. Fizz was at (yet another) mayoral candidate forum last night—this one sponsored by the cranky City Neighborhood Council. (You may remember that Erica got a copy of the leading questions in advance.)

Check out Erica's full barrage of tweets here. But it sounds like Peter Steinbrueck had the crowd down: 

At CNC forum, Steinbrueck says city should be building sidewalks in N Seattle, not supporting "office parks in South Lake Union."

At CNC forum, Steinbrueck suggests, sardonically, that South Lake Union would be an ideal location for new aPodments.

Ditto Kate Martin:

At CNC forum, Kate Martin says aPodments create a "monoculture" and aren't really affordable–a comment that elicits big applause from crowd.

Fizz's favorite, though, Socialist Mary Martin:

Q at CNC forum? How have you been involved in your n'hood? Socialist Mary Martin: "My neighborhood is the world."

2. Long-shot mayoral candidate Charlie Staadecker, who despite virtually zero name recognition has raised more than $182,000, is hiring canvassers to doorbell in West Seattle, according to a job announcement circulating on local neighborhood bulletin boards.

"I’m committed to providing jobs for Seattle, and we’re looking for reliable, personable people to represent our campaign," the announcement says. "I believe this position would be perfect for someone who is professionally minded, employable, but still struggling to find work."

True to form, Staadecker—who opposes increasing the minimum wage in Seattle—is offering prospective canvassers the state minimum, $9.19 an hour.

3. The Metropolitan Democratic Club made its endorsements in state and local races yesterday.

Former city council member Peter Steinbrueck prevailed in the mayor's race, winning a simple majority of the MDC's members on the first vote. (Mayor Mike McGinn came in a distant second).

Former MDC president Justin Simmons (who worked briefly as Steinbrueck's campaign manager) says the top vote-getter was city council member Nick Licata, followed by city attorney Pete Holmes; Holmes is on the MDC's board and Licata is one of the group's "lifetime honored members."

4. There's a mayor's race head-to-head match-up robo-poll in the field. The robot voice? Incumbent Mayor Mike McGinn's consultant John Wyble.

The call, Wyble tells Fizz, identifies McGinn supporters and undecided voters. The most recent poll had "undecided" voters in the lead at 23 percent. (McGinn was next at 22.)

5. More on the mayor's race: Ed Murray's campaign sent out an announcement this morning saying Murray will be joined by "a special guest" at his campaign headquarters today to make "a major announcement."

Fizz's money bets City Council member (and former mayoral candidate) Tim Burgess will be in the house ... as he was at the CNC forum last night.

UPDATE: We were (way) wrong. Former King County Executive Ron Sims ( and former deputy HUD director for President Obama) endorsed Murray this morning.

6. Here's some more on our story yesterday that several sources close to negotiations on the $10 billion transportation package in Olympia said Sen. Joe Fain (R-47, Auburn) (along with his moderate Republican ally Sen. Steve Litzow, R-41, Mercer Island) had reportedly pressured key Republican house 'yeses' out of voting for it: Rep. Terry Nealey (R-16, Dayton), one of the key votes, got back to us late yesterday (after the vote) and said "I never met with him [Fain] at all during the last several weeks."

Rep. Nealey voted 'No.'

Rep. Maureen Walsh (R-16, Walla Walla), also one of the last-minute switches to 'No,'  told us yesterday (before the vote)  that she hadn't talked to Fain. (She did say Sen. Litzow had lobbied her to vote 'No.')

Reps. Nealey and Walsh, along with Rep. Linda Kochmar (R-30, Federal Way) and Rep. Hans Zeiger (R-25, Puyallup) were four Republicans in the days before the vote who Democrats thought they had on board. Only Rep. Zeiger ended up voting for the package; it lost 48-42.

Yesterday, on the morning of the vote, when supporters of the package learned that Reps. Nealey, Walsh, and Kochmar had switched to 'No' votes, they blamed Sen. Fain—who they said lobbied the three because he didn't want the package to make it to the senate floor—fearful it would put him in a political jam with his conservative caucus forcing him to vote 'No' while his swing district constituents, who want 405 money, would start to question his moderate cred.

Fain also told PubliCola befor the vote he didn't talk the three reps.

Sources close to the negotiations were "shocked" at Fain's denial saying he was "obvious" about the lobbying the day before. They also say Reps. Nealey and Walsh said Fain had talked to them. 

Again: Nealey and Walsh deny that account.

The Democrats, hoping that Rep. Kochmar (who's looking at more than $1 billion worth in projects in her district) may switch back to 'Yes,' are considering bringing the measure back to the floor today.