Subject: Constantine

• Polls Open at 7, Party Starts at 5

  November 3, 2008

• Executive Constantine Does Sound Rather Regal, No?

  From a conversation with Dow Constantine last night: DW: "Are you running for executive?" Constantine: "My job as KC Council chair right now is to ensure that we have a fair open and extremely effective appointment process." Constantine added that people have approached him about taking over the top spot, but for now he's just focusing on doing the aforementioned job of coming up with an appointment process. (Constantine told DW we can pick Sims' replacement for the low, low price of Mike See

  February 3, 2009

• News of the Expected: Dow Throws Hat In for Exec

  Dow Constantine will officially announce later this morning that he's taking on Larry Phillips--and anyone else seeking the soon-to-be-empty King County Executive Seat. The announcement is hardly a shock; when asked earlier about running after Ron Sims announced his departure, Constantine said "My job as King County Council Chair right now is to ensure that we have a fair open and extremely effective appointment process." That's polit-speak for "yes." But there's an interesting dynamic forming

  February 16, 2009

• The Executive Candidates Go a Courtin'

  Like two equally popular homecoming queen hopefuls flirting shamelessly with the debate team to push them over the edge, Larry Phillips and Dow Constantine are zooming in on rural King County dwellers, hoping for a few extra votes. In Seattle, Constantine and Phillips have both been very successful at getting elected to represent their respective home turfs--Magnolia for Phillips and West Seattle for Constantine. And on paper, they aren't philosophically too far off on the big Democratic base i

  February 16, 2009

• Doesn't Anyone Want to Run for County Council?

  The King County Executive's race is heating up. Dow Constantine's campaign says he's raised about $50,000 since announcing his candidacy. Larry Phillips quickly pointed it out when Constantine once ducked out of a meeting early. And of course there's still rampant speculation about who else might get in the race (paging Ross Hunter). But move down to the council member races--Bob Ferguson, Julia Patterson, Pete Von Reichbauer, Reagan Dunn and Kathy Lambert are all up for re-election this year-

  March 9, 2009

• It's Never Too Early to Claim a Little Victory

  Having watched several campaigns play out over the last several years, the first rule of thumb seems to be--half your message should be why people should vote for you, the other half should be convincing people that everyone else is already voting for you. It's an "I'm winning and you should get on board" approach to campaigning. And it's why candidates make such a big deal about anything that might give them ammunition to support the claim that they're ahead in the race. So of course, that me

  April 13, 2009

• Dow Sees Larry's Big Money, Raises Him Rock Stars

  See, he hangs out with cool people like promoter David Meinert. Meinert will be there Thursday, April 23. Constantine clarifies that the Gregoires have not endorsed him.Yesterday Larry Phillips sent out an I'm-pulling-ahead press release after out-fundraising Dow Constantine in the King County Executive contest last month. Phillips banked $68,000 in new cash donations to Constantine's $45,000. Not to be outdone, the Constantine campaign sent out a release today (below the jump) announcing a star

  April 14, 2009

• Do Schools Need Sewers?

  Yes. So to curb rural growth, Dow Constantine’s keeping new schools off the pipes.

  September 17, 2008

• He Was a Quiet Man: Christian Slater Goes on a Rampage

  January 2, 2008

• I See Evil Dudes

  February 16, 2005

• Clip & Vote

  October 29, 2003

• Following Greg

  November 21, 2001

• Divvying Up the King County Dems

  On June 6, the day after the filing deadline, the King County Democrats endorsement committee will meet to decide who, if anyone, to endorse for King County Executive. So last night, over Cinco de Mayo margaritas and nachos in Renton, Ross Hunter, Fred Jarrett, Dow Constantine and Larry Phillips started the month-long process of begging. Technically the position is non-partisan, but neither well-known Republican Susan Hutchison nor the perpetually ignored Alan Lobdell were extended an invite to

  May 6, 2009

• Exec Candidates: Your New Super-Needy Boyfriend

  You're making it hard not to.A few years back I was totally crushing on this guy I'd see once every couple of months when I sang with a local classical music group. He was tall, handsome, seemed a little distant and aloof--totally swoon worthy. I just about passed out one spring day when he walked over and floated the idea of seeing a Lord of the Rings marathon together. Dreamy, a nerd, and possibly into me? Surely this was too good to be true. It was. From the opening credits he rarely shut up

