My thoughts at the end of this primary election 

We knew going into this race that we faced an uphill battle. As “grassroots” as Seattle is, money is a big factor in being taken seriously in political races here. Running against two opponents with long-established and deep relationships in this city meant we had to run a very strong volunteer campaign.

I am proud that, in just a few month’s time, we turned heads across this City – garnering endorsements from The Stranger, the King County Democrats Central Committee, Seattle Transit Blog, and others; media attention from Joel Connelly at the Seattle P-I and a “shout out” from the Seattle Times editorial board; and we won important small contests like the SE Candidates Forum straw poll and Washington Bus’s Candidate Survivor.

Thanks to the tireless support of so many of you, we made it clear that many of the issues we’re facing in Seattle – the Waterfront Tunnel, light rail, density – are not two-, three-, or five-year issues, they’re 20-year decisions. It’s people in their 20s and 30s who will bear the consequences of the decisions that get made now, and we’re not simply going to wait until we’re “old enough” to get more involved.

With over 14% of the vote (as of today) in a 5-person race, we made a statement for a new vision and a new generation. And we WILL be back.

 August 22nd, 2009