City Hall
McGinn Cancels Fundraiser At Last Minute; Campaign Cites Occupy Seattle
Mayor Mike McGinn's 2013 reelection campaign canceled a fundraiser planned for this evening just hours before it was supposed to begin.
McGinn's campaign consultant John Wyble says the fundraiser, scheduled to take place at the SvR Design company, has been rescheduled so the mayor can be available during tonight's Occupy Seattle protests. Last night, as has been widely reported, Seattle Police Department officers pepper-sprayed several protesters, including an 84-year-old woman and a pregnant woman, and arrested six people.
"They just want to make sure they're around and prepared, and tensions have risen a little," Wyble said. "They just wanted to make sure they were available."
In a statement this afternoon, McGinn said, "To those engaged in peaceful protest, I am sorry that you were pepper sprayed." He said the police department would be reviewing its use of pepper spray; "developing a procedure to ensure appropriate commanders are on the ground at these kinds of events"; and making sure the level of police force at Occupy and other protests is appropriate.
PubliCola was also told that turnout for tonight's fundraiser was lagging behind what the campaign had hoped for.
McGinn's 2013 campaign has raised $27,891 so far, and is $5,048 in the red.
McGinn's campaign consultant John Wyble says the fundraiser, scheduled to take place at the SvR Design company, has been rescheduled so the mayor can be available during tonight's Occupy Seattle protests. Last night, as has been widely reported, Seattle Police Department officers pepper-sprayed several protesters, including an 84-year-old woman and a pregnant woman, and arrested six people.
"They just want to make sure they're around and prepared, and tensions have risen a little," Wyble said. "They just wanted to make sure they were available."
In a statement this afternoon, McGinn said, "To those engaged in peaceful protest, I am sorry that you were pepper sprayed." He said the police department would be reviewing its use of pepper spray; "developing a procedure to ensure appropriate commanders are on the ground at these kinds of events"; and making sure the level of police force at Occupy and other protests is appropriate.
PubliCola was also told that turnout for tonight's fundraiser was lagging behind what the campaign had hoped for.
McGinn's 2013 campaign has raised $27,891 so far, and is $5,048 in the red.