  May 12, 2009

• Up Close & Personal With Ross Hunter

  I attended Washington Ceasefire's annual luncheon at the WAC this afternoon as a guest of Pam Eakes, my former boss at Mothers Against Violence in America who was being honored as the organization's Person of the Year. My chair was the closest to the podium, so when Rep. Ross Hunter, also being honored by Ceasefire for his work in passing a bill to restrict mentally ill citizens' access to firearms, got up to speak, I had a 'neath-the-chin view of the county exec candidate's crowd-working skil

  May 14, 2009

• Constantine Challenges Hutchison to a Duel

  Still seeking Susan.With state Sen. Karen Keiser, sitting at a nearby table, nodding in affirmation, Dow Constantine conceded the "front-runner" mantle in the King County Executive's race to Susan Hutchison this afternoon. Then he did his best to remind everyone that Hutchison is conservative with a capital GOP. "Let's be clear," Constantine told his handful of campaign workers and the half-dozen media members sitting among the mostly empty chairs of a Belltown Labor Temple meeting hall. "Susan

  June 10, 2009

• Constantine Challenges Hutchison Again

  Yesterday, King County Exec candidate Dow Constantine called out King County Exec candidate Susan Hutchison, basically labeling her a conservative Republican in mute's clothing and challenging her to a duel at the Seattle Public Library. (I don't believe the SPL's new rules address duels.) Hutchison responded in an interview with the P-I, calling Constantine a liar and saying that "she doesn't have to say anything to voters" to prove that she's a moderate. Today, Constantine sent out a rejoind

  June 11, 2009

• Dow and Susan Draw Swords at Dueling Pressers

  Everyone else in the King County Exec's race seems pretty content to let Dow Constantine and Susan Hutchison battle it out until they're both reduced to smoldering heaps of rubble. Of course, this is Seattle so the accusations hurtling around are about things like hidden conservative agendas and vague falsehoods. Either way, there's no sign of this letting up. Within hours of Hutchison's campaign kickoff this morning outside Safeco (summed up by Chris Grygiel at seattlepi.com), where she promi

  June 16, 2009

• In an Election Year Everybody's Got a Touch of Republican

  Read his lips: no new taxes. Probably.Despite making a big deal about Susan Hutchison's secret Republicanness, Dow Constantine and the rest of the King County Executive candidates aren't exactly champing at the bit to hike taxes to pay for beloved social programs either. Yesterday King County Executive Kurt Triplett (Sims' replacement, in case you somehow missed that) floated the idea of upping property or sales taxes, most likely the latter. His proposal comes at a time when the county is con

  June 17, 2009

• And What of Previous Problems in King County Audits?

  Defender of good project management and fiscal accountability.An audit released yesterday [PDF] by State Auditor Brian Sonntag's office found the county is letting construction project costs get out of hand and poorly tracks them. Apparently in the roads division, managers just name projects whatever they want, often after popular science fiction characters, which makes it difficult for anyone to know what's going on. Unfortunately, the audit doesn't say which characters (are county roads depart

  June 23, 2009

• Poll: In Non-Partisan Race, Partisan Bickering, Name Recognition Good

  Not actually running, but would make a formidable candidate, especially if he's willing to throw downThe last time KING-5 did a poll on the King County Executive race, Susan Hutchison was the front runner with 34%, and Dow Constantine was in third place with 8%. Since then, Constantine's pummeled Hutchison, calling her a stealth conservative, while she's shot back, calling him a liar and a mudslinger. How did that work out? Well, yesterday, the station released another poll, and while everyon

  June 24, 2009

• Rights Groups' Rally at Council Meeting Pays Off

  Carlos Marentes (in the suit, on the right) addresses the group before entering chambers. Filling King County Council chambers with supporters appeared to get the job done for a coalition of labor, civil rights, and immigrant advocacy groups, as Councilmembers assured them movement on their stalled legislation. The coalition staged a rally at this morning's Council meeting to demand action on a bill that would prohibit county employees from asking about community members' immigration status u

