Some are still pulling for Sims to be considered for a slot in Obama's administration. Gregoire, an early supporter of the president-elect, said as much to the Seattle P-I's Joel Connelly at the Democratic National Convention in August.
Sims stresses he never was angling for a cabinet post, and still loves his job. "One day I'll move on, but I'm not ready to do that yet," he says. "I like being able to go back to D.C. to fashion policy that benefits the region...I'm not looking for a call. I want access."
Noah Arvan
Sims has taken 23 out-of-state trips since Sept. 2007.
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"I think if the right job came up he'd go back to D.C., but I also don't think he's got the bloodlust to go back there," says former chief of staff Wilson. "I think there was a moment in time after the governor's race that he might have entertained going off to do something else. My sense is that he got himself re-engaged."
But others, formerly in Sims' inner circle, say that he promised that his 2005 run for county executive would be his last. "I am pretty surprised he's running for re-election," says Hatley, his 2004 campaign director. "I recall he said [2005] would be his last time." Fatland, who worked on Sims' 2004 and 2005 bids, remembers the same: "It's my recollection that in 2005 he said that was going to be his last county executive campaign," he says.
"People speculate and assume things, but he says he's never said that," counters Duncan, Sims' spokesperson. "He doesn't share that information with people."
Sims declared his candidacy for 2009 in June, shortly after Phillips started nosing around. Sims' reasons for running, though long on vision, are short on nuts and bolts. They include everything from improving the sustainability and livability of communities to ending the connection between race and poverty, as well as cleaning up Puget Sound.
Privately, political consultants agree that while Sims will be vulnerable next year, Phillips, because he's Seattle-based and also has had a long tenure on the county council, may not be the one to beat him.
But Hatley says Phillips has a shot. "It depends on what kind of campaign he runs," he says. "[Sims] is a good campaigner and he can raise money. But I think there are issues. You saw this election—it was about change. People want something different."
Back at the 40th-floor Starbucks, while ruminating on politics in general, Sims observes, perhaps presciently, "The one thing is that you can have all of the negatives in the world, but if people like you, they bring you back."
acurl@seattleweekly.com
