Photo of Mayor Mike McGinn and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed by Maria Saporta.

A delegation from Atlanta is in Seattle this week learning about the Seattle Process, talking to local political and business leaders, and comparing the two cities.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle's Maria Saporta has a report on a talk at Canlis last night by "controversial Mayor Mike McGinn," who defended himself against charges from business leaders that he's an obstructionist on the deep-bore tunnel and other projects.

The mostly boosterish piece does include a couple of telling comments from McGinn, who told the delegation that he believed local leaders were "out of touch"; said community leaders were never "with me in the first place"; and that the state had "cut a deal" with the city putting Seattle on the hook for cost overruns, something state leaders like Gov. Chris Gregoire dispute.

He obviously believes that his mission as mayor is to represent the general populous and implement policies that will create a stronger city decades from now.

“I have loved being mayor,” McGinn said. “It is the most challenging, rewarding work I’ve ever undertaken. You have to be fit and ready and focused on the future…. I find it such a gift that I wake up everyday and try to make this city a better place.”