Never a dull week in Seattle et al politics, particularly since it’s election season. The big- and somewhat shocking- news this week is the KING 5 poll recently done on the Mayor’s race. The poll lists the top three contenders for office as Nickels, Drago and, wait for it…the Black dude- Donaldson (former Sonic’s player). Not only is he in 3rd place but has risen about 5 percentage points in the polls- above Mallahan and that other guy.
It is interesting because Donaldson has no money, and no real endorsements to speak of. So why the high numbers?
Well, I think, and pray to the political gods below, that this is about name recognition more than anything else. Nickels has it obviously because he is Mayor, and Drago has it obviously because she has been on the city council for a hundred years. Donaldson played for our long lost Sonics, and well before they weren’t shit.
I liken this to the County Exec’s race where Susan Hutchison ( *bleck!* ) find herself ahead in the polls, even though she has no political experience. Voters have heard enough rumblings about county government to pause on Phillips and Constantine, but Hutchison- that’s a Seattle friendly name that people recognize. It’s also another case of praying to the political gods below that it’s just a polling trend, and doesn’t turn into a ballot box trend. Hutchison as Exec would be a disaster. Something tells me Donaldson wouldn’t be that great either, but we really don’t think he’s going to come close to winning in the end. After all, he’s the Black guy.
