Today is the last day to register to vote in person. For more information, click here.

The deadline for voter registration is fast approaching. If you have never been registered to vote in Washington, you may register in person at King County Elections until Monday, the 26th of October. We’ll have volunteers standing by on Monday to help people register to vote. If you’d like a ride, make sure you meet the requirements below and we’d be happy to give you a lift!

To register, you must meet the following guidelines:

· You have never been registered to vote in Washington

· You are a citizen of the United States

· You are a resident of the City of Seattle

· You will be at least 18 years old by election day

· You are not under the authority of the Department of Corrections

King County Elections is temporarily located at:

9010 East Marginal Way S
Tukwila, WA 98108

The office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:30. You must register in person.

To get to the Elections office by bus, you can take the #124 from 3rd Avenue in Downtown Seattle, and get off at E. Marginal Way S. & S. 87th Place. To find the route nearest you, check the King County Trip Planner.

If you would like a ride, we can take you from our Southeast Office to King County Elections on Monday, October 26th. Just click here and fill out the form, and we’d be happy to give you a lift. Just take the light rail to the Othello Station, and we’re on the Northwest corner of MLK & Myrtle, at 6951 S MLK, Jr Way, Suite #222. Volunteers will be standing by all day to help.

Photo by Jen Nance

Over 200 people packed the ballroom at Jumbo’s Chinese restaurant in South East Seattle last night for an inspiring rally in support of Mike McGinn as Seattle’s next mayor.

Members and leaders of the Filipino, Vietnamese, Chinese, East African, Hispanic, and other communities filled up Jumbos ballroom for their chance to meet Mike and hear from various local luminaries such as Linh Thai, State Rep. Bob Hasagewa, Mar Marillo, Yusuf Kabdi, Michael Neguse, Mohammed Sheikh, Andrea John-Smith and others about why they endorse Mike McGinn for the next mayor of Seattle. The event concluded with a wonderful Vietnamese fan dance performance.

The diverse cross section of guests was a testament to the inclusiveness of the campaign and the optimism that it inspires. Guests and volunteers left the event full, energized, optimistic about the future of Seattle, and carrying McGinn yard signs to display their support with.

The event doubled as a food drive to support the Rainier Valley Food Bank, and many pounds of food were donated.

Monday, the City Council unanimously authorized Mayor Greg Nickels to sign an intergovernmental agreement with the State of Washington committing Seattle to the tunnel plan.

I disagree with the decision. I disagree with the timing.

But the reality is Mayor Nickels and the Council have entered into an agreement, and the City is now committed to the tunnel plan.

If I’m elected Mayor, although I disagree with this decision, it will be my job to uphold and execute this agreement. It is not the Mayor’s job to withhold the cooperation of city government in executing this agreement.

I will, however, continue to ask tough questions:

• We don’t know how much it’s actually going to cost.

• If it ends up costing more than the current budget allows, there is serious disagreement between Seattle and the State over who will pay the cost overruns.

• Where will the money come from, and who will bear the burden? Will we have to cut police, fire, library, or services for the poor?

I will not stop asking the tough questions nor will I ever stop standing up for Seattle’s interests in this process.

I’m worried the people that want the tunnel have a champagne appetite and the City has a beer budget. The question is who will end up paying the tab.

There is a clear choice in this election.

My opponent has refused to ask any hard questions about the tunnel.

In fact, when asked about the Legislature passing the cost overrun amendment, he said:

“If I were mayor, rather than taking potshots at Democratic leadership who put that (amendment) on, I’d express disappointment and say, “OK, we can live with this.”

SeattlePI.com - Chris Grygiel, 05/11/09

Seattle cannot live with paying the cost overruns on the tunnel.

Mike McGinn was endorsed today by UNITE-HERE Local 8, Washington State’s hospitality workers’ union.

“Mike understands how important it is for the mayor’s office to play a positive role in creating and protecting quality jobs for hotel workers in Seattle,” said Rick Sawyer, the union’s Secretary Treasurer and Principal Officer.

UNITE-HERE endorsed McGinn based on his understanding of the issues important to workers in the hospitality industry. Seattle’s tourist economy provides a significant source of jobs for working families in the region.