While The Stranger remains obsessed with outing Jamie Pedersen as a ‘weasel,’ we’ll focus on the real issue in the 43rd district race: the yard steet count
Currently in our hood, it’s Pedersen by a landslide. We’ve seen three or four for Jim Street that look like the image to the left — really, a bit too clever for our tastes in political signage — and two for Lynne Dodson but that’s it for our neck of the woods.
BTW, we know Jamie personally just so everybody knows what’s up. We’ll probably vote for him but we’re waiting to get a better understanding of all the candidates before we jump on any bandwagon. We were also waiting to decide whether to put one of Jamie’s signs in our front grass. However, all this nastiness from Dan Savage and friends pushed us to join the Pedersen sign brigade.
We’re not sure which yard is Dan’s so we can’t report which sign he has in his front yard. Maybe his is our favorite yard in the area — it sports a sign for both Street and Pedersen. Democracy!
–j
Consider a real cool, reasonable, and bright candidate: Dick Kelley. He has been deeply involved in isssues that the 43rd cares about, and has the capacity and respect to sway opinions once in the legislature.
As and added bonus, he as taken the principled stand of not taking donations over $100 for the primary and general election each, which means he won’t be beholden to the usual group of developers and socialites that are the prime funders of Democratic politics.
I, myself, am a gay Democrat who has been active in Seattle politics for the last ten years, and professionally active in the last five (I retired from politics from last year to make money). In that time, Dick Kelley has been a persistent and positive force, while I have seen neither hide nor hair of Street and Pedersen. Dodson scares the willies out of me, and I think she is too closely aligned with the most whimsical, and fractious parts of the labor crowd, while not having much credibility outside of that sphere. Sherman is a good fellow with great national experience, and I’d vote for him if Kelley wasn’t in the race, but he’s, frankly, more conservative than I think is appropriate for this district. I know little about Pure, and she doesn’t seem to have garnered much in the way of endorsements. All and all, Dick Kelley has paid his dues more than anyone else in the race, and has earned the respect of a great many influencial people.
I’m a bit annoyed that Pedersen, who would claim the legacy of Cal Anderson and Ed Murray would waltz into the race purely under the rubric of identity politics. Anderson and Murray were active participants and had a great deal of credibility beyond their sexual identity when they were elected Representatives in the 43rd. If you look at Pedersen’s endorsements, it becomes clear that his support donesn’t go much beyond the gay thing. Also, if you look at his webstie, prominently featured are photos of him with Gregoire, Murray and Sims. It’s worth noting that none of those people have endorsed him and Sims has endorsed Dick Kelley. In the realm of politics it is, at the very least, tacky to feature photos of prominent politicians who haven’t endorsed you.
I am a donor, but not otherwise associated with the Dick’s campaign, yet I urge you to take a close look at Dick Kelley as a candidate. I think you’ll be impressed.
Wow, long, thoughtful post lookfar. It’ll stay on the site if I don’t see it repeated verbatim on every other blog :) BTW, add a few signs spottings for Bill Sherman and one for Dick Kelley. Still haven’t seen our first Pure sign.