Regardless of the outcome of the still undecided Mayors race, one of the biggest stories coming out of this election cycle is the grassroots, all volunteer campaign run by Mike McGinn.  McGinn was outspent and out staffed by the Mallahan campaign and rarely led in the polls, but won the primary and is currently in the lead after the first three batches of votes have been counted.  I went to the McGinn Campaign Headquarters yesterday to talk to the volunteers to find out what it was like working on the groundbreaking campaign. 

Scan-091103-0013-Edit, originally uploaded by picsbysomeguy.

With Peter Holmes victorious and Susan Hutchinson dispatched and Tim Eyman chewing his mock turtle neck in defeat, Capitol Hill lovers of democracy turn to two crucial races that will continue to unfold with this afternoon's next batch of results around 4:30 PM and through the week.

Here are some links to chew on in the meantime:

• Erica Barnett from Publicola says to expect more good news for Mike McGinn this afternoon.
• The Seattle Times says R-71 comes down to Pierce County. Puyallup, Tacoma, Orting... do the right thing.
• Seattle Gay Scene crunches the numbers on R-71.
• To get you pumped up, check out Cheesecake's video of McGinn's speech at the War Room last night:

McGinn Election Night Speech from David Albright on Vimeo.

Mayoral candidate Mike McGinn is including a Capitol Hill stop in his last weekend of city barnstorming, according to this announcement from his campaign team. We already gave him the CHS endorsement but you can check in with McGinn on Halloween afternoon at 19th Ave's Miller Community Center. The McGinn campaign announced today it is holding its election night celebration at the War Room.

Mike McGinn to host four town halls this weekend.

"We know a lot of Seattle voters are undecided and want more information before making their choice," said McGinn.  "Seattleites take voting seriously.  We want to give everyone the ability to directly ask questions and this is an opportunity to do just that."

WHEN: 2pm, Saturday, October 31st
WHERE: Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave. E

WHEN: 10:15am, Saturday, October 31st
WHERE:  West Seattle Branch of the Seattle Public Library, 2306 42nd Ave. SW

WHEN: 12pm, Saturday, October 31st
WHERE: Northgate Branch of the Seattle Public Library, 10548 5th Ave. NE

WHEN:  3:30pm, Sunday, November 1st
WHERE:  Columbia Branch of the Seattle Public Library, 4721 Rainier Ave. S

SEATTLE--Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Washington state are facing a crucial vote. Voters are choosing whether to approve or reject SB 5688--a domestic partnership expansion bill passed earlier this year by the state legislature and signed into law by the governor in May.

The law would grant the rights of civil marriage in Washington state--like sharing health benefits and death benefits, and hospital visitation rights--to same-sex couples and heterosexual partners where at least one of the two people is over the age of 62, without calling it "marriage." Everyone registered to vote in Washington state should vote to approve Referendum 71 and protect the rights of LGBT couples and seniors.

This "Everything but Marriage" law--as it is referred to by its supporters--is the culmination of a strategy of working toward marriage equality by first creating the domestic partnership category for same-sex couples, and then adding more and more rights until domestic partners have the same state-granted...

In Seattle, we love to think about ourselves as progressive. Driving a Prius and recycling our garbage aren't enough. By the way, I'm the one who drives a Prius. Mike rides a bike.
-- candidate Joe Mallahan, discussing his focus on the environment at Saturday's forum

We'll have full coverage of Saturday afternoon's forum including a write-up, photos and a CHS video. In the meantime, you can catch most of the action in these videos posted by Tenacious Ventures.

The Seattle Transit Blog posted their endorsements for the election.

Mayoral candidate Mike McGinn released his proposed music and nightlife policy. It sounds like great news for existing bars and clubs. According to the Seattle P-I article:

Seattle mayoral candidate Mike McGinn on Wednesday came down on the side of the city's bars and nightclubs, saying new residential developments "must not be able to drive out existing nightlife establishments."

He also said he favored staggered closing times to cut down on rowdiness when bars and clubs close

This is particularly great for queer nightlife on Capitol Hill. I don't know if any one else has been nervous about the re-development next to The Cuff. Hopefully, this would protect bars (especially gay bars) who are harassed by new neighbors who want to live in a vibrant part of the city but then don't want to deal with noise and traffic. 