  June 24, 2009

• The Enviros 'Heart' Dow

  Between his sway with rock stars, appeal to the kids, and now the sole endorsement from the Sierra Club, it might appear Dow Constantine is becoming the most likely Democrat to make it through the August King County Executive primary. Technically it's non-partisan but conventional wisdom says the Republican-leaning Susan Hutchison will take the conservative vote and pick up enough on name recognition to win the primary. That leaves the four Democrats to split the rest (with a handful going to

  June 25, 2009

• The Plot to Sink the Water Taxi

  July 22, 2009

• Triplett Jumps on Anti-Ferry Bandwagon (Kinda). Which, Unlike Those Seeking to Replace Him, Actually Means Something.

    Add Kurt Triplett to the list of county exec wannabes seeking to stop the fledgling King County Ferry District at its dock. Only Triplett isn't really a wannabe; he holds the office vacated by HUD honcho Ron Sims on an interim basis -- so his proposal, which would maintain existing foot ferry service to Vashon and West Seattle, actually has some teeth. For those of you keeping score, Susan Hutchison and Fred Jarrett are essentially in lockstep with Triplett's plan, while Ross Hunter and L

  July 23, 2009

• State's Largest Gun Control Group Endorses Constantine

  Washington Ceasefire has endorsed Dow Constantine for King County Executive. Their rationale for doing so can be found here. This announcement is somewhat surprising when you consider Ceasefire honored one of Constantine's opponents, Ross Hunter, at its annual banquet in May.

  August 4, 2009

• Survey USA Says: Dow May Get His Wish For a Duel With Hutchison

  ​In the latest poll commissioned by King 5, Survey USA finds Dow Constantine pulling ahead of the pack to challenge former news anchor Susan Hutchison. Hutchison looks pretty much guaranteed a trip to the general election, holding steady at 39 percent of likely voters, according to the poll. Constantine, with his rock star cache, is currently polling in second with 13 percent. Constantine started setting himself up as the challenger to Hutchison in June when he held a press conference

  August 5, 2009

• Phillips Tramples on Constantine's Territory, Declares His Love for Maury Island

  Glacier Northwest​The Seattle Times reported this morning that Glacier Northwest, which runs a controversial mining operation on Maury Island, sent a 17-page letter to state Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark saying they intended to ignore his request that the company suspend operations. So naturally, I called Dow Constantine's campaign to get his take on it. Constantine frequently mentions his fight against Glacier Northwest as evidence of his environmental credentials in his campaign for

  August 12, 2009

• The Dow Is on the Rise

  ​Another day, another favorable poll for Dow Constantine. Once mired in the mass of non-Susan Hutchison candidates for King County exec, Constantine's now all by his lonesome in second and, according to yesterday's KING-5/SurveyUSA poll, closing in on the former KIRO anchor. The new numbers: Hutchison 37%, Constantine 20%, Larry Phillips and Ross Hunter at 8% each, and Fred Jarrett at 6%. Last time around, SurveyUSA had Hutchison at 39% and Constantine at 13%. Thus far, it doesn't look l

  August 13, 2009

• Hutchison's Call and Response, Tears for Phillips, and Constantine Gears Up For a Fight

  ​With about half of the ballots expected to arrive in King County Elections counted, it looks like the Executive race in the November general election will be the former television anchor vs the former DJ. As of 9:52 p.m., according to the King County Elections Web site, Susan Hutchison held a commanding lead over the crowded field with 37.37 percent of the vote. "Do we need a new kind of leadership?" Hutchison asked her thrilled supporters crowded into a top-floor banquet room at the Edge

  August 18, 2009

• "Non-Partisan," "Bring People Together," and "Executive Experience" Are All Under 140 Characters

  ​In her radio debate with Larry Phillips, leading King County Executive vote-getter Susan Hutchison exasperated KUOW host Steve Scher with her adherence to the talking points in the headline above. Now, she has another forum in which to deliver them--one that is more tolerant of, er, brevity. As of today, the Hutch is on Twitter: @HutchisonforKC. Her first tweet, sent today via text message, celebrates her "Landslide win on Tuesday." And indeed, a 34.6% to 25.96% lead over Dow Constantine

  August 21, 2009

• Hutchison Isn't Hiding For the General, Calls on Constantine to Debate

  ​​They already love being in front of cameras. After Dow Constantine spent much of the King County Executive primary campaign focusing his attacks on Susan Hutchison, calling on her to make more appearances and discuss her past affiliations with groups like the Intelligent Design-pushing Discovery Institute and Republican candidates. Throughout the primary, Hutchison refused to discuss any past party affiliation, pointing out that voters made the office nonpartisan last November.

