Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is making an attempt to perform one thing not achieved in 20 years: win reelection.
Mike McGinn. Ed Murray. Jenny Durkan. All one-termers.
So how ought to voters consider Harrell’s efficiency?
Crime is down. There are fewer homeless encampments. During the last 4 years, polls recommend folks more and more consider Seattle is on the right track.
Harrell’s three main challengers — Katie Wilson, Ry Armstrong and Joe Mallahan — all declare Seattle is underperforming. They’re appropriate.
Seattle has a imaginative and prescient of itself as a progressive, good metropolis capable of supply a optimistic instance to the remainder of the nation. It’s as a substitute bedeviled by seemingly intractable challenges corresponding to homelessness, open drug use and affordability. And the much-vaunted native financial system is on the downslide.
It is very important observe the positives. Metropolis Corridor is useful, specializing in public security and removing ideological windmill chasing.
This has largely been the product of quiet cooperation between the mayor’s workplace, Metropolis Council and metropolis legal professional’s workplace.
That’s one thing of which to be proud. As an alternative, Harrell always checks over his left shoulder, afraid that he will probably be out-progressived by political opponents, actual or imagined. That leads him to not stand with different electeds who’re making an attempt to do the suitable factor. It’s additionally the foundation of some dangerous concepts.
Take his latest announcement of a brand new Enterprise & Occupation tax hike. The rise will hit about 2,300 of the most important native corporations. In an editorial board interview, Harrell didn’t understand how many individuals these companies make use of. You’d assume he would have recognized that quantity earlier than asserting the concept, as Seattle employment will probably take successful.
He additionally wasn’t completely clear on the place the $90 million in new income would go, suggesting at one level that it will be shoveled into town’s Normal Fund to assist pay for police. That’s a far cry from the laundry record of progressive spending priorities ticked off on the proposal’s announcement final month.
However prevailing political knowledge means that smacking huge enterprise at all times performs properly in Seattle, irrespective of if town’s personal revenue forecasts predict weakening B&O and payroll expense taxes because the financial system sours and corporations transfer staff out of town.
Worse, the B&O tax proposal goes to voters within the November election provided that his ostensible mates on the Metropolis Council determine to position it on the poll. That places council members in a really awkward place, just for Harrell to attain a couple of low cost political factors weeks earlier than the first election.
Harrell’s catch phrase is “One Seattle” however, politically, his modus operandi is extra like “One Survivor” — himself.
Ought to Harrell be part of the ranks of his predecessors as a one-term mayor? No.
All issues thought of, Harrell deserves to be reelected. Town is healthier off than it was 4 years in the past. In a second time period, Harrell could really feel much less panicky politically and will probably be extra inclined to make use of his appreciable abilities to result in a few of that audacious “House Needle Pondering” he as soon as promised.
Wilson, Armstrong and Mallahan wouldn’t have the chops to run a company as difficult as Seattle metropolis authorities. However every possesses optimistic attributes from which Harrell should borrow. There are 4 different candidates within the race. You’ll be able to study extra about them on the King County Elections website.
No mayor can Trump-proof Seattle. Or home each unsheltered particular person. Or flip the clock again on societal discord. However a mayor — with like-minded Metropolis Council members and metropolis legal professional — can demonstrably enhance high quality of life within the metropolis. Extra of that, please.