The State House of Representatives' approval of the plan to replace the Viaduct with an underground tunnel wasn't a shocker. But, as Publicola points out, the amendment that calls for Seattle residents to foot the bill for any cost overruns for the state project is unprecedented. Our district 43 reps were split on the vote with Jamie Pedersen voting for and Frank Chopp, against.

Consider the topic an ice breaker at tonight's Washington Bus event at Moe Bar. They're promising every single 2009 candidate for City Council -- we count 15 of them as of this post. You can also chat them up on transit oriented development on Broadway, the Pike/Pine preservation plan, and the First/Capitol Hill streetcar while you're at it.

As J reported, Michael McGinn has announced his candidacy for mayor.  Here is video of his announcement, and some of his Q&A.  This video includes something new that I'm trying out... I've included a running commentary made up of twitter messages, and comments from around the 'net.

McGinn lays out his three main priorities; Schools, Internet Infrastructure, and Transportation.  He answers questions from reporters;

- Where has mayor Nickels gone wrong (McGinn has supported Nickels in previous elections)

- What is your position on the Mercer Project

- How will you work to empower neighborhoods?

- You think you can beat Dan Savage?

Want to include your message in CHS-V videos? We're looking for sponsors. Create your ad today or contact CHS for more information.

It's Election Day, Capitol Hill. Make sure to have your ballots postmarked by end of day today. Broadway Post Office is open until 5p.

Here are a few opinions on who you should vote for in the one (one!) race on the ballot:

• The Progressive Voters Guide says vote Huff
• CDNews says vote Huff
• Stranger endorses Huff
• Seattle Times endorses Huff
• Citizens for Accountable Elections -- to include at least one counter opinion -- did not endorse Huff
  

Do you think there will be a big street celebration at Pike and Broadway like the last election?

It's random out there!

• Got em! Clean-up crew mistaken for taggers at the site of the Bellevue apartments fire.
• SPD claims 'malicious harassment' arrest last night in the vicinity of Dick's. Man allegedly made threatening statements that referenced the victim's sexual orientation.
• Sound Transit says new crosswalks might be needed and parking eliminated to ease light rail construction traffic on Olive and Denny. Also says neighbors "let us know they've got some issues" with night-time dirt hauling.
• Chapel bar made the Travel Channel.
• Hillku suggests the next focus area for Cap Hill development.
• Seattle U student pub makes cute headline typo in piece about Oddfellows. Sounds hot.
• Play Wii, build a park.
• The dude who brought you Vita and Tribulani is trying his hand at Madrona french (pronounced 'fronch') with Cremant takeover.
• Slog reports eyewitness of account of group of men dressed like George Washington roaming Pike/Pine.
• There's an election going on.
• A few not-sold-out Inauguration Day events on...

The night Barack Obama was elected president, people partied in the streets of Capitol Hill, converging in an epicenter of jubilance at the intersection of Pike and Broadway. Earlier that day and in the weeks preceding, the people that live near that intersection cast their votes for Obama at overwhelming levels -- in Seattle's 43rd Congressional District, Precinct 1861, 779 individuals made a mark for Obama vs. 20 for John McCain.

Amazingly, Precinct 1861's 95% level of support for Obama wasn't the highest we found on the Hill in our analysis of the 2008 presidential election voting records. In the map below, the darkest blue pockets represent areas where Obama received 95% or greater of the vote. You can see the strong southern flank of super-support for Obama stretching from Olive to Miller Park. Of course, he didn't fare too poorly across the rest of Capitol Hill -- the only Hill precinct where Obama failed to garner at least 85% of the vote was up in St. Mark's where the voters notched a paltry 81% of the...

A few images of "the next day" from my neck of the woods. The weird receipt-like results tapes hanging from the door of St. Joe's look like party streamers. Meanwhile, if you want to keep your Obama yard sign as a memento, better grab it before somebody else does.

I have to admit I didn't get teary-eyed last night, but I did this morning when I read about our neighbors cleaning up after the party:

http://community.livejournal.com/seattle/5529876.html

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/33897234.html

I'd love to know the hero(ine) who got this rolling.