  August 25, 2009

• Constantine vs. Hutchison: Round 1 Scheduled

  ​Earlier this week, Susan Hutchison made a big show of challenging Dow Constantine (seen here with the Mariner Moose) to a series of televised debates, which may not be such a challenge, because Constantine said they were already setting it up. Nonetheless, the first of the three is now on the books: the candidates will debate on KCTS on Thursday, October 15th at 7 PM. (Unfortunately, I don't think you can set your DVR that far in advance.) It'll be moderated by a yet-to-be-named panel and

  August 27, 2009

• Washington State Dems Are Endorsing Dow, But Where Are the Locals?

  Why is he still alone on the local election stage?​Over the last week, almost every Democratic member of Washington's Congressional delegation or statewide office holders has endorsed Dow Constantine in the race for King County Executive. As of today, the list includes both U.S. Senators, four Representatives, Governor Christine Gregoire, and a few other state officials. But while the state party and its marquee names might be jumping on the wagon for Constantine, notably absent is any sig

  August 31, 2009

• Constantine Still Waiting for the Also-Rans’ Support

  September 2, 2009

• It's No Group Hug, But Constantine Gets the Nod From Former Rivals

  Constantine's more affectionate supporters Dave Meinert and Christine Gregoire got company from his former rivals.​They didn't have a hand-holding press conference or anything, but former King County Executive candidates Fred Jarrett, Larry Phillips and Ross Hunter all officially endorsed Dow Constantine against Susan Hutchison via a press release just issued by the Constantine campaign. According to the final election results, certified yesterday, those three men shared 35.16 percent of t

  September 3, 2009

• Constantine Responds to Hutchison Via Old Wendy's Commercial

  ​"We've been waiting for months," Dow Constantine began his response to Susan Hutchison's anti-climactic press conference this morning announcing endorsements from Lt. Governor Brad Owen and former Mayor Wes Uhlman. Constantine said that he (like the gaggle of reporters who attended both pressers) expected Hutchison to unveil her plan for dealing with King County's big budget problem if elected Executive this fall. After all, the announcement sent out yesterday described her even this mo

  September 9, 2009

• Dow, But Not Out

  September 23, 2009

• State Dems Just Want to Remind You: Hutchison's a Republican

  ​State Dems chair Dwight Pelz just kicked out an e-mail asking people to "Save King County." He quickly lists some of County Executive hopeful Susan Hutchison's Republican ties--donations to Mike Huckabee and George W. Bush--and says she's anti-environment and anti-choice. But as SW noted two weeks ago, Hutchison has also been distancing herself from other, more traditional GOP stands. She's backing Referendum 71 (reminder, vote for it if you support giving domestic partners the same state

  October 6, 2009

• Dow’s Painted Pledge to the South Park Bridge

  October 7, 2009

• PDC Going Forward With Constantine Investigation

  ​As Keith Ervin writes in today's Seattle Times, the state Public Disclosure Commission decided to go forward with an investigation into the roll of Jason Bennett and his company Argo Strategies in both Dow Constantine's campaign as well as a political action committee that attacked Susan Hutchison before the primary. It's easy to glaze over a little on a scandal based in the nuances of campaign finance law. Still, if Constantine did wrong here, it may not be the sexiest sin, but it will o

  October 7, 2009

• Hutchison: My Opponent is Partisan. That Partisan Think-Tank I Support? Not so Much

  ​Yesterday, Dow Constantine's campaign got their hands on one peach of a video. In it, opponent Susan Hutchison confirmed what everyone already knew: That the moderation of her views in the past year has nothing to do with how she actually feels and everything to do with getting elected. At a dinner for the Washington Policy Center, Hutchison declared her love for a book that calls light rail "socialistic" and suggests an even more extreme version of Tim Eyman's 1033 become constitutional

