In the first legislative district nod of the mayoral campaign season (Democratic districts pretty much sub in for neighborhood districts in Seattle politics) the 36th District Democrats' (Ballard, Fremont, Greenwood, Queen Anne, Magnolia) executive board issued a recommendation for a dual endorsement in the mayor's race last night, choosing Seattle City Council member Tim Burgess and state Sen. Ed Murray (D-43, Capitol Hill).

Highlighting the bad news for incumbent mayor Mike McGinn, 36th District spokesman Joseph Peha said the board felt politics at City Hall had gotten "pretty bleak" due to the damaged relationships between the mayor and the council. 

Peha said the board was "excited about the prospect of a leader who could form coalitons," and they believed Burgess and Murray both had a history of "building bridges."

Politics at City Hall have gotten "pretty bleak."

In particular, Peha said, the board was impressed with Murray's work in Olympia joining with Republicans on issues such as farm worker housing in Yakima.

The recommendation needed to get a two-thirds vote, and while both Burgess fans and Murray fans seemed to have the support to make a play for a sole endorsement (Peha reports that McGinn was never in the running), it was eventually clear that only a dual recommendation for the pair had the numbers. 

While both Burgess and Murray should be psyched about besting the incumbent mayor, some of the buzz is diminished for Burgess given that he had to share the endorsement.

Footnote: Burgess lives in the 36th (he lives in Queen Anne) while Murray is from the younger, hipper 43rd (Capitol Hill, the U. District, Downtown). So, while both Burgess and Murray should be psyched about besting the incumbent mayor, some of the buzz is diminished for Burgess given that he had to share the endorsement with a district interloper.

McGinn was redistricted into the 36th from North Seattle's 46th last year.

The board's recommendation goes to a vote of the full membership on May 22, and needs to be approved by a simply majority. Any other recommendation would require a two-thirds vote.

Today's second winner: Richard Conlin challenger Brian Carver. 

Carver, who ran unsuccessfully for the city council seat that was ultimately won by Sally Bagshaw in  2009 (he raised just over $5,000) is bringing in a comparatively impressive amount of money this year. The Amazon employee has reported more than $26,000 in contributions in April, mostly, it seems, from friends and family.