James Donaldson "Dunks" Hat Into The Ring

 James Donaldson, a former Washington State Cougar men's basketball stand out and NBA player has announced his candidacy for Seattle mayor.  Seattle's current mayor, Jenny Durkan has already announced that she will not run for a second term.

The 7 foot Donaldson was a towering presence on campus at WSU when I attended in the mid-late 1970s.  Donaldson went on to be drafted by the Seattle Super Sonics where he played three seasons to begin a 16 year NBA career. He later would run a physical therapy business in the Seattle area. 

In recent years, Donaldson has become an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness.  

This will be Donaldson's second run for the position. He previously ran in 2009.

Seattle Will Elect Woman Mayor This Year

Seattle has always been known as a cutting edge town.  In 1926, it elected the first woman mayor of a major city in America, Bertha Landes (pictured above).  Amazingly, now that women mayors are fairly common, not one has served the city since Bertha's single term. 
That will change this year as former federal prosecutor Jen Durkan leads a field of three other women after last Tuesday's primary.  Durkan, the daughter of a well known state legislator is in a big lead over Cary Moon, with Nikkita Oliver behind by a couple percentage points.  Former mayor Mike McGinn and veteran legislator Bob Hasagawa finished far behind the pack.

Jenny Durkan To Seek Seattle Mayor Position

Jenny Durkan, a former US Attorney during the Obama administration, has announced her plans to seek the open Seattle Mayor position.   Durkan, although relatively unknown outside of politics, is the daughter of the late Martin J Durkan, a former state lawmaker who as a senator chaired the Senate Ways and Means committee for almost a decade. 
Although this will be her first run for public office, Durkan has worked for former Governors Mike Lowry and Chris Gregoire.  As an attorney, she has represented Paul Allen in a cable TV case.  She has also been involved in local police reform.  According to the Seattle Times, she assisted US Attorney General Eric Holder to help shape the Obama policy on cybercrime and terrorism. 
If elected, Durkan would become Seattle's first female mayor since Bertha Landes was elected in the 1920s.

McGinn Concedes

Mayor McGinn has conceded defeat in his attempt to win a second term as Seattle mayor.

Joe Mallahan Makes Eastside Apearence

Seattle mayor hopeful Joe Mallahan met with some politically engaged citizens at the Sammamish home of Dean and Dorothy Willard. Even though many of the attendees

could not vote in the Seattle mayoral election by virtue of geography, Mallahan stressed that the city drives the region. He said that since King County is electing a new Executive, this would be a chance for a fresh start in leadership and cooperation for the area.

Mallahan grew up in the Northwest, one of nine children. He says that he went into business at the urging of political leaders who said that there was a perception that public officials do not see things from a business perspective.

Meet Joe Mallahan

Joe Mallahan wants to take on Greg Nickles to be Seattle's mayor, is he up to the task? I posted this so readers can get an idea of what he is about.