It was fun but I'm ready to put a cap on it. Here's one last batch of Victory videos from the fun at Broadway at Pine. Also, don't miss set 1.

If, like me, you were wondering if people were, um, more civic minded on election day, yesterday's Capitol Hill police scanner items don't necessarily make a great case. No word on number of arrests made in the area last night with all the fun and frolic. I'll update once I get a chance to talk to somebody from SPD about it unless some other news outlet (get on it Jonah Spangenthal Lee) gets to it first..

Central District News East Precinct Scanner - Capitol Hill - Tues. 11/4/2008 - Full Report

11:50AM - 15th E & E. Thomas - Disturbance - A driver was involved in a hit & run about 30 minutes ago on Broadway, and he tracked down the other vehicle to this location where he's now in an argument with its driver. The suspect vehicle is a Charlie's Produce truck

12:28PM - 505 E. Harrison - Narcotics Activity - Report of two men shooting up in the alley. One white male and one hispanic male.

1:30PM - 1410 E. John - Disturbance - A female is harassing customers outside Safeway. Native American...

A few clips from the night. Enjoy.

The Obama impromptu celebration at Broadway and Pike.

More photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adonisphotos/sets/72157608673995445/show/

For your runners and wannabe journalism types, here's a fun route for you to try on Election Day. Hits most of the Capitol Hill-area polling locations. 5.1 miles. Run for the White House!

A) St. Joe's 732 18th Ave E

B) Trinity Lutheran 1200 10th Ave E

C) Lowell 1058 Mercer

D) Harvard Court 610 Harvard Ave E

E) Seattle Central 1701 Broadway

F) Denny Terrace, 100 Melrose Ave E

G) First Covenant Church 400 E Pike St

H) TT Minor School 1700 E Union St

I) Mount Zion 1634 19th Ave E.

J) Meany Middle School 301 21st Ave E

K) St. Joe's 732 18th Ave E

Election Day has become Election Week. With 90%+ in the state voting by mail this year, tomorrow is likely the end of regular old-fashioned voting as we know it. We'll be out and about to get photos and stories from the day but right now, we're here to address the slackers. You already have your plan on where to party and watch the results. But according to the county, 46% of the absentee ballots in legislative district 43 have already been received.

Well done, early voters. For the rest of you -- er, us -- here's some info that might help finish our deed of democracy. The key: Don't just drop your ballot in the mailbox. You waited. Pay the price for democracy and take it to the right place. Fortunately, you have many to choose from:

• At this point, we're not taking any chances so our CHS ballots are going to be dropped off at a local polling location. Here's the google app that shows polling locations in your neighborhood -- in this example, where you'd go if you lived at the Broadway Post Office.
• If you don't take...

For the past two Saturdays, I've canvassed on Capitol Hill for the Obama campaign.  I think it's clear to anyone who lives here that Obama could easily claim 185% of the vote, and the volunteering efforts reflect that.  In fact, the volunteer-to-undecided-or-sporadic-voter ratio is almost amusing.  For example, in one precinct our team had fewer than 10 addresses to visit today!  (And that would have been halved if another team hadn't partied too hard last night.)  My only disappointment was that the I-5 Shores couple with ages listed as 105 and 96 year old wasn't home.

Election Day is going to be busy for me and, hopefully, the rest of CHS. I'm planning all-day coverage at voting locations and parties around the Hill. But I can't be everywhere so I'll need your help. I've been part of get-out-the-vote efforts in past elections but can't let this one go by without being there to document as much of it as possible. I hope you'll help tell the story with comments and posts. Brush up on your CHS mobile posting, neighbors. Anybody can post to Capitolhillseattle.com -- it all apears on the CHS Posts page. The best stuff we promote to the homepage.

As for the parties, here's the latest info I've gathered from around the site:

• 4 of the 10 parties highlighted on CultureMob's list of Seattle election night events are on Capitol Hill.
  Comet Tavern
  Neumo's
  Central Cinema (CHS sponsor)
  Northwest Film Forum
• Victrola on 15th will be putting its relatively new liquor license to work for its election night event.
• CHS sponsor The BottleNeck Lounge is another option.

Assume every other place with a TV...