Governor Gregoire supports Joe Mallahan for Mayor, Dow Constantine for Executive

This morning, the Mallahan campaign announced in a press release that Joe has secured the endorsement of Governor Chris Gregoire for Mayor of Seattle.

Said the governor:

Seattle’s next mayor needs to be someone who understands that rebuilding Seattle’s economy and creating family wage jobs must be the top priority of their administration. To do that, the mayor must be someone with proven experience and a willingness to work closely with Seattle’s diverse citizens, businesses, unions and state and local elected officials. The candidate in this race who has those qualifications is Joe Mallahan.

Said Mallahan:

I am deeply honored to have the Governor’s endorsement. Governor Gregoire is right – voters have a clear choice in this race. We have an opportunity to move forward together to strengthen our economy, create new jobs, improve our transportation system and create safe neighborhoods. I will work effectively with the Governor to create jobs, make sure our transportation projects are built on time and on budget, and ensure Seattle city services work for all of us.

Considering McGinn's opposition to the deep bore tunnel that will replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct, Gregoire's choice must have been easy. The problem of replacing the viaduct is not something the governor wants to revisit, after years of bickering were put to rest with the decision to build a tunnel.

Mike McGinn, Mallahan's opponent, has essentially promised to reignite the fighting by doing everything he can to stop the tunnel from being constructed.

Also today, the governor sent out a fundraising email on behalf of Dow Constantine, urging her supporters to give to Constantine's campaign:

Let me put it plainly: it matters who runs King County and right now this race could go either way.

The next King County Executive needs to share our progressive values and have the experience to steer the county through difficult financial times.

That is why I am supporting Dow Constantine for King County Executive.

Dow is the right choice, but first he has to get through a tough election and he needs our help.

The contrast between Dow and Susan Hutchison, his opponent, is a stark one. Dow is a proven reformer with the experience and record to change county government. He has successfully taken on the county’s bureaucracy, passed a countywide hiring freeze and slashed administrative costs. He has also introduced a detailed budget plan, which will balance the budget, protect core services and not raise taxes.

His opponent has declined to discuss what she would do as Executive and will not answer simple but critical questions.

Dow is pro-choice. She refuses to answer. Dow has clear plan to reform county government. She declines to discuss what she’d do as County Executive. Dow is a proud Democrat. She refuses to state her political affiliation.

His opponent won’t answer these simple questions but the record is clear on these issues. She has even given thousands of dollars to right wing causes and Republican candidates like George W. Bush and Dino Rossi.

The governor might have also mentioned that Hutchison considered running against Maria Cantwell in 2006 as a Republican. (She wisely passed on that race and allowed Mike McGavick to get taken to the cleaner's instead.)