more info available here.