1. Are we crazy to be thinking Gov. Gregoire's office had something to do with the press conference that social service advocates held about the budget immediately after Gregoire's own budget press conference yesterday?

It's not just that the coalition of social service advocates echoed the governor's theme that an all-cuts budget is "unacceptable," seconded her call for new taxes to restore basic programs, and conveniently rolled out spokespeople for a few of the same programs Gregoire says she wants to restore. But the group's name—the Rebuilding Our Economic Future Coalition—was nearly identical to the language printed on the cover of the press packet the governor handed out at her budget speech an hour earlier and to the printed title on the opening page of the governor's 30-page budget booklet (which came with the press packet): "Rebuilding our Economic Future."

Seems like coordinated messaging to me. Maybe they all use the same pollster?

2. The Great Turkey Heist of 2009 may have been short-lived , but the council's winter potluck turkey isn't the only thing that's gone missing on the second floor.

On Monday, retiring council member Richard McIver's signed Jacob Lawrence print—which has hung above a desk in his office for years—went missing from its storage place in a council conference room, according to an alarmed email that went out to legislative staff.

"If you happen to notice a Jacob Lawrence picture around please let us know ASAP," the email said.

Fortunately, the valuable print, part of McIver's personal collection, was found the next morning, unharmed.

3. Prediction: State Rep. Brendan Williams (D-22) jumps into the now-open race for U.S. Rep. Brian Baird's (D-WA, 3) seat. (Rep. Baird announced yesterday that he's not seeking re-election.)

Why do we think Williams is in? Because his close Democratic state house pal, state Rep. Dave Upthegrove (D-33), posted this on Facebook last night:



What's more—Scott White and Marko Liias—who seem to like Upthegrove's suggestion—are also Williams' Democratic house colleagues.

4. Kathy Nyland—chair of the City Neighborhood Council and, most recently, campaign manager for Sally Bagshaw—will take over as chief of staff when Bagshaw takes office in January.

Bagshaw's other staff members are: Phil Roewe, currently theatre operations manager at the Pacific Science Center, and Wendy Cho Ripp, currently development director at Washington Bus, the get-out-the-youth-vote organizing mavens.

5. Gov. Chris Gregoire was not happy about her all-cuts budget, but that's not why her throat caught, her eyes misted up, and she took a long long pause before answering a question as she fought back tears at her press conference yesterday.

At the close of the budget Q&A in her conference room, Gregoire was asked about the four Lakewood officers who were murdered on November 29. Gregoire, who had spoken at the Tacoma Dome memorial service for the slain officers on Tuesday, described the service as "overwhelming" and in a quaking and voice said it was her "most heart-wrenching day as a governor."

6. As the city council prepares to welcome two new members, Sally Bagshaw and Mike O'Brien, the incumbent council members who are sticking around are taking advantage of their new-found seniority by boxing up and moving to better offices (in order of seniority, of course).

What makes a "better" office? Size, obviously, and windows (non-corner offices only have windows for the council member, leaving aides in fluorescent-lit, windowless anterooms), and the presence, believe it or not, of a thermostat—only five offices have thermostats, meaning that half the council sets the temperature for the other half.

By those criteria, the biggest losers on the current council are Sally Clark and Bruce Harrell, who—thanks to their lack of seniority—will be stuck in their old, lightless offices on the north side of City Hall. (Richard Conlin will also keep his dark office, but he reportedly wanted to do so).

The winners, in order of rank: Nick Licata will get Richard McIver's old office (the very best office, for gossip purposes, on account of its view of everyone entering and leaving City Hall and police headquarters across the street). Jean Godden, who at least has a thermostat, will take Licata's light-filled corner office on the west side of City Hall (and its view of Elliott Bay). Tom Rasmussen, whose external office is both windowless and cold, will take over Jan Drago's office next to Licata's current digs.

Sally Bagshaw, who was just elected, will take over Rasmussen's office. And Mike O'Brien, also just elected, will move into Godden's old spot.

[Full disclosure on item #1: The Rebuilding Our Economic Future Coalition's spokesperson at yesterday's press conference was Sandeep Kaushik, who co-founded PubliCola  back in January.]

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