A reader points out that we missed a big Joe Mallahan endorsement last night. T-Mobile executive Mallahan got the sole endorsement of the King County Democrats.

36. missing Fizz says:

Interesting that you guys decide not to cover Mallahan gaining the SOLE endorsement of the King County Democrats last night …

Mallahan rushed from this event to the KC Dems endorsement meeting and McGinn never showed up.

09/23/2009 AT 12:31 PM

Apologies. I did get a text from the campaign at 9:20 last night that said: "Joe Mallahan overwhelmingly wins King County dems endorsement. McGinn fails."

I got the text after last night's public safety candidate forum in Columbia City when I was out drinking a beer with some friends. When I woke up in the AM to post the Morning Fizz, I focused on my notes from the forum, and forgot about the Mallahan news.

It is, indeed, big news for Mallahan, and it certainly adds another twist to a race where just when you think you understand the battle lines , there's a curve ball.

I just called King County Democrats Chair Susan Sheary to get the lowdown on the Mallahan endorsement. She explained that "his campaign worked it really hard" calling all the district chairs to pitch for Mallahan.

Also: Mallahan's focus on social justice issues—as opposed to McGinn's environmental rap—swayed the Democratic group, which is more connected to labor than the environmental community.

The KC Democrats, who did not endorse in the primary, voted 34-4 last night to endorse Mallahan in the general.

A vote on endorsing McGinn lost 11-22.

(As we reported when Mallahan got the King County Labor Council endorsement earlier this month, Mallahan's sincerity about economic issues carried the day over McGinn's green rap with the KCLC as well.)

The chair from each King County legislative district, two reps chosen from each district, and the county officers—a total of 69 voting members—were eligible to cast votes last night.

(Jason Bennett, who's working for Mallahan and is the chair of the 36th District,  did not vote. Another voting member, Dean Willard, a former T-Mobile VP who worked with and knew Mallahan—and is a big Mallahan supporter—did vote. He says that the group did not see his relationship with Mallahan as a conflict, but rather "valued my perspective as they were earnestly trying to find out about Joe.")

To get a sense of the K.C. Dems priorities and the candidates answers, here's Mallahan's  winning questionnaire and McGinn's questionnaire.