Joe Mallahan for Mayor?

Could T Mobile vice president Joe Mallahan actually get elected mayor of Seattle? Well, it is the year of hope and change so anything is possible. He is the only challenger of two term Mayor Greg Nickels to raise serious campaign cash even if the lion’s share came from his own funds. He talks a good game touting his management experience and playing the “I’m not a politician” card. According to the Seattle Times, he made an exceedingly brash statement that he may live to regret when he said, “My belief is that delivering city services and managing city infrastructure isn’t that complicated.” Mix in ten elected officials (mayor plus 9 council members), too numerous to name special interest groups and fickle voters all operating in the “Seattle Way” and everything from stopping bums urinating on the streets to replacing an earthquake prone eyesore highway becomes a tangled web of controversy. What Joe will learn quickly if elected, but really needs to know as a candidate, is political experience – the art of doublespeak – is a key skill for anyone in a political job. Mayor Nickels knows this and is a master at it.

The city government desperately needs a major house cleaning. Having an outsider businessperson as mayor would be a fine start. But I’m not holding my breath.