Editorials / Opinion

Oct. 9, 2013, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, left, and Sen. Ed Murray listen to a question during a debate in their race for mayor in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Candidates go head-to-head during TV debate

In last week’s mayoral debate, state Sen. Ed Murray leaned heavily on his long list of endorsements from the Seattle Police Officers’ Guild, to labor, business and environmental groups [“Battle for top job in Seattle heats up during TV debate,” page one, Oct. 10].

Yes, Murray is the obvious choice for organizations like the Seattle Chamber of Commerce. But doesn’t it seem like endorsements from some groups come simply because he is the alternative to Mayor Mike McGinn?

Case in point: The environmental group Washington Conservation Voters endorsed Murray in June, touting his strong voting record in the state Legislature. I won’t argue his record, but isn’t it clear that McGinn, a former Sierra Club President, is a more environmentally friendly mayor? He’s been a leader on coal trains, fossil-fuel divestment, public transit and more.

The WCV wouldn’t even endorse McGinn in 2009 when he ran against Joe Mallahan, a businessman with no environmental record. So it appears that the WCV is not the “political voice for the environment” it claims to be, at least not in the last two mayoral races. And Murray’s biggest talking point, his endorsements, is sometimes less about him and more about an alternative to McGinn. If Murray wins, the environment loses, and that’s on the WCV.

Jeremy Tryba, Seattle