1. Records released in response to a public-disclosure request by opponents of the deep-bore tunnel on the downtown waterfront reveal that, according to the state department of transportation, tolling the new tunnel will dramatically decrease traffic in the tunnel itself—a finding that calls into question the need for the tunnel in the first place.

According to estimates produced by the Washington State DOT (WSDOT), a "low"-level toll (between $1.85 and $2.20) on the new tunnel would reduce estimated traffic from around 94,000 cars a day to around 67,000—a 27 percent reduction. Tolling at the "high" level (between $3 and $4) would reduce traffic to around 54,000 cars a day—a whopping 42 percent reduction.

One conclusion from those numbers is that providing disincentives to drive works—something proponents of the surface/transit alternative to replacing the viaduct have been saying all along. Make it harder to drive, and people find alternatives. Unfortunately, the other reality is that building the tunnel without providing alternatives (transit, fixes to city streets, improvements to—and tolling on—I-5) will dump cars onto the street grid—another good argument against the tunnel, and for the surface/transit option, which provides all those alternatives.

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2. Scuttlebutt from last night's packed birthday/congratulations party for King County Executive-Elect Dow Constantine at Kell's in Pike Place Market: In addition to well-known aspirants Sen. Joe McDermott (D-34) and Rep. Zack Hudgins (D-11), state Rep. Sharon Nelson (D-34) is reportedly in the mix to replace Constantine on the county council.

We'll have more details about the intrigue at the county later today, but the short version is that Nelson has put her name in the running to serve as a placeholder replacement for Constantine. A regular election for Constantine's council seat will be held next November.

McDermott has stated publicly that no matter who the county council (officially nonpartisan; in reality divided 4-4 between Republicans and Democrats) picks as Constantine's replacement, and whether they choose to fill the seat with a placeholder or someone who wants it permanently, he plans to run for the position next November.

Also at Constantine's party (in addition to longtime supporters McDermott and Nelson): Normandy Park Mayor Shawn McEvoy, another contender for Constantine's council seat. Council Republicans reportedly favor McEvoy over McDermott and Hudgins because he's viewed as more conservative; because he doesn't belong to the Democratic Party (he calls himself an "independent"); and because Hudgins and McDermott (especially McDermott) are closely linked to Constantine.

3. Don't miss our post-election forum next Monday night at the Del Rey in Belltown (2332 First Ave.) And this is not your standard operating procedure forum.

Rather than post-election pontificating from pompous pundits and random consultants, we've lined up  the political strategists from Team Mallahan and Team McGinn who actually helped come up with and execute this year’s campaign game plans.

McGinn strategist Bill Broadhead and Mallahan spokeswoman Charla Neuman will face off one more time as they  fill you in on how they were playing, reading, and trying to outsmart one another.

The Seattle Channel's C.R. Douglas will moderate, and I'll be there to keep them honest.