Seattle Mayor's Race 2013

Extra Fizz: More On Those Murray Contributions

Extra Fizz from the mayor's race.

By Erica C. Barnett July 23, 2013

Some extra afternoon Fizz: 

1. As we noted in Fizz this morning, mayoral candidate Ed Murray had an astounding fundraising week, bringing in $46,000 (and belying the notion that Murray, who was under a fundraising freeze as a state senator as long as the legislature was in session, faced an uphill money battle). 

In addition to some of the noteworthy contributors we mentioned earlier (including Planned Parenthood Votes NW, former Jay Inslee communications director Sterling Clifford, and U.S. Rep. Denny Heck, D-WA, 10), some of Murray's donors contradict the notion (peddled widely by his foes Peter Steinbrueck and Mayor Mike McGinn ... and as we've reported, supported by big business contributions from the likes of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce) that Murray is the "establishment" candidate. 

For example: 

• $200 from Thomas Goldstein (AKA "Thermos Goldstien" on some contribution forms), the former executive director at the youth-GOTV, rabble rousing, Candidate Survivor-hosting Washington Bus—who previously supported anti-establishment Mayor McGinn and has given to McGinn's progressive council ally, campaign finance reform urbanist Mike O'Brien. (Goldstein is co-chair of the independent expenditure group that's supporting Murray, People for Ed Murray);

• $100 from Woodland Park Zoo president Deborah Jensen, who previously gave to McGinn; 

• $50 from low-income housing advocate Anna Markee; 

• $700 (the max) from the IBEW Local 77, which represents City Light linemen and other City Light workers; 

• $200 from Kate Pflaumer, who served as auditor of the city's Office of Professional Accountability, which oversees complaints of police misconduct (Pflaumer previously supported Tim Burgess, who decided not to run);

• And, complicating some other anti-Murray memes,  $200 from former Sound Transit spokesman Denny Fleenor (Murray has been seen—in his view, unfairly—as an opponent of Sound Transit in the past). ST's current media relations staffer, Andrew Schmid, also contributed to Murray earlier in the campaign.

2. At virtually the last minute, Mayor Mike McGinn canceled an appearance on the Seattle Channel's monthly "Ask the Mayor" show—the final show before the August 6 primary. It was scheduled for tomorrow evening. 

What does the mayor consider more important than taking questions from the public? According to McGinn spokesman Robert Cruickshank, he'll be attending the Greenwood Seafair Parade, an annual event in the mayor's neighborhood.

We have a call out to "Ask the Mayor" host Brian Callanan.

3. A reader points out that a photo on a McGinn mailer, prominently featuring what appears to be a longshore worker, looks like a fake, noting, among other things, the fact that the "worker" has perfectly manicured nails, that no one rolls up their shirt sleeves on the job, that the radio and vest he's wearing aren't compliant with marine terminal standards, and that the ship in the background was moved from the terminal it's pictured at more than two years ago. 

McGinn consultant John Wyble confirms that the photo is a stock image. "We've got to save money," he says, noting that professional photography is expensive. 

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