  October 9, 2009

• Executive Cannibalism at the Aquarium

  Shark attack!​Walking to the Seattle Aquarium for last night's King County Executive forum, I gave my parents a call for our weekly chat. My mom, a third grade teacher, had just done a training for a lesson on sharks and she was full of new and interesting tidbits like: "did you know sharks' eyelids close up because there's so much debris in the water when they kill something?" My other favorite gem from our conversation was this: some species of sharks are what's known as ovoviviparous. I

  October 13, 2009

• Your Morning Campaign Round-Up

  ​- Unlike his underfunded competitor, Mayoral candidate Joe Mallahan has raised a lot of money this campaign season. Over $140,000 in the last month alone. But he's still $95,000 in the red. - A new poll shows Susan Hutchison widening her lead over Dow Constantine for King County Executive. - Closer inspection reveals Constantine losing support from independents and the 18-34's thought to be his base.

  October 14, 2009

• Lawyer for King County "Jane Doe" Who Filed Complaint Against Dow Constantine Blocks its Release

  FlickrJust what do those documents say about Dow Constantine?​We've got a mess on our hands here, folks. Let's try to untangle it. Earlier today, conservative blog Sound Politics posted that they, along with Seattle Times reporter Keith Ervin, had been tipped off about a complaint filed against King County Executive Candidate Dow Constantine alleging inappropriate behavior towards "Jane Doe," a female county employee. Politics says that when Ervin filed a public records request all he g

  October 29, 2009

• Dow Is Down

  Did Dow really not do that thing that woman didn't accuse him of doing?​No, not Dow Constantine, the Dow Jones Industrial Average. It lost 250 points today, reports the Seattle Times. Okay that's not why you're reading this post so let's get to the part with a hint of sex scandal. The other Dow might be down too, depending on how big conservative blog Sound Politics' influence is. In case you need a recap, Sound Politics has been all over a story wherein a woman who didn't file a sexual

  October 30, 2009

• Drinking With Politicians (And Is Dow Constantine Stepping Out on Mike McGinn?)

  Like watching politicos do shots? Hit the election parties tomorrow night!​Mail-in ballots are pouring in to the King County Elections office. (Get yours post-marked by tomorrow if you want it to count!) So far, the office has received about 20 percent of the ballots that went out here in Seattle. But the elections office is expecting turnout in the city to hit 57 percent. So don't get too excited with the first results come out at 8:15 p.m. tomorrow; remember that it's possible we won't k

  November 2, 2009

• Closing the Book on the Dow Constantine Non-Scandal Scandal

  Nope, Jane Doe did not accuse Constantine of sexual harassment.​Update: Jane Doe sent a statement to the media last night, details below the jump. They still aren't naming names. But King County Superior Court Judge Michael Trickey signed an order today overturning most of the previous restraining order sought by "Jane Doe" with regard to Seattle Times reporter Keith Ervin's request for documents related to "any complaints alleging inappropriate comments or behavior by County Councilmembe

  November 3, 2009

• Election '09: Maybe THIS Time We'll Trigger That Mayoral Race Recount

  FlickrIs it getting hot in here?​At the 4:30 announcement today, the leaders from yesterday were all still holding position, which means most of the things we declared the most important races of this year are decided. R-71 looks good to pass, I-1033 faces all-but-certain defeat, and Dow Constantine is going to be crowned King County Executive on Nov. 24. (Constantine spokesperson Sandeep Kaushik says Susan Hutchison just called to concede.) The one big race that isn't decided, and in fa

  November 4, 2009

• Why Run For Office When You Can Get Appointed? Well, Here's a Reason

  Zack Hudgins wants to be your next appointed King County Councilmember.​Running for office is hard. All that signature-gathering and fundraising and baby-kissing--just the thought is exhausting enough to turn most people off. It's so much easier to wait for someone to leave their seat (or just kick the bucket) and then get yourself appointed. That's how newly-elected King County Executive Dow Constantine first made it onto the County Council: He was tapped by Greg Nickels after Nickels wa

  November 5, 2009