"Chamber, labor officials skeptical about a Seattle write-in campaign"

Emily Hefter (Politics Northwest-Seattle Times):

State Sen. Ed Murray is expected to decide this week whether to run a write-in campaign for mayor.

The idea that started floating around the business and labor communities soon after Mayor Greg Nickels conceded the primary election to two political newcomers, Joe Mallahan and Mike McGinn.

But at least two key players in the Seattle political scene are skeptical.

I spoke to Tayloe Washburn, chairman of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce. The political arm of the chamber, the Alki Foundation, has yet to take a position in the mayor's race. (They endorsed Nickels and Seattle City Councilmember Jan Drago the first time around).

But Washburn said: "Generally speaking, it is troublesome for someone to wait until very late in the race to get started. ... Senator Murray is well-known and clearly would bring some attention to a race, but it's very difficult to contemplate anyone, including him, being successful as a write-in candidate."

Not exactly a vote of confidence.

On the labor side, I spoke to Dave Freiboth. He's executive secretary of the King County Labor Council.

Regardless of the candidate, he said he was skeptical a write-in candidate could succeed. Worse, he said, voters might find it "condescending" if they're offered a third choice after they already selected their top two.

"It's kind of saying, 'you voters are so damn emotional, do you know what you did?' That's kind of patronizing. As a voter, I don't want to be treated like that."

Howie P.S.: Some may consider the source and dismiss this report. And they may be right to do